Maldives Immigration has decided to extend the validity of expired or soon-to-expire Maldivian passports until 30 June next year.

The decision follows delays in the supply of passport booklets used to print e-passports. Immigration said the German company supplying the booklets has experienced machinery issues, delaying the arrival of new stock.

Although the issue has been resolved, the company now expects the new stock to reach the Maldives by the end of September.

As a temporary measure, applicants in the Maldives seeking to renew their passports will have their existing passports extended free of charge instead of receiving new passports.

Immigration will also issue free emergency passports to those travelling for short periods to commonly visited countries such as India and Sri Lanka. The emergency passport is an eight-page, machine-readable document valid for one year and compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

Immigration assured the public that the temporary measures will not prevent Maldivian citizens from travelling abroad and apologised for any inconvenience caused.