Minister Ihsan Tips Immigration’s Digital Overhaul to Revolutionise Identification, Visa Services

Maldives Immigration’s significant digital transformation will revolutionise the identification and visa services of foreigners in the island nation, the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihsan has said.

The Minister made the announcement while speaking at the official launch of the digitalisation of Maldives Immigration services on Monday.

This ambitious initiative aligns with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's broader ; ‘Maldives 2.0’ digitisation policy, which mandates the timely digitalisation of all institutional services across the nation.

Minister Ihsan emphasised that this service overhaul would not only streamline the agency's operations but also significantly enhance accessibility and convenience for the public, particularly concerning ID verification and visa applications.

Among the key launches are a new comprehensive mobile application for general immigration services, a facial recognition tool named "M ID Checker" specifically designed for foreign identification, and a dedicated "E-Visa" service to facilitate online visa applications.

The "M ID Checker" app is poised to address long-standing challenges in monitoring and identifying foreign nationals. It will provide crucial access to vital agencies such as the Labour Relations Authority (LRA), the Health Protection Agency (HPA), and even local island councils.

"Island councils currently have no way to monitor the sites foreigners work in and verify who they are. However, these issues will be solved with digitisation," he explained.

He further detailed how the app will simplify the identification of foreigners in emergencies, such as when admitted to hospital or in cases of death, a process that previously took several hours, but now can be completed in a short time.

The overarching goal of this digitalisation drive, the Minister said, is to complete services rapidly and eliminate the need for physical paperwork.

"In the past, companies and individuals have been queuing for passports to get visas. Passports sometimes are lost or damaged. Companies and individuals had been made to wait for a long time without these services," he said, highlighting the inefficiencies the new system aims to eradicate.

By embracing these digital solutions, Maldives Immigration aims to deliver a more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly experience for all.