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Select the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Maldives.
5 routes
Visit
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Maldives Tourist Visa Extension
Tourists who wish to stay beyond the free 30-day visa on arrival may apply to Maldives Immigration to extend their stay for a further period, taking the total stay up to a maximum of 90 days. The extension is not automatic: it must be requested before the original visa expires, usually through a local sponsor such as the resort, hotel or guesthouse, and Immigration re-examines whether the applicant has sufficient funds for the remaining stay. A government fee of MVR 750 applies to the extension. Overstaying the permitted period can result in fines and, in serious cases, a re-entry ban. The extension carries the same tourism-only conditions as the original visa and confers no work or study rights.
Max stay
90 days
Validity
90 days
Document checklist (5)
Visa extension applicationTourist visa extension application filed with Maldives Immigration before the current visa expires.
PassportPassport valid for the extended period of stay.
Local sponsor supportApplication made through a local sponsor (resort, hotel or guesthouse) where applicable.
Proof of sufficient fundsEvidence of funds to cover expenses for the remainder of the stay.
Onward or return ticketOptionalConfirmed ticket to leave the Maldives at the end of the extended stay.
Tourist Visa
Maldives Tourist Visa on Arrival
The Maldives grants a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival to nationals of every country, with no pre-approval or embassy application required. Every arriving traveller must first submit the electronic 'Traveller Declaration' through the IMUGA portal (imuga.immigration.gov.mv), which can be filed up to 96 hours before arrival and is free of charge. On arrival, travellers must present a machine-readable passport valid for at least one month, a confirmed onward or return ticket, a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered facility, and sufficient funds (around US$100 plus US$50 per day) for the stay. The visa permits tourism only and does not authorise work or study. Effective 15 April 2025, entry to the Maldives is not granted on Israeli passports.
Government fee
$0
Processing time
0 days
Max stay
30 days
Validity
30 days
Document checklist (6)
PassportPassport or travel document with a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) valid for at least one month.
Traveller Declaration (IMUGA)Electronic Traveller Declaration submitted free of charge via imuga.immigration.gov.mv, up to 96 hours before arrival.
Onward or return ticketConfirmed ticket to continue the journey out of the Maldives.
Proof of accommodationPrepaid confirmed booking at a registered tourist resort, hotel or guesthouse.
Proof of sufficient fundsEvidence of funds to cover the stay (approximately US$100 plus US$50 per day) or a confirmed resort/hotel reservation.
Yellow fever certificateOptionalYellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from or transiting an affected country.
Transit Visa
Maldives Transit (Visa on Arrival for Onward Travel)
Passengers travelling onward to another country via Velana International Airport who remain airside and do not clear Maldives arrival immigration do not require a visa. Travellers who wish to leave the airport during a layover, or to visit Male or a resort before their onward flight, are admitted under the standard free 30-day visa on arrival granted to all nationalities, subject to a submitted IMUGA Traveller Declaration, a valid onward ticket and proof of onward entry documents. The Maldives does not operate a separate paid transit visa category; short stopovers are covered by the same visa-on-arrival rules. No work or study is permitted.
Government fee
$0
Processing time
0 days
Max stay
30 days
Validity
30 days
Document checklist (4)
PassportMachine-readable passport valid for at least one month.
Onward ticketConfirmed ticket for the continuing journey out of the Maldives.
Traveller Declaration (IMUGA)Electronic Traveller Declaration via imuga.immigration.gov.mv for travellers who clear immigration.
Onward destination documentsValid entry documents (visa where required) for the onward destination.
Business Visitor Visa
Maldives Business Visa
The Business Visa is a temporary visa issued to foreign nationals coming to the Maldives for business purposes such as meetings, negotiations and short assignments. It is granted for periods of 30 to 90 days at a time and may not exceed a total of 180 days within a calendar year. Applications are not lodged at an embassy; they are submitted through the Ministry of Economic Development's Business Portal (business.egov.mv), which generates a General Service Request (GSR) number, and Maldives Immigration then verifies and processes the request. The visa permits business activity but not local employment, which requires a separate Work Permit and Work Visa.
Passport copyClear colour copy of the passport data page with at least 6 months validity.
Recent photographPhotograph taken within the last 3 months meeting Maldives Immigration photo standards.
Business Portal applicationApplication submitted through the Ministry of Economic Development Business Portal (business.egov.mv).
Supporting business documentsOptionalInvitation, contract or other evidence of the business purpose, as required by the Ministry.
Medical Treatment Visa
Maldives Medical Treatment (Visa on Arrival)
The Maldives does not operate a dedicated medical-treatment visa; foreign nationals coming for medical care are admitted under the standard free 30-day visa on arrival available to all nationalities, which can be extended through the tourist visa extension up to a total of 90 days for an MVR 750 fee. Applicants follow the normal entry process: submit the IMUGA Traveller Declaration, hold a machine-readable passport, and show onward travel, accommodation and sufficient funds. For care expected to exceed 90 days, longer-term arrangements would fall outside the visa-on-arrival framework and require separate authorisation. The Maldives' own residents often travel abroad (notably to India and Sri Lanka) for advanced treatment, so inbound medical tourism is limited.
Government fee
$0
Processing time
0 days
Max stay
30 days
Validity
30 days
Document checklist (5)
PassportMachine-readable passport valid for at least one month.
Traveller Declaration (IMUGA)Electronic Traveller Declaration via imuga.immigration.gov.mv before arrival.
Proof of sufficient fundsEvidence of funds to cover treatment and the stay.
Onward or return ticketConfirmed ticket to leave the Maldives.
