Immigration Services has announced that the announcement published in the government gazette concerning work visa renewal was a mistake. The service had said in the mistaken announcement that the rule for payment of MVR 6,000 fee required for the renewal of work visa has been amended and the fee is no longer required.

In a statement released today, the Immigration Services reiterated that the management of the institution is undergoing some changes. It was further stated that several of the work of the Service is currently in the mandate of the Ministry of Economic Development.

As such, the statement noted that, owed to changes in the mandate of Immigration Services as well as discrepancies in the work visa amendment, the service has decided to dismiss the change in fee for work visa.

The regulation on work visa for foreign workers in Maldives states that, in addition to the agreement reached between the employer and the foreign worker, Immigration Services is owed a fee of MVR 6,000 to move forward with the process.

The amendment to the work visa published in the gazette however declared that the work visa fee has been dismissed. This would have meant that the fees involved would only include that, which was mentioned in the agreement between employer and foreign worker.

While this amendment has now been removed from the gazette, some of the services of immigration had been transferred under the Ministry of Economic Development last week.

Although Immigration Services have decided to make these changes due to the increase in illegal workers, there are currently 67 cases under investigation for manipulating the quota and importing workers illegally.