Maldives Immigration has begun issuing passports submitted for visa approval.
Maldives Immigration said passports submitted seeking visa approvals to the authority before the lockdown imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be released. In this regard, Maldives Immigration will issue passports every day from 1100 hours to 1300 hours except on Friday and Saturday. The authority has asked applicants to bring the submission receipt to collect the passport.
Maldives Immigration stated the passports are released following the decision of government to repatriate expatriates to their respective countries. The authority said 253 passports have been issued so far, with 235 of them submitted for work visa extension and 18 passports submitted seeking visa for other purposes.
Relevant authorities have launched efforts to repatriate foreign workers wishing to return to their countries. In this regard, 68 Bangladeshis, 900 Indians and 43 Pakistanis have been repatriated to their countries. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to repatriate an additional 350 Bangladeshis and 200 Indians.
While the Maldives is currently experiencing a community spread of COVID-19, the virus is prone among expatriates living in congested spaces.