Govt extends deadline for expat worker legalisation programme

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has extended the deadline for the programme to regularise undocumented expatriate workers in the Maldives.

The initiative, conducted under “Operation Kurangi”, began on 18 December last year and was scheduled to end this week.

The Ministry announced on Wednesday that the programme has been extended until the 2nd of next month following requests from employers.

The programme applies to expatriates without valid work permits, those with expired permits and those without identification documents.

The Ministry stated that this extension will be the final opportunity for eligible individuals to regularise their status and confirmed that no further extensions will be granted.

To qualify under the programme, applicants must meet specific conditions. These include having an expired work permit, not being blacklisted, and residing in the Maldives.

Applicants must also have entered the Maldives with a valid employment approval and must not have been regularised under a previous programme.

The Ministry stated that individuals must have been reported as missing or absconded in the Expat System before 31 December 2025.

In addition, the employer applying for regularisation must not be the same employer listed on the individual’s most recent work permit.

The Ministry stated that where an employer has been identified, applications must be submitted through the Expat System by the employer.