The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology has said the decision to stop foreigners entering the Maldives on business visas from converting to work permits aims to end the improper exploitation of the system.
Speaking on PSM News' Raajje Miadhu programme, Deputy Minister of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology Ahmed Asad said the change took effect on 15 September 2026. Under the revised rules, foreigners entering the Maldives on a business visa or special visa can no longer convert to a work permit while remaining in the country.
Foreigners who intend to work in the Maldives must instead obtain a Work Permit Entry Pass before entering the country.
Explaining the reason for the change, Deputy Minister Asad said business visas are issued to foreign skilled workers who need to work in the Maldives for a short period for business purposes. However, he said some companies had been improperly using business visas to expedite the process of obtaining work permits.
Deputy Minister Asad said these companies brought foreigners into the Maldives on business visas and subsequently converted them to work permits. He said the change preventing business and special visa holders from converting to work permits after entering the country aims to put an end to this practice.
He said some Maldivians had also brought foreigners into the Maldives on business visas before taking payments from third parties to obtain work permits for them. Deputy Minister Asad said some parties had turned the practice into a major business.
"Some parties are exploiting the system extensively. The requirement allowing a business visa to be converted to a work permit created this opportunity. Foreigners are using this loophole to conduct business in the Maldives in violation of regulations," Deputy Minister Asad said.
Alongside the changes to visa conversions, authorities have also revised the procedure for depositing the salaries of foreign workers. Under the new procedure, employers must deposit a foreign worker's salary into an account opened in the worker's own name.
Deputy Minister Asad said the change aims to arrange salary payments for foreign workers fairly and transparently. He said when employers pay salaries in cash, there is no system to verify that they have actually paid their workers.
Employers who fail to comply with the procedure could face measures including cancellation of their quota, a reduction in their quota, fines and blacklisting on the Xpat system.
Those seeking further information about visas for foreign nationals can call 1485 or email [email protected].
The Government continues to take several measures to address the issue of foreigners residing in the Maldives in violation of regulations. It has completed the collection of biometric information from foreign nationals and is now deporting foreigners residing in the country in violation of regulations.
The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology previously disclosed that the current Government has so far repatriated more than 12,000 foreigners who had been residing in the Maldives in violation of regulations.