Constitution Amended Prohibiting Ownership of Land by Foreigners

On 23 April 2019, the fourth amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives was published in the Government Gazette, amending Article 251 of the Constitution.

The amendment, changes Article 251(a) and 251(b) and repeals Chapter 15 of the Constitution. The amendment now prohibits transfer of ownership of land in the Maldives to a foreign party and permits a long term leasehold of up to ninety-nine years. Prior to this latest amendment, the Maldives Constitution, as per the second amendment to the constitution introduced on 23 July 2015, permitted the transfer of ownership of land to foreign parties, contingent to whether those parties fulfilled criteria set out under Chapter fifteen of the Constitution.

The amendment came into effect from 23 April 2019 onwards.