The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has decided to issue work permits to expatriates after they have submitted the work permit medical report through the expatriate management system, Xpat.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government decided to issue work permits to expatriates without obtaining their medical reports to address the difficulties employers faced in recruiting workers. However, work permits will now be issued or extended to expatriates in the Maldives after they submit the work permit medical report through the Xpat system.
Additionally, foreigners entering the Maldives under the work permit entry pass will be required to submit a work permit medical report within 15 days. If a foreigner whose work permit expired while abroad, he can extend his work permit and enter the country by preparing a medical report from abroad and submitting it through the Xpat system. Medical reports submitted in this way must include all tests prescribed by the Ministry of Health.
Expatriates who have already been issued a work permit without submitting a medical report must submit it through the Xpat system before July 4. Those who have not submitted their work permit medical report by this deadline will be subject to penalties under the Regulation on Employment of Foreigners in the Maldives.
Expatriates departing after February 4 can only cancel their work permit if their deadline for the work permit medical report has not expired. Failure to meet this deadline will incur a fine of USD130 per year of expired work permit medical, according to the Regulation on Employment of Foreigners.