The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced changes to the forms required for obtaining a work visa in the Maldives.
In two separate notices published on Sunday, the ministry stated that modifications have been made to the applications for worksite registration where foreign workers are employed, worksite declaration forms, and applications for appointing or removing representatives to use the Xpat system on behalf of registered users.
The new worksite registration application form now requires the submission of additional documents. These include a Project Agreement Form for Worksite Registration for foreign workers or acknowledgements for long-term leased land, buildings, or vehicles registered as worksites in the Xpat system. Additionally, an affidavit may be submitted for the registration of a vehicle taken on instalments as a worksite.
For the worksite declaration form, the new requirement mandates notarisation by a public notary or registration at the Civil or Magistrates’ Courts. These changes will come into effect in October.
Similarly, the form related to appointing representatives to use the Xpat system must now be notarised or registered in a court. This change will take effect in September.
The Ministry said the revisions are part of efforts to establish a robust system for issuing permits to foreign workers and managing their affairs. The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has taken over the responsibility of handling issues related to foreign workers and illegal immigrants, previously managed by the Ministry of Economic Development.