More than 12,500 undocumented expatriates have been deported or returned to their home countries since November 2023, according to Maldives Immigration.
Immigration said 12,552 individuals were removed from the Maldives between 17 November 2023 and 13 June 2026 as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to address undocumented migration.
According to Immigration, those removed include individuals deported by the authority as well as others who left the country through other arrangements. The authority said many of those deported had been operating businesses illegally or were found to have incomplete documentation.
Immigration and the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology are continuing efforts to identify undocumented expatriates through special raid operations in the Greater Malé region and across the atolls. The operations target locations where expatriates are employed or conducting business.
Immigration also conducted a special raid in Thilafushi on Saturday as part of its ongoing enforcement efforts. During the operation, authorities checked 836 expatriates and detained 32 undocumented expatriates, who were taken into Immigration custody for further action.
ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅޭ ބިދޭސީންނަށް އަމާޒުކޮށް ޓާސްކުފޯހުން އިއްޔެ ތިލަފުށީގައި ވަނީ ހާއްސަ ރެއިޑް އޮޕަރޭޝަނެއް ކުރިއަށް ގެންގޮސްފައި. މި ރެއިޑުގައި 836 ބިދޭސީން ބަލައި ފާސްކޮށްފައިވާއިރު، އޭގެތެރެއިން ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް އުޅެމުންދިއަ 32 ބިދޭސީއަކު ވަނީ އިމިގްރޭޝަންގެ ބެލުމުގެ… pic.twitter.com/z1Bl5wpHnb— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) July 12, 2026
The authority also said it is working to verify expatriate work permits as part of broader reforms. It noted that 208,937 expatriates currently hold valid work permits in the Maldives, while biometric data, including 10-fingerprint records and photographs, has been collected from more than 200,000 individuals.
Immigration has also introduced an online reporting platform, Immigration Watch, allowing members of the public to report suspected cases involving undocumented expatriates.
The government has identified resolving issues related to undocumented expatriates as a priority. In addition to operations in Malé, authorities are collecting information on expatriates living and working on inhabited islands, resorts, industrial islands and islands leased for agricultural purposes.
