Maldives will have as many foreign nationals as Maldivians by 2018: Immigration Department

Department of Immigration and Emigration has said that the number of foreign nationals living in Maldives will be the same as the number of Maldivians by the year 2018.

Controller of Immigration and Emigration Dr Mohamed Ali said today that while total number of foreign nationals in Maldives is close to 100,000, about 30,000 are here illegally.

Also, foreign nationals living in Maldives increase by 20 percent every year.

“Based on these facts, by 2018, there will be as many foreign nationals as Maldivians in Maldives. And if it continues to increase by 15 percent, by 2020, there will be more foreign nationals than Maldivians in Maldives,” the Controller said.

Dr Mohamed Ali said that MVR62 million was received as visa fees in 2009 from 41,000 foreigners, while 16,900 did not paid their fees.

In 2010, MVR166 million was received as visa fees for 55,000 foreigners, while 28,000 people did not pay their fees.

He noted that MVR83 million was outstanding to the State as visa fees of foreign nationals.

“The only solution to this problem is to establish a sound Border Control System, and plan a mechanism to monitor these individuals. Plenty of people take advantage of the fact that the Maldivian borders are open for everyone. We have to take strict action to solve this problem,” the Controller said.

Deputy controller of Immigration Hamid Fathulla said that profiles of illegal foreign nationals have been prepared, and that inspections are underway to locate them. He stressed the importance of a strong Border Control System in preventing illegal foreign nationals from entering Maldives.

“We have no confidence, that people with forged documents are not entering the Maldives illegally,” Hamid said.