The Department of National Registration (DNR) has commenced the issuance of identity cards in Hoarafushi, Haa Alifu Atoll, advancing a national initiative to decentralise core government services and improve public access across the country. The latest roll-out brings the number of islands offering the service to 23, with full coverage across all atolls targeted by the end of the year.
By introducing identity card services on the island, the DNR said, the initiative removes the need for residents to travel, thereby improving efficiency and strengthening administrative reach. It further stated that the rollout embodies a broader policy to provide access from all inhabited atolls or their capitals.
This shift away from centralised issuance in the capital, Malé, reflects a broader campaign promise by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. The decentralised roll-out began in November of the previous year, when Villingili in Gaafu Alifu Atoll became the first location outside Malé to offer identity card services.
The administration is also extending its efforts beyond national borders. Malaysia was the first foreign country to facilitate ID issuance for Maldivians, and preparations are under way to launch similar services in Sri Lanka, India and the United Kingdom, regions with significant Maldivian footfall.
Government officials maintain that these domestic and overseas expansions form part of a single, integrated strategy. By the close of the calendar year, they aim to ensure that identity card services, essential to accessing a wide spectrum of public programmes, are available to all Maldivians, wherever they reside.