Medical appointment evidenceOptionalLetter or booking from the treating facility, where applicable.
Not yet researched
Pilgrimage Visa
1 route
Study & Training
Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
Maldives Student Visa
A Student Visa allows foreign nationals to undertake formal education at a Maldivian university or college. Applicants are expected to provide a letter of acceptance from the recognised institution, proof of sufficient funds, and accommodation details, and applications are processed through Maldives Immigration's online systems. Because the Maldives has limited higher-education infrastructure, the number of inbound foreign students is small and most published guidance is general. Specific fee amounts, validity periods and detailed document lists for this category are not clearly published on the official immigration portal, so the details here are recorded at low confidence and applicants should confirm current requirements with Maldives Immigration and the host institution.
Medical and insurance documentsOptionalMedical screening and health insurance where required.
Not yet researched
Language Course Visa
Internship / Trainee Visa
Exchange Program Visa
2 routes
Work & Self-Employment
Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Skilled Work Visa
Maldives Work Visa (Work e-Visa)
The Work Visa authorises a foreign national to be employed in the Maldives and is the final step after the employer secures a quota and a Work Permit. The employer first obtains an employment quota and Work Permit through the relevant ministry, then the worker travels to the Maldives, and the employer or representative must apply for the Work e-Visa within 15 days of arrival. The visa is applied for through the Xpat Online System (xpat.egov.mv) using a valid eFaas account, and its validity is tied directly to the validity of the approved Work Permit; renewed visas carry a maximum validity of one year. From 23 November 2025, only an approved e-Visa is recognised as a valid Work Visa and passport stickers are no longer valid. A separate monthly Work Permit Fee of MVR 350 per worker is payable to MIRA by the employer, along with mandatory expatriate medical insurance and a repatriation deposit.
Valid Work PermitWork Permit issued by the responsible ministry, against an approved employer quota, valid at the time of application.
Recent photographRecent photograph compliant with Maldives Immigration photo standards.
Passport biodata pageClear colour copy of the passport biodata page.
Expatriate medical insuranceRegistration under the Expatriate Medical Insurance scheme before applying for the visa.
Medical check-upCompleted medical examination from a permitted hospital or clinic.
eFaas accountValid eFaas account used to submit the application via the Xpat Online System (xpat.egov.mv).
Skilled Work Visa
Maldives Work Permit and Employment Quota
The Work Permit is the employer-driven authorisation that must be in place before a foreign worker can obtain a Work Visa, and it underpins the Maldives' large migrant-labour workforce. The employer first applies for an employment quota specifying the number of foreign workers and positions, and once the quota is approved submits a Work Permit application for the specific employee, including job role and contract details. A Work Permit is valid for up to 90 days from the date of issue for the worker to enter and convert it into a Work e-Visa within 15 days of arrival. The permit remains valid only for the period the monthly Work Permit Fee of MVR 350 per worker is paid to MIRA. Employers must also provide expatriate medical insurance and a repatriation deposit covering the cost of returning the worker home. This product captures the permit/quota stage; the worker's lawful stay is governed by the linked Work Visa.
Approved employment quotaQuota approval for the employer specifying the number and categories of foreign workers.
Employment contractContract detailing the job role, conditions and salary for the specific worker.
Employer registrationEvidence of the sponsoring company's registration and good standing.
Worker passport copyClear colour copy of the worker's passport biodata page.
Repatriation depositDeposit covering economy-class airfare and other costs of repatriating the worker if needed.
Expatriate medical insuranceMedical insurance for the worker under the Expatriate Medical Insurance scheme.
Not yet researched
Digital Nomad Visa
Freelancer Visa
Self-Employment Visa
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Seasonal Work Visa
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
No verified routes yet
Invest & Capital
Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Not yet researched
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Residence by Real Estate
Citizenship by Investment
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
Business Investor Visa
No verified routes yet
Retire & Lifestyle
Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Not yet researched
Retirement Visa
Working Holiday Visa
2 routes
Family & Origin
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Spouse / Partner Visa
Maldives Marriage / Resident Visa (Spouse of a Maldivian)
The Marriage Visa, also referred to as the Resident Visa, is granted to a foreign national married to a Maldivian citizen, allowing them to reside in the Maldives. Foreigners coming to marry a Maldivian or to register a marriage must be sponsored before arrival via a Sponsorship Declaration on the IMUGA portal, complete the legal marriage registration, and then apply for the Marriage Visa; those already in the country on another visa apply for a transfer after registration. The visa is first issued for 1 year and can be renewed for up to 5 years, with extension applications submitted via IMUGA at least 3 months before expiry. A fee of MVR 50 is charged for the visa card. This is the Maldives' principal long-term residence route for foreign nationals.
Medical health screeningMedical screening report for first-time applicants.
Health insuranceValid health insurance for first-time applicants.
Sponsorship DeclarationOptionalSponsorship Declaration via IMUGA before arrival for those entering to marry.
Dependent Relative Visa
Maldives Dependent Visa
The Dependent Visa allows immediate family members of expatriates working in the Maldives in professional categories to reside with the sponsoring worker. First-time applicants must obtain a Sponsorship Declaration through the IMUGA portal at least 5 working days before arrival, stating that the purpose is to bring in a dependent, and then apply for the Dependent Visa after entering the country. The application is submitted via imuga.immigration.gov.mv with the required documents, after which an appointment is issued by SMS for passport submission. The government charges a visa fee of MVR 750 and a card fee of MVR 50. The visa is tied to the sponsoring worker's status and does not by itself confer work rights.
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