Business and Special Visa holders to get Work Visa without exiting Maldives

Maldives Immigration Center. | Photo: Human Capital.

Male’, Maldives — Ministry of Economic Development has announced that people under Business Visa and Special Visa can change their visa to a Work Visa without having to exit the country until June 30, 2021.

In a statement released by the Economic Ministry, it stated that among the foreigners who were not able to travel out of Maldives due to closure of international borders in other countries due to Covid-19, the Ministry has decided to issue Employment Approval for those who came through a business visa or a special visa before December 1, 2020.

Ministry has also announced that for who are interested to get the Employment Approval from Xpat Online System and to present the application form along with a letter requesting to get the EA. The Ministry further instructed the interested applicants to present details of the business visa or the special visa within 15 days.

After the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, Ministry of Economic Development and Maldives Immigration have been giving leniency to the expats working in the country. Maldives Immigration had previously allowed to process visa payments through online portals and also for undocumented workers to exit the country after registering with the authorities.