Applications for the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ scheme are set to open tomorrow.

The first housing scheme under the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ policy was announced on 16 November last year, with the rules and eligibility criteria for land and flat allocations subsequently published.

Under the scheme, the Government has announced the allocation of 15,000 plots of land in the Greater Malé area and 7,900 flats in the Malé area.

Applications were initially scheduled to open on 4 January 2026. However, the opening date was postponed to 15 January 2026 following concerns raised by residents during community meetings held by Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

Incorporating public feedback, the Government revised the eligibility rules to allow recipients of one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats under previous housing schemes to apply for three-bedroom flats, subject to specific conditions based on family size and the number of children.

The Government has also outlined the allocation structure for the 15,000 land plots under the scheme. Of these, 7,000 plots have been designated for native residents of Malé, 1,000 for individuals registered on Malé Dhaftharu, and 2,000 for those registered at a later stage. An additional 500 plots have been reserved for individuals without inherited property, while 3,000 plots have been allocated for residents from other islands who have lived in Malé City for at least 15 years. A further 1,500 plots have been set aside for individuals willing to relinquish homes located on narrow streets that present challenges in securing housing loans for construction.Of the 7,900 flats to be allocated, 4,000 have been earmarked for residents of Malé City, 1,500 for long-term residents from other islands, and 2,400 for applicants under special priority categories.

Applicants may apply for either a flat or land under the scheme, but not both, and must apply under the category most appropriate to their circumstances. The Government has advised applicants to exercise care when selecting their category during submission.

This round of flat applications is open to Malé City residents, residents from other islands currently living in the city, as well as applicants under special priority categories. The 2,400 flats allocated under the special priority category have been further divided into 15 sub-categories.

New special categories have been introduced this year, including for taxi drivers, fishing sector workers and tourism sector workers. The scheme also includes categories for individuals who had previously received documentation entitling them to flats but did not ultimately receive housing. The Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure has advised applicants to carefully assess their eligibility and apply under the most suitable category.

All applications must be submitted online through the Hiyaavehi Portal, which can be accessed using eFaas login credentials.

One of the most common challenges faced by applicants in previous housing schemes was proving long-term residence in Malé. Under the current rules, applicants must have lived in the city for a minimum of 15 years, calculated up to 14 January 2026. If there were interruptions in residence due to special circumstances, applicants are required to submit supporting documentation explaining the reason.

Priority will be given based on income levels and living conditions. Applicants must provide information on family composition, housing situation, employment and income. Documents proving the required period of residence in Malé must also be submitted.

The Government Gazette outlines the eligibility criteria, conditions and scoring system used for evaluating applications. The deadline for submission of applications is 14 April 2026.