Home Ministry: 27,723 expatriates face deportation if biometrics not done in a month

The Homeland Ministry has warned that more than 27,000 expatriates who have not completed their biometric registration will face deportation if they fail to comply within the next month.

According to figures released by the ministry, 3,942 people have registered in the Expat system as employers, while 27,723 expatriates remain without completed biometric data. The deadline for submission has now been extended to November 15.

Biometric data must be submitted at the Job Center located in the National Center for Information Technology (NCIT) building, as previously arranged. The ministry stated that expatriates who fail to complete their biometrics via the Expat online system without valid justification will be subject to deportation under the Immigration Act.

The biometric registration drive begain with “Operation Kurangi,” which began in May last year. On September 24, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced that biometric data had been collected from 178,982 expatriates. Since then, immigration and police authorities have launched a nationwide operation to identify and remove irregular expatriates.

The government has pledged to resolve the issue of illegal immigration within the first three years of its term. Police have reiterated that no leniency will be shown to those who enter or work in the country illegally.