Expired passports to be extended via Imuga as booklet delays continue

Maldives Immigration has announced that, due to delays in receiving passport booklets, applications to extend expired passports must be submitted through the ‘Imuga’ portal, as is the usual procedure for passport services.

Under the temporary arrangements, passport validity extensions and emergency passport issuance will be provided free of charge.

“Instead of issuing a new passport, the validity of the existing passport will be extended until 30 June 2027, free of charge,” Immigration said.

According to Immigration, the delivery of passport booklets to the Maldives has been affected due to issues with the printing machines at the German print house that has supplied booklets since 2016. As a result, changes have been made to manage the existing stock of booklets.

Under these changes, the validity of passports expiring while the holder is in the Maldives will be extended until 30 June 2027, instead of issuing a new passport.

As part of the temporary measures, emergency passports will be issued for short-term travel to nearby countries such as India and Sri Lanka.

The emergency passport is an 8-page, machine-readable document that meets International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and is valid for one year.

Immigration has assured that no Maldivian will face difficulties or obstacles in travelling abroad despite the temporary adjustments to passport issuance.