Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has extended the deadline to submit documentation for the Mass Legalisation Program to 2 May.
The programme, part of Operation Kurangi, aims to legalise expatriate workers in the Maldives who lack work permits, whose permits have expired, or who do not have official identification documents. It was initially announced on 18 December 2025, with a submission deadline of 2 April 2026. The ministry extended the deadline yesterday, citing requests from employers.
The ministry stated in its gazetted announcement that this is the final opportunity for expatriates living illegally to regularise their status, and no further extensions will be granted after this period.
Expatriates and employers seeking more information can call 1485 or email xpat@mohst.gov.mv.
Legalisation under the programme is available only to expatriates who meet the following criteria:
- Their work permit has expired;
- They are not blacklisted for any reason;
- They are currently residing in the Maldives;
- The employer requesting legalisation is different from the one who issued their last work permit;
- They entered the Maldives under a valid employment approval;
- They have not been legalised previously;
- They were reported in the Expat System as absconded or missing by an employer before 31 December 2025.
For expatriates with an employer, applications must be submitted through the Expat System by the employer. A user guide for submitting legalisation requests will be updated on the Expat System homepage.
When announcing the programme, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan said the regularisation window provides expatriates registered under Operation Kurangi—but currently living illegally—the chance to legalise their stay by obtaining valid work permits. This includes expatriates facing employer disputes and those not currently employed.
The minister added that the final phase of Operation Kurangi will run from 2 April 2026 to 1 May 2027, focusing on deporting expatriates who remain in the country unlawfully.
