Maldives visa and entry requirements: a practical guide

The Maldives is one of the easiest countries in the world to enter. According to Maldives Immigration and the country’s overseas missions, the tourist visa is:

• Free – there is no fee for the 30-day visa on arrival.
• Open to most nationalities – you do not need to arrange anything at an embassy first.
• Issued at the border – the immigration officer stamps your passport when you arrive, usually at Velana International Airport.
• Valid for 30 days from the date of arrival.

Entry is still at the immigration officer’s discretion. Have your documents ready and make sure your plans match your declaration.

What you need to show

Maldives missions list these conditions for the tourist visa:

• A valid passport. The official minimum is one month’s validity beyond your stay. Many airlines insist on six months before they let you board, so check with your airline rather than relying on the minimum.
• An onward or return ticket out of the Maldives.
• Confirmed accommodation, or proof of funds. A booking at a registered guesthouse, hotel, resort or liveaboard is the usual proof. If you do not have one, you may be asked to show you can pay for your stay.

IMUGA is the online portal of Maldives Immigration. Every foreign traveller arriving in the country must complete a Traveller Declaration there, and it covers both immigration and health questions. It is free.

1. Go to the official site: imuga.immigration.gov.mv. Ignore websites that charge a fee to “process” the form for you – the government version costs nothing.

2. Enter your passport details exactly as printed: full name, nationality, passport number, date of birth and expiry date.

3. Add your travel details: arrival date, airline and flight number, and where you are flying in from.

4. Add your accommodation in the Maldives: the name of your guesthouse, hotel or resort and the island it is on.

5. Answer the health and customs questions honestly.

6. Submit within 96 hours before arrival. Earlier forms may not be accepted.

7. Save the confirmation (a screenshot or the emailed QR code is fine). Airlines may ask to see it at check-in, and immigration can check it on arrival.

Each traveller needs their own declaration, including babies and children.

Do you need a departure declaration?

Older guides say you must also fill in IMUGA within 96 hours before leaving. Maldives Immigration dropped the departure form for outbound travellers from 15 August 2024, as reported at the time. If the portal asks for one when you leave, complete it – it takes a few minutes.

If you are staying on an inhabited “local” island rather than a resort, put the guesthouse’s name and the island on your IMUGA form – for example, a guesthouse on Dhiffushi in Kaafu Atoll.

Many local island hosts arrange your speedboat and meet you at the airport. Our guide to getting around the Maldives explains speedboats, public ferries and domestic flights, and how to get to Dhiffushi is a worked example: about 40–50 minutes by shared speedboat from the airport.

Almost all international flights land at Velana International Airport on Hulhulé, next to Malé.

1. Immigration. The officer may ask about your accommodation, ticket out and length of stay, then stamps your 30-day visa.

2. Baggage reclaim, then customs. Bags are often scanned. Declare anything you are unsure about.

3. Arrivals hall. Hosts and transfer desks wait here; the speedboat jetties are just across the road.

What you cannot bring in

Maldives Customs prohibits these imports:

• Alcohol (of any kind)
• Pork and pork products
• Narcotics
• Pornography
• Idols for worship

Duty-free alcohol bought on the way will be taken and held by customs. You may be able to collect it when you leave – keep the receipt customs gives you.

Bring personal medicines in their original packaging with a copy of your prescription.

Remember that alcohol is not sold or allowed on local islands at all – only resorts, the airport hotel island and liveaboards are licensed. More on this in our local islands guide.

If you want to stay longer than 30 days, you can apply to Maldives Immigration in Malé for an extension of up to 60 more days (90 days in total). Apply before your first 30 days run out – overstaying can lead to fines and problems on departure.

For an extension you will normally need your passport, proof of accommodation for the extra time, an onward ticket and evidence that you can fund the stay.

A tourist visa does not allow you to work in the Maldives – paid or unpaid. That includes trading volunteer work for a free room. Work needs a separate employment approval arranged by an employer through Maldives Immigration.

• Every child, including babies, needs their own passport – they cannot travel on a parent’s.
• Every child needs their own IMUGA declaration.
• Children get the same free 30-day visa on arrival.
• If a child is travelling with only one parent, or with other adults, it is sensible to carry a signed consent letter from the absent parent(s) and a copy of the birth certificate, in case you are asked.

Children under two are exempt from the green tax, as set by MIRA. Our guide to money, costs and taxes covers the other charges you will pay.

No vaccinations are required for most visitors. The exception is yellow fever: according to Maldives missions, if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic (parts of Central Africa and South America), you need an international certificate of vaccination against yellow fever.

Local islands usually have a health centre – Dhiffushi has one on the island – while serious cases are taken to Malé.

Travel insurance is not a condition of the Maldives tourist visa. It is still strongly recommended. Look for a policy that covers:

• Medical treatment and emergency evacuation from a remote island
• Scuba diving, if you plan to dive
• Cancellations and delays – weather can disrupt boat transfers

Ready to plan the rest? Start with our Maldives travel guide, check the best time to visit, and when you’re ready, plan a stay on Dhiffushi.