French family residing in Maldives without visa to get deported home

The Controller General of Immigration, Shamman Mohamed on Sunday said that a French family that have been living in the Maldives without visa will be deported back to home country as soon as their travel documents are in order.

The family of six, have been residing in Thaa atoll Veymandoo.

The Immigration Controller said in a post on X, that the online whistleblower platform ‘Immigration Watch’ flagged a complaint on July 18, 2024 about a French family residing in the Maldives in breach of immigration laws.

Shamman also confirmed the primary person in the matter was summoned to Immigration’s headquarters on October 23, 2024 after the authority conducted its investigation.

The Immigration Controller said the authority is now working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get the travel documents of the family to deport them, and will be deported at once when the documents are ready.

Veymandoo council’s president Rashwan Adam spoke with ‘Sun’ confirming the family has been residing in in the Maldives for nearly 12 years, and were living in the island for the last six years.

Rashwan further said the matter was brought to the attention of relevant authorities once they learned the family was living undocumented.

The family been making their earnings through fishing.