In a decisive move to overhaul the nation’s labour and immigration framework, the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology has announced that foreign nationals who enter the Maldives on a Business Visa or Special Visa will no longer be permitted to convert their status to a Work Visa from within the country.
Under the new regulations, effective immediately, individuals who enter the Maldives on these short-term entry documents are barred from applying for work permits through the official 'Expat System.'
The policy addresses a widely exploited loophole wherein businesses bypassed standard recruitment channels by bringing foreign professionals into the country on Business Visas—intended solely for short-term corporate visits—with the preplanned intent of converting them into long-term work visas.
The policy shift is part of a broader, aggressive government campaign to tackle undocumented expatriates, regularise the labour market, and crack down on illegal employment practices. To date, authorities have collected the biometrics of more than 294,000 foreign workers, while active work permits have surpassed 208,937 as part of ongoing verification efforts.
Despite these steps toward transparency, enforcement agencies continue to face challenges. Authorities report widespread discrepancies during recent operations, including workers holding active visas while engaging in unauthorised employment outside the scope of their permits, as well as operating unassigned businesses.
Maldives Immigration has raised particular concern over the proliferation of illegal "open visas," which allow individuals to bypass formal employment structures to freelance, work for unassigned employers, or run independent enterprises for substantial financial gain.
Emphasising the gravity of the situation, Immigration has strongly urged foreign workers, local employers, and the general public to exercise legal compliance and social responsibility to ensure the integrity of the nation's labour market.