Over 12,000 expatriates living illegally in the Maldives have been sent back to their home countries.

The Home Ministry stated on the "Sarkar" website today that these were expatriates who resided illegally in the Maldives from November 17, 2023, to June 13 of this year.

Immigration statistics show that 12,552 people have been sent back to their home countries. This includes those who have been deported as well as those sent back through other means.

The Ministry stated that a large number of the expatriates deported by Immigration include those running illegal businesses in the Maldives and individuals with incomplete documentation.

The Police and Maldives Immigration are working together to carry out numerous efforts to resolve the issue of undocumented expatriates in the Maldives.

Under "Operation Kurangi," conducted to collect information on expatriates, data on more than two hundred thousand expatriates has been gathered. Furthermore, the government has stated that starting next year, if any expatriate is found living illegally, they will be deported without any further opportunity.

The Ministry said that efforts to bring a permanent solution to the issue of expatriates living illegally in the Maldives will continue over the next six months.

The Home Ministry stated that phase three of Operation Kurangi involves locating 2,895 individuals and deporting them, identifying and deporting those operating illegal businesses in the Maldives, as well as locating and sending away individuals without valid work permits and visas.

To encourage paying the work permit fees of expatriates working in businesses before the expiry date, they are being notified, and convenient arrangements are being implemented in this phase for those paying work permit fees, including those who currently have unpaid work permit fees.

The Home Ministry also stated that this will serve as an encouragement for Maldivian business owners to ensure that the expatriate workers they employ operate within the regulations.