Requirement to submit Exit Permit suspended

The Department of Immigration and Emigration has temporarily suspended the requirement for foreigners working in Maldives, to submit Exit Permit prior to their departure from Maldives.

The department said when it introduced the requirement on 19 October, that its purpose was to prevent foreigners departing from the country without employers’ knowledge.

Information Officer for Department of Immigration and Emigration Hassan Khaleel told Sun Online that the requirement has been suspended to conduct a full review of the process.

“It is mostly Maldivian companies that want foreigners to submit the Exit Permit. There is no support for this policy from foreign companies and joint ventures. Foreign companies are owned by foreigners, and the current policy requires them to submit the form as well, prior to their departure from Maldives. So we have decided to suspend the process to conduct a review, to determine how this problem can be avoided,” said Khaleel.