Maldives Visa Guide

Visa Information

Visa Requirements: Visa required.

Visa exemptions: Nationals of India for a maximum stay of 90 days.

Visa Issuance:

1. Nationals of India traveling as tourists can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days. They must have a hotel reservation confirmation. They can apply to extend their stay for an additional 60 days.
2. Passengers traveling on business or on duty can obtain a visa on arrival if holding an application form approved by the Maldives Immigration.
3. Maldivian Citizens will no longer be required to submit the “Online Traveler Declaration Form (The electronic Embarkation/Disembarkation card of the Maldives)” when arriving to and departing from Maldives by air as per Controller General of Immigration.

Additional Information: 

Visitors are required to hold at least USD 100.- per person per day to cover their stay.

Information 1: This does not apply to passengers with a Maldivian sponsor.

Implementation of Electronic Visa (E-Visa) for Work Permit and other permit holders.

• The work visa sticker will no longer be valid. 
• Existing visa in the passport will be automatically updated to an e-visa. 
• Only the e-visa will be recognized as a valid work visa. 
• All For expatriates working in the Maldives with a work permit, even if they have a valid work visa on their passport, issued before 23rd November 2025, their visa will be automatically converted to an e-visa within the system starting from 23rd November 2025. The validity of this e-visa will be based on the validity of the expatriate's work permit. 
• Even if an expatriate working in the Maldives with a work permit has a valid work visa in their passport issued before 23'd November 2025, permission to depart from the Maldives on a work visa will only be granted to those who hold a valid e-visa.
• Foreigners arriving in the Maldives with a new work permit will be granted entry only if they hold a valid "Entry Pass" issued by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology.
• A foreigner arriving in the Maldives with a new work permit (entry pass), who is required to depart ( from the Maldives within 15 (fifteen) days of their arrival without completing the work visa process, shall be granted permission to depart, provided their work permit is still valid. Under such circumstances, departure without completing the work visa process will be permitted only once within the 15 (fifteen) days from the date of the foreigner’s entry into the Maldives.

Other visa’s

• E-visas will be issued to foreigners residing in the Maldives on visas other than:
  • Work visa
  • Meeting visa
  • Tourist visa
• If a foreigner holds a valid single-entry or multiple-entry visa (excluding work, meeting, and tourist visas) issued before 23rd November 2025, That visa will remain valid until its expiration date.

Holders of a valid multiple-entry visa issued before 23rd November 2025 will be granted permission to enter the Maldives using that visa. This applies only if the visa remains valid at the time of entry.

Warning: Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry.

Passport Information

Passport Requirement: Passport required.

Document Validity: Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of 1 month from the arrival date.

Additional Information:

1. Passports must be machine-readable to enter and transit.
2. Minors must have their own passport.

Warning:

1. Minors: Minors must have their own passport.
2. Passengers with an extended validity in their passports are not allowed to enter.
3. Passengers traveling as tourists must have a hotel reservation confirmation for the entire stay in a registered tourist facility.

When we think of the Maldives, images of a calm shore lapping against the sandy beaches, tall palm trees leaning against each other, and the ocean as tranquil as it can get, come to mind.

The Maldives is a favourite destination to spend a romantic holiday. It is a country suitable for all kinds of vacationers. So, if you have been planning a break from the city, the Maldives couldn't be a better place.

The country’s exotic islands, dotted with several resorts and hotels, will give you the essence of calmness and serenity. You can get a suntan on the white sandy beaches, explore the magnificent reefs, and unravel several kinds of interesting attractions.

One of the best parts of visiting Maldives is that, it is a visa free country for Indian nationals. For all Indian citizens, Maldives is completely free and contains no hidden terms. We’ve provided all the details to help you apply for your next visit.

We know that the Maldives offers visa on arrival for Indian nationals, so it is not necessary to pre-arrange for the visa. The Maldives visa on arrival is valid for one month. To get the visa, you will need to have the following documents ready to show at the immigration counter. The visa on arrival can be extended for a maximum of 90 days.

• Confirmed return tickets to fly from the Maldives
• Valid passport with at least six months validity from the date of arrival
• Confirmed hotel booking in Maldives

Since you will receive your visa on arrival, there is no processing time. On arrival, the Department of Immigration will cross-check and verify your details, and if your information and documents look good, you will be allowed to enter the Maldives.

The Maldives government issues around five types of visas: tourist visa, business visa, work visa, marriage visa, and dependent visa. The detailed information for each type of Maldives visa is as follows:

1. Tourist Visa
2. Business Visa
3. Work Visa
4. Marriage Visa
5. Dependent Visa

A tourist visa is provided to all foreign nationals travelling to the Maldives. For Indian nationals, the Maldives provides visa on arrival; thus, there is no need for pre-approval for the visa. The travellers must meet the basic entry requirements upon arrival.

