A change has been made where those who travel to Maldives on special visas cannot change to a work visa after entering the country.

The Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology released an announcement regarding this change, which reads that business visas are given to foreign professionals for business purposes for a short amount of time.

However, the statement also reads that some businesses make unfair use of business visas to expedite work permit acquisition, by changing the business to a work visa after entering Maldives.

And so, the ministry said they have made it so that expatriates that enter Maldives on a business and special visa cannot change it to a work visa, with the changes going live today.

"We inform all employers that those who enter Maldives on these visas cannot request a work permit via the "Expat System", the statement reads.

The ministry requests those who want more information on the matter to call 1485 or to email them at xpat@home.gov.mv.

Many efforts are underway to solve the issue of illegal immigrants. After the biometrics of expatriates were taken and the period for that stage expired, expatriates who entered the country illegally are now being deported. The Home Ministry previously stated that 12,000 people who were living in Maldives illegally have been sent back by the current government.