Maldives Immigration has launched passport services in Dharavandhoo, Baa Atoll as part of ongoing efforts to expand access to passport services across the country.
With the introduction of the service in Dharavandhoo, residents of Baa Atoll can now access passport services from two islands within the atoll.
Immigration said individuals applying for a Maldivian passport can submit applications online through the Imuga portal and select either Eydhafushi or Dharavandhoo as their preferred collection point.
The government has been working to strengthen decentralisation by expanding access to essential public services that were previously available only in the capital.
As part of these efforts, Immigration is extending passport and national identity card services to islands across the atolls. The government has decided to ensure that these services are available on at least one island in every atoll.
Previously, many residents of the atolls were required to travel to Malé to obtain passports and identity cards, often incurring significant expenses.
The government stated that expanding these services to local islands will reduce the financial burden on citizens and make access to essential documentation more convenient.