Document Required

• A valid passport with at least 1 month of validity
• Confirmed accommodation proof in the Maldives
• Passport size photograph with a white background
• Bank statement indicating sufficient funds for your stay in the Maldives
• Return flight ticket to your origin country
• Vaccination against Covid-19
• Travel declaration form filled within 96 hours of travelling to the Maldives. It must be submitted electronically via IMUGA website

Stay Duration

The maximum stay duration granted for visa on arrival is for 30 days. The length of the stay is entirely determined by the Maldives Immigration.

Kindly note that categories under social visitors, friends/family visitors, and business visitors are advised to declare sponsorship before their arrival to the Maldives.

Travellers entering the Maldives for business reasons will receive a temporary, multiple-entry visa. This visa has to be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Development through the Ministry’s Business Portal website.

Documents required

• A valid passport with at least 1 month validity
• Confirmed accommodation proof in the Maldives
• Passport size photograph with a white background
• Bank statement indicating sufficient funds for your stay in the Maldives
• Return flight ticket to your origin country
• A letter of invitation
• Completely filled business visa application
• A document specifying the recognition of the company or organization
• Vaccination against Covid-19
• Travel declaration filled within 96 hours of travelling to the Maldives. It must be submitted electronically via IMUGA website

Stay duration

The study duration for business visa is up to 90 days in a 12-month period. For this visa, the processing time is 5 to 10 days.

Those who enter Maldives with a work visa will receive a 15-day permit from the date of arrival. To acquire this pre-period, the travellers need to possess a valid work permit from the Ministry of Economic Development website. The work permit does not exceed over 90 days from the issue date.

The traveller will need to provide the same passport on arrival on which the work permit was issued. Re-entering Maldives for work without a visa is possible only if the work permit is valid for 90 days from the date it has been issued.

Documents required

• A valid passport with at least 1 month validity
• Confirmed accommodation proof in the Maldives
• Passport size photograph with a white background
• Bank statement indicating sufficient funds for your stay in the Maldives
• Return flight ticket to your origin country
• Medical certificate
• Submission receipt of the work visa application
• Vaccination against Covid-19
• Travel declaration filled within 96 hours of travelling to the Maldives. It must be submitted electronically via IMUGA website

Stay duration

The stay duration for work visa is up to 90 days in a 12-month period for work purposes. For this kind of visa, the processing time is 5 to 10 days.

A work visa was introduced by the Maldives Immigration, wherein recruitment agencies need to apply for the service through Xpat Online System website.

Marriage visa allows an individual to stay in the Maldives with their spouse. This visa is granted to a foreign national who is married to a Maldivian national. S/he is required to come to the Maldives to legalise their marriage.

For this, the foreigner can apply for a tourist visa and this will be sponsored by the spouse living in the Maldives. Once the foreign national comes to the country, s/he will need to change their visa to marriage visa within a period of 30 days.

If the visitor is already in the Maldives, the existing visa must be converted to a marriage visa for the procedure to be legalised.

Documents required

• A valid passport
• Permit extension form (IM23)
• Application form must include the individual’s signature and a seal from the family court
• Marriage certificate (original and copy)
• Identity card of the Maldivian national
• Passport size photograph
• Visa card fee (MVR 50)
• Health certificate issued from an authorised hospital

You need to submit the marriage visa application on IMUGA website. Once the application is processed, you will be notified through the portal and will be given an appointment to submit the passport for visa.

Note: Marriage visa is issued for a period of one year if you are a new applicant. The marriage visa extension is issued for a period of 5 years.

As the name suggests, dependent visa is applicable for those who are dependent on their spouse/family. The following are the documents required for a dependent visa.

Documents required

• Permit extension form (IM23)
• A valid passport with machine readable zone (MRZ)
• Passport must have at least 6 months of validity
• Passport size photograph
• Dependent visa card fee (MVR 50)
• Dependent visa fee (MVR 750 for 3 months)
• A copy of visa card of the foreigner or employment approval
• Proof of dependent status, either marriage certificate or birth certificate
• Health certificate issued from an authorised hospital
• Dependent visa applications can be submitted on the IMUGA website

The visa on arrival for Maldives can be extended by applying at the Maldives Immigration in Malé, its capital, before your current visa expires. Make sure you have the necessary means that will help cover your stay as your application will be checked by the Immigration Office.

At Maldives, the maximum duration of your stay is for 90 days. So, if your current visa is for 30 days, you will receive an extension of 60 days.