E-passport service to resume next month after two-month halt

Maldives Immigration has announced that electronic passport services are expected to resume early next month, following a pause that has lasted for more than two months.

The service was temporarily suspended due to delays in the arrival of passport booklets required for the issuance of Ordinary Electronic Passports.

Speaking to state media, PSM, Controller General of Immigration Ahmed Faseeh stated that orders for the required materials have already been placed. He said the shipment is expected to arrive by the end of this month or early next month, with the issuance of electronic passports set to resume immediately upon receipt of the stock.

The service was suspended on May 8 to preserve the remaining stock of passport booklets. Since then, applicants for ordinary passports have been issued Non-Electronic Passports, which are machine-readable and comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. These passports remain valid for five years.

The fee for an Ordinary Electronic Passport is MVR 1,000, while the Non-Electronic Passport currently being issued costs MVR 600. Immigration has also clarified that individuals who receive a non-electronic passport during the suspension period will be able to upgrade to an electronic passport before its expiry without incurring any cancellation fees.

Electronic passports contain an embedded chip that enables travelers to use automated e-gate services, allowing them to bypass conventional immigration queues. The chip securely stores the holder's personal information, photograph, and biometric data, including fingerprints, to facilitate identity verification.

The suspension of electronic passport services has drawn public attention amid the high volume of international travel by Maldivians. Immigration is currently prioritizing the procurement of additional passport booklets to restore normal services as soon as possible.