The government has stepped up efforts to resolve the long-standing issue of undocumented expatriates, describing the initiative as a decisive move toward restoring order, strengthening the labour market, and delivering lasting economic reform.
Speaking during the Presidential Address 2026 at the People’s Majlis, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said the administration has launched a three-year nationwide operation, titled Operation Kurangi, aimed at identifying, regulating, and removing undocumented foreign workers from the Maldives.
Under the operation, biometric data, including ten fingerprints and facial recognition photographs, have been collected and updated for 205,700 expatriates to date. The President stressed that any foreign national found residing in the country without a valid work permit or without providing biometric data is now subject to immediate deportation.
As part of the intensified enforcement drive, 228 foreigners were deported between 17 November 2025 and 31 January 2026 for failing to comply with biometric requirements. In total, 11,496 undocumented expatriates have been deported between 17 November 2023 and 3 February 2026, reflecting a sharp escalation in enforcement efforts.
By contrast, only 1,249 foreigners were deported over the five-year period from 2018 to 2023, underscoring the scale and impact of the current operation. The President said the figures demonstrate a clear shift toward decisive governance and rule-of-law enforcement.
President Muizzu noted that Operation Kurangi has now entered its second phase, which will further tighten monitoring, enforcement, and compliance mechanisms. He said the operation is expected to deliver comprehensive results, contributing to economic stability, improved labour regulation, and enhanced national security.
The government maintains that addressing undocumented migration is essential to protecting Maldivian workers, ensuring fair employment practices, and sustaining long-term economic transformation, positioning Operation Kurangi as a cornerstone of the administration’s broader reform agenda.
