MDP proposes law to allow immediate transfer of Island residency registration

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has submitted a bill to Parliament seeking to allow citizens to transfer their official island residency registration to an island where they own or legally occupy a home, without having to meet existing residency requirements.

The amendment to the Act on Becoming a Citizen of a Maldivian Island was presented on Tuesday by Galolhu South MP Mohamed Ibrahim on behalf of the party.

Under current law, a person seeking to transfer their residency registration to another island must have lived on that island continuously for more than five years. Those who do not meet this requirement may only register on the island where either of their parents is registered.

The proposed amendment would introduce a new provision allowing a person to apply for residency registration on an island if they hold legal ownership of, or a legal right to occupy, a residential property on that island.

The proposal covers property acquired through inheritance, land subdivision, purchase, gifts, court orders or government housing schemes.

According to the bill, once the relevant authority confirms that the property is suitable for habitation, the applicant must be registered as a resident of that island without any waiting period.

The amendment also states that a person may only be registered on one island at a time. Upon approval of a transfer, the individual's name would automatically be removed from their previous island registry.

The bill further provides that procedures, documentation requirements and the authorities responsible for implementing the changes must be specified through regulations.

If the amendment is passed, the regulations would have to be prepared and published in the Government Gazette within three months.

The proposed changes would take effect immediately upon ratification.