Revenue collection from expatriate workers’ related fees and fines has reached USD 129.7 million official figures have shown, amid the incumbent government’s committed clampdown on undocumented foreign workers in the country.
Official figures from 17 November 2023 to 17 August 2025 of the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology show that total work permit fee collections stood at USD 77.8 million.
During the period, USD 51.5 million was collected as quota fees and USD 116,732 as service fees. In addition, USD 408,560 was collected as fines during the period, the figures showed, bringing the total to USD 129.7 million.
When the incumbent government took over in November 2023, USD 123.2 million in foreign workers’ related fees was outstanding, which has since been slashed to around USD 62.7 million within this short period.
The government aims to bring a permanent solution to the issue of undocumented migrants in Maldives by April 2027.
The flagship initiative of the wide-ranging efforts remains the special operation titled Operation Kurangi launched to collect information on foreigners, the operation is being conducted by establishing a system within local councils to collect biometric data from foreign nationals.
Other initiatives include regularisation of undocumented expats, deportations and strengthening of the legal framework for enhanced enforcement.