A bill that would allow individuals who have acquired their own land or housing on an island to immediately transfer their residence there has been introduced in Parliament.
The amendment, tabled by MP Mohamed Ibrahim, seeks to modify the Residency of an Island Act, a law that currently requires a five‑year continuous stay before a person can change his or her official residence from one island to another.
Under the existing provision, residents must live on a target island for five consecutive years before they can register as a local. The new proposal would add a property‑based route where a person who obtains legal ownership or title to land, a house, a flat, or any other suitable dwelling—through inheritance, purchase, distribution, a court judgment, or a government housing scheme—could apply for immediate residency on that island, bypassing the five‑year waiting period.
To qualify, applicants must present official documentation that proves their legal right to the property. The bill stipulates that the relevant authorities will verify the authenticity of the documents before the applicant is entered into the island’s resident registry.
Once registered, the individual’s name will be removed from the registry of the island where he or she previously resided, ensuring that no one holds simultaneous residency on more than one island.