Minister of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the challenges Maldivians are currently facing in acquiring medical visa for travel to India in the recent times.
Minister Shahid stated that the issues are being faced in light of the border closure in India amid the third wave of Covid19 in the country upsurging despite special arrangements in place for Maldivian nationals to make visa arrangements. He assured the public that the governments are in discussion regarding the matter, and that he is “confident we can find a solution shortly.”
India is one of the most travelled to nations among Maldivians for medical requirements given its proximity and affordable and easily available medical services. However, since the onset of the pandemic, India has been challenged beyond capacity in managing the Covid19 spread in the country.
As the situation eases, restrictions on travel to India are slowly being lifted as well. Nonetheless, Maldivians have been queueing up at the Indian Embassy in Maldives with pending requests for medical emergency visa for travel to the India. With Minister Shahid reassuring a solution to the matter in the near future, we can hope to see it resolve soon.