Estonian officials have confirmed that 15 Maldivians now possess electronic ID cards issued by the country's government through its e-Residency programme.

Open to individuals of any religion, race, or nationality, the programme enables business registration in the European Union (EU). According to Estonia's e-Residency website, applicants from 170 countries, totalling 103,000 individuals, have applied for e-Residency, with more than 25,000 companies registered in Estonia.

Speaking on MMTV’s Bodu Khabaru programme, Mohamed Jailam, CEO of Javaabu Private Limited, who accompanied President Dr Mohamed Muizzu during his visit to Estonia last week, noted that registering a business in Estonia presents an opportunity for all Maldivians, particularly young people, to expand their operations across Europe and globally. Estonia is recognised as one of the most digitally advanced nations in providing government services.

Jailam explained that the programme facilitates company registration in Estonia, providing various EU benefits and opportunities to collaborate with Estonian investors as partners.

According to Estonian authorities, the country also prioritises visa issuance for technical professionals interested in establishing businesses in Estonia.

The e-Residency website outlines that prospective e-Residents can submit applications to receive an e-Resident kit following necessary verification procedures. This does not serve as a passport for travel. The programme primarily caters to sectors such as marketing, consultancy, and Information Technology (IT).