Govt. opposes proposed resident visa, open to second home residency visa

The government has expressed opposition towards the amendment to the Immigration bills in the parliament to grant residence visas for foreigners making an investment above MVR 100,000, renting or leasing a residence for more than 10 years, or marrying a Maldivian. The amendments were proposed by Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, according to the Committee chair. However, Speaker Nasheed has refuted that he was behind the amendment. 

Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, speaking in today’s meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations, said that the amendment was not something that the government wished. He said that the granting of residence visas in return for an investment of MVR 100,000 was not important right now.

The Minister noted the distinction between resident visa and citizenship and said that a resident visa only means that entry and exit from the country were easier. The government did not wish to grant visas to individuals renting residences, however, was considering to grant a second home residency visa to long term leases for resort villas, for investment more than USD 300,000.

“We are now formulating a bill regarding corporate residency. Something that assures the investor rights.” Said the Minister who said that the government was considering to begin the second home residency in H. A. Dhappparu. The government did not have the mindset to conduct the program in inhabited islands. Citizenship was out of the question for the government, said the Minister.

After the proposed amendments to the immigration laws were forwarded by the Parliamentary Committee to the entire legislature, Speaker Nasheed requested the Committee to reconsider the bill alongside an amendment from the Speaker before sending the amendments back to the Committee again along with the proposed amendments regarding the residence visa mentioned above.

The amendment had garnered stern criticism from members of the public who oppose such a move and even some MPs of MDP have spoken out about it.

Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has said that he had not proposed any amendment to the Immigration bills in the parliament to grant residence visas for foreigners making an investment above MVR 100,000, renting or leasing a residence for more than 10 years, or marrying a Maldivian. 

“I have not presented any amendment to any Committee. I think it was the Committee chair that provided that information. However, I am saying very clearly to the honorable parliamentarians, that there is no amendment from me, even if you check with the administrative desk.” Said Nasheed who also noted that the regulations did not permit him to propose any such amendment.

An emergency issue submitted regarding the “hidden prospects” of the residence visa included in the amendments proposed to the immigration laws was also dismissed from the parliament today.