The Government of Maldives has completed the establishment of ID card printing and distributing services across all atolls, fulfilling a key pledge by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, three months ahead of schedule.

The final service was inaugurated on 19 September by Minister of Finance and Planning Moosa Zameer in Vaavu Felidhoo during the President’s ongoing tour of the atoll.

The nationwide expansion ensures that citizens can now apply for and collect identity cards directly through island councils, eliminating the need to travel to Malé. The initiative follows challenges created by the online-only system introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had led to a backlog of more than 3,300 pending applications when the current Administration took office.

To address these issues, the Government introduced the Nares portal, which restored local councils’ role in facilitating applications. According to officials, the project, first launched in November 2023, has now established printing and issuance facilities in every atoll, significantly improving accessibility for citizens.

In addition to services across the Maldives, the Government is also preparing to extend ID card issuance to countries with large Maldivian populations, including Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India and the United Kingdom. Authorities say the move will ease documentation challenges faced by students, expatriates and workers living abroad.

The Administration has described the completion of this pledge ahead of schedule as part of its commitment to decentralisation, ensuring that essential services are delivered closer to the public while modernising identity management systems.