In a significant move to address the pressing issue of illegal migration in the Maldives, the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Honourable Ali Ihsaan, has today officially launched “MI ID Checker”, a modern facial recognition system designed to identify undocumented foreign workers. This initiative marks a major step forward in providing a sustainable solution to one of the country’s most persistent challenges the issue of illegal foreign workers.

Finding a permanent solution to the issue of undocumented foreign workers is a key pledge made by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives. In line with this commitment, and under the leadership of Minister Ali Ihsaan, the Taskforce on Illegal Expat Operations was established and has been conducting extensive enforcement operations across the country. As a result of these efforts, more than 9,000 undocumented foreign workers have already been repatriated to their home countries.

The primary challenge in addressing this issue has been the difficulty of identifying individuals lacking official documentation. To overcome this, the MI ID Checker application was designed and developed by officers of Maldives Immigration, with support from the Maldives Police Service. This innovation demonstrates how modern technology can be effectively leveraged to enhance inter-agency collaboration and strengthen national border management systems.

One of the most notable features of this application is its ability to instantly identify, verify, and retrieve all information related to a foreign national using only a photograph. The system can access details such as passport, work permit, visa, and employer information, and can also identify individuals reported as absconded by their employers. In addition to facial recognition, users can perform searches by nationality and passport number, and work permit number, or by simply scanning the QR code located on the back of the work permit card.

Starting today, all law enforcement agencies will have access to this application. In the near future, local councils will also be granted access, further expanding its reach and impact. This development represents a critical step in strengthening the management of information related to foreign nationals residing in the Maldives and supports the government’s broader vision of implementing sustainable, technology driven solutions to address issues concerning expatriate workers.