DNR working on lifting expiry date on IDs to people aged above 65

The Department of National Registration (DNR) says it is working on lifting the expiry date on national identity cards issued to people above the age of 65 years.

North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla has submitted a motion to the Parliament arguing that the current expiry date for national ID cards and passports are too short.

Senior officials from DNR and Maldives Immigration were summoned for a meeting with the Parliament’s National Development and Heritage Committee regarding the motion on Tuesday.

At the meeting, State Minister for Home Affairs Yoosuf Abdul Ghafoor, who is in charge of the DNR, said they find senior citizens face difficulties due to the current policy on ID card renewal.

He said the DNR is working on lifting the expiry date on ID cards of people above the age of 65.

“We have submitted a paper to the cabinet after technical considerations. We will make the announcement as soon as the cabinet makes a decision,” he said.

The ID card of a newborn expires once the child reaches 10 years of age. Meanwhile, people aged between 10 and 40 years need to renew their ID cards every five years, and people above the age of 40 years need to renew their ID cards every 10 years.