Arrival
Free 30 days Visa upon arrival for all visitors
To enter Maldives no pre-arrival visa is required.
A thirty day free visa is issued on arrival for all Nationalities, provided the following conditions are met:
- Should posses a valid passport and
- Have a valid ticket to continue the journey out of Maldives and
- Have enough funds to cover the expenses for duration of the stay in Maldives. (US$100 + $50 dollars per day) or a confirmation of reservation in a Tourist Resort or a Hotel
Caution: Full thirty day visa is not a right of the passenger to claim, but lies at the discretion of the Immigration to issue not more than thirty days and any period less than thirty days.
EMPLOYMENT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNDER THIS CATEGORY.
Following are exempted from this requirement.
* Diplomats
* UN Personnel
* Approved persons for employment
* Technical and other experts attached to the Government
* Those who have confirm bookings in registered tourist resort/hotels etc.
* Those sponsored by Maldivians
No prior visa is required to enter the Republic of Maldives. Entry permit will be granted to visitors on arrival at designated ports of entry, based on the immigration requirements.
Sponsorship
A foreigner maybe allowed to enter Maldives through the sponsorship program. The sponsor should fill and submit the related application form available at the Immigration.
The foreigner should not travel to Maldives under this program, until the sponsorship is approved. It is the responsibilty of the foreigner to ensure that the sponsorship has been approved. Failing upon which the foreigner maybe refused entry.
A sponsor could be a local or a locally registered company.
Renewal of Tourist Visa
A Tourist visa maybe be renewed if the person concerned, applies to the Immigration before the expiration of the visa already granted. Before the extension, Immigration will re-asses the incumbents financial position for the stay period of the extension. An extension can only be applied through the Visa Extension Application Form, at the Head Office during official working hours. Extension if considered, would be granted to a duration not exceeding a total of 90 days (including the days granted on arrival).
A visa fee of Rufiyaa 750 will be charged, for the full extension or part thereof (30 days free + 60 days chargeable) No visa fee will be charged if the extension does not exceed 30 days, that is including the days granted on arrival. FOREIGNERS WHO STAY BEYOND THE APPROVED STAY, MAYBE DEPORTED.
Refusal of Entry
Any person arriving in Maldives maybe refused entry, if the Immigration officer during questioning or interviewing the passenger
1. Have reasonable grounds (not necessarily solid proof) that the person is carrying fraudulent travel documents.
2. Suspects the apparent intention to the possible disruption of harmony and unlawful activities.
3. Has strong anti-semantic religious or political views.
Caution:The right to refuse an entry lies at the discretion of the Immigration and not as a right to claim entry.
Removal from Maldives
Any person staying in Maldives could be removed from Maldives immediately if the person concerned is :
1. Found working on a Tourist Visa
2. Found participating in any unlawful activity or even the intention to participate or initiate an unlawful activity
3. Suspected of disrupting the religious or political harmony
4. Reported to have become a public nuisance
5. Found with expired stay permit
6. Found with expired Work Permit
The removal could be translated as deportation from Maldives until such time, the Immigration seems fit.
Summary Table of Categories of Permits
| Category | Eligibility | Condition | Privileges |
| Tourist Visa | For all nationalities | Read the relevant text above | EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED |
| Resident Permits | People with valid Work Permits | Read the relevant text above | EMPLOYMENT ALLOWED |
| Marriage Visa | Person married to a Maldivian | On arrival should submit the proof of marriage.Burden of proof lies with the applicant Proof can be a Marriage certificate in English or an English translation Marriage should be locally registered with the concerned court of law within the granted period before a Marriage Visa would be granted. | EMPLOYMENT ALLOWED |
| Foreign Widow | Wife of a Maldivian, whose husband has passed away while married. | The Widow Visa status will get canceled once married | EMPLOYMENT ALLOWED |
| Student Visa | Should have a guardian in Maldives | A letter should be sent to the Immigration by the guardian stating:The intention to study in Maldives To act as a guardian by the applicant The type of study | EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED |
| Dependent Visa | Wife, husband and children of a work permit holder Children should be less than 18 years old | The category of employment (Labor Ministry) should allow dependents.Burden of Proof (Marriage or Guardianship of children) lies entirely on the person applying Marriage Certificates in English (or an English Translation of the same)Birth Certificates in English (or an English Translation of the same)Can switch from a Tourist Visa to a dependent Visa if the conditions are met. | EMPLOYMENT PROHIBITED |
Crews coming to join a vessel
Crews coming to join a vessel should inform, in writing, to the Immigration prior to the arrival through the local agent of the vessel. The letter should specify the name of the vessel and the intention to sign-on to this vessel. Crews arriving without prior knowledge of arrival would be refused to sign-on to the vessel and would have to re-enter Maldives. On arrival seven days tourist visa would be granted, during which the crew should apply to the Harbor Immigration to get signed-on to the vessel, through the local agent of the vessel.
Due to any reason, if the crew fails to sign-on before the expiration of the given duration, the agent should apply for an extension, failing upon which the crew might be refused to join the vessel and ask to leave and re-enter.
Departure from Maldives
All persons leaving Maldives should posses a valid passport or a travel document. If the passport of a foreigner gets expired or gets lost while staying in Maldives:
1. a proper travel document or a passport should be obtained from a Mission closest to Maldives.
OR
2. a carrier flying directly or indirectly to foreigners home destination, agrees to carry the person concerned.
Transit Passengers
Transit passengers must leave within 24 hours of arrival. If a transit passenger fails to leave within 24 hours the passenger should revise the permit to stay.
