Passport card made an acceptable alternative to ID card

The President has made the decision to make passport cards issued by Maldives Immigration an acceptable official alternative to national ID cards.

President’s Office issued a statement this Wednesday that passport cards were the safest identity papers currently used in the country, save for passports.

The statement said the President has ordered for government institutions, hospitals, banks and other service providers to accept passport cards as an alternative to national ID cards.

Passport cards can also be used as a cash card.

The fee for a passport card is MVR 450. Citizens issued e-passports after January, 2016 or applying for an e-passport for the first time are eligible to apply for passport cards.

Passport cards were launched by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in a function held at the President’s Office on October 11.