Home Affairs Minisster Leon Schreiber has confirmed that 20 officials have been dismissed since April last year as part of ongoing disciplinary action following the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into corruption at the Department of Home Affairs.
The investigation uncovered schemes involving document fraud, visa and work-permit manipulation, and unauthorised entry facilitation. Over the past two years, 75 disciplinary cases have concluded, leading to suspensions, warnings, and referrals for criminal prosecution.
The department is also canceling more than 2,000 study visas issued fraudulently and is tightening oversight to prevent further abuse.
To curb manipulation, Home Affairs is rolling out the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, which uses biometric verification and machine learning to approve visas. The ETA will eventually become the central platform for all tourist and study visas, supported by facial recognition at major entry points.
Schreiber said these reforms, combined with plans for a Digital ID system, aim to close loopholes, protect citizenship records, and end identity fraud linked to the green bar-coded ID book.
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