Everyone wants to travel to the Maldives to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Well, before you make detailed plans to get there, you must know Maldives entry information. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to the Maldives because of missing or incorrect documents. You are also required to obtain a visa if you have other purposes to visit. In this article, we will show you some information about entering the Maldives.
Do I need a passport to enter Maldives?
Yes. When you enter the Maldives, you must take your passport with at least 6-month validity. If you take an expired passport, you are not allowed to go into Maldives. Therefore, you need to check your backpack and suitcase to put your passport in.
What are the required documents for entry?
For most foreigners, you must provide the following documents before you enter the Maldives:
- A valid pre-approved visa for the purpose of a visit.
- A valid machine-readable (MRZ) passport for entry must be valid for more than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- A complete itinerary with confirmed tickets for the return journey and hotel reservation at a registered hotel.
- Proof of financial support for the stay in Maldives (US$100 and US$50 per person per day).
- 2 passport-size photographs with a white background.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you travel from a yellow fever country.
Additional documentation is required to submit if you are entering the Maldives for a variety of purposes.
Visa types for Maldives
There are many types of visas for your various purposes of visiting the Maldives. Here you can check the visas issued by the Maldives government below. Make sure that what you are applying for is exactly what you need.
Tourist Visa
You must apply for a tourist visa if you are traveling to the Maldives for tourism purposes. It is valid for 30 days and you can get an extension of 60 days on request. However, you must apply 2 days before your tourist visa expires.
Meeting Visa
This is an on-arrival 14-day short-stay visa that is granted to any foreigner visiting the Maldives to attend a meeting, conference, or convention held in the Maldives. But you need to know that the Meeting Visa is a non-extendable visa. If you hold a Meeting Visa, you are not eligible to obtain a Business Visa while in the Maldives.
Business Visa
A temporary multiple entry visa for a foreign national who intends to do business in the Maldives.
Work Visa
A foreigner travels to the Maldives for employment. The visa process will take 3 working days and the valid work permit can not exceed 90 days from the date of issue.
Marriage Visa
It is a visa that allows a foreign national to marry a Maldivian national. Once you have arrived in the Maldives, you must complete the legal marriage process within 30 days. The new Marriage Visa is issued for 1 year and can be extended to 5 years.
Dependent Visa
It is a visa for those who are dependent on their spouse or family for 3 months.
How to apply for a tourist visa in the Maldives?
You do not need to apply for a tourist visa in advance, as the tourist visa is issued for all nationalities upon arrival in Maldives, such as the USA, Australia and Canada, and so on. Here you can follow the steps below to get your Maldives tourist visa.
- Before the trip, you must collect all the necessary documents for a Maldives tourist visa, such as a valid passport and any other supporting documents.
- After arriving at the airport, tourists can go to the Maldives immigration counter to complete the Maldives immigration application form.
- After completing the form, show your valid passport, form, and travel document to the immigration officer and pay the visa fee if you need to extend your stay.
- Once the officer has checked the information for you, you can receive a Maldives visa stamp in your passport, which allows you to stay in Maldives for 30 days.
Make sure all the documents you submit are correct and valid, otherwise, your visa application may be rejected
Maldives visa exemption and requirements
Only citizens of two countries do not require a visa when entering Maldives for tourism. However, they must have a valid and regular passport when they travel to Maldives. And they can stay there for up to 90 days. These countries are listed as follows.
What do I need to prepare for a work visa?
In addition to the documents listed above, you must also show a copy of the Work Permit and Work Visa Application Submission Receipt (IM29). Employers and recruitment agencies can apply for the service through the Xpat Online System, where the visa will be processed within 48 hours of successful submission.
What children or minors are preparing to enter the Maldives?
For children and young people, you must have your own passport to enter the Maldives. Children must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Do I need to complete a traveler’s declaration?
Yes. All foreign travelers, such as tourists, work visas, and other visa holders, must complete and submit a self-declaration of health upon entering the Maldives. This can reduce health risks and ease the immigration process. Be safe than sorry.
How much is the visa fee?
When you apply for a tourist visa issued on arrival for 30 days, it is completely free of charge. However, you must pay a MVR750 fee if you extend your tourist visa for 90 days. You need to pay MVR750 for a Business Visa and Dependent Visa, and MVR50 for a Marriage Visa.
Do I need to apply for a visa before arriving in the Maldives?
No. You can get a tourist visa on arrival if you have all the essential documents with you, such as a valid passport over 6 months of validity, enough financial budget to travel, and return tickets to your country. However, the arrival visa can only be applied for the Maldives tourist visa.
Is it legal to enter the Maldives with pets?
It depends on what kind of animals you take with you. Dogs are not allowed in the Maldives. If you have other pets, they must have a valid veterinary certificate. For example, when you take cats to the Maldives, they need rabies vaccination at least 30 days before entering.
Conclusion
All in all, it is a great choice to travel to Maldives and enjoy warm weather and crystal clear water. When you have prepared your visa, passport, enough money, and other relevant documents, start your journey and enjoy the fun with your family and friends.
Dolores Xiao