Visa policy of the Maldives

{{short description|Policy on permits required to enter the Maldives}} {{Politics of the Maldives}} {{multiple image | footer = Entry and exit stamps of Maldives issued at Velana International Airport. | width = 115 | image1 = Maldives entry stamp 20210812.jpg | alt1 = Maldives Entry stamp | image2 = Maldives exit stamp 20210902.jpg | alt2 = Maldives Exit stamp }}

The '''Maldives''' grants a free 30-day visa on arrival to citizens of all countries, excluding those who are visa-exempt. However, entry is denied to Israeli passports.<ref name=doi>{{cite web|title=Tourist Visa|url=https://www.immigration.gov.mv/visa/tourist-visa|publisher=Maldives Immigration, Republic of Maldives}}</ref>

==Visa policy map== 665px|none|thumbnail|Visa policy of Maldives {{legend|#ED1C24|Maldives}} {{legend|#22B14C|Visa not required (90 days)}} {{legend|#B5E61D|Visa not required (30 days)}} {{legend|#FFD000|Free Visa on arrival}} {{legend|#000000|Admission refused}}

==Visa exemption== Citizens of the following countries can enter the Maldives without a visa:<ref>{{Timatic Visa Policy|country=MV|access-date=10 March 2025}}</ref>

{|style=" border-radius:1em; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); background-color: white; border: 1px solid white; padding: 5px;" |- style="vertical-align:top;" | '''90 days''' {| | *{{flag|Azerbaijan}} *{{flag|India}} *{{flag|Pakistan}}1 |valign="top"| *{{flag|Malaysia}} *{{flag|Russia}} *{{flag|Sri Lanka}}1 | |}

'''30 days''' {| | *{{flag|Cambodia}}1 *{{flag|China}} *{{flag|Guyana}} *{{flag|Kazakhstan}}1 |valign="top"| *{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}1 *{{flag|Mongolia}} *{{flag|Seychelles}} | |} |}

1 - Listed as free Visa on arrival on IATA.

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |- !style="width:100%;";"|Date of visa changes |- | Nationals of Pakistan<ref> [https://www.interior.gov.pk/index.php/downloads/category/3-public-notices?download=223:list-of-countries-with-whom-pakistan-has-visa-abolition-agreements]</ref> never needed a visa to enter Maldives * March 1979: India<ref> [https://passport.assam.gov.in/sites/default/files/swf_utility_folder/departments/passport_webcomindia_org_oid_3/do_u_want_2_know/Document1.pdf]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://india-e-visa.net/india-visa-waiver-agreements/ | title=India Visa Waiver Agreements }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FAQ in Visa Services | url=https://eoi.gov.in/eoisearch/MyPrint.php?2985?001/0011#:~:text=A%3A%20Maldivian%20nationals%20are%20exempted%20from%20the%20requirement%20of%20a,of%20ninety%20(90)%20days%20provided | access-date=27 March 2024 | website=Ministry of External Affairs | language=English}}</ref> *25 July 2019: Russia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreign.gov.mv/index.php/en/consular/for-maldivian/visa-information/visa/russia|title=Russia|website=foreign.gov.mv}}</ref> *02 September 2019: Sri Lanka<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/190901/news/90-day-visa-free-deal-between-sri-lanka-and-the-maldives-366405.html | title=90-day visa free deal between Sri Lanka and the Maldives }}</ref> *14 September 2022: Kazakhstan<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreign.gov.mv/index.php/en/consular/for-maldivian/visa-information/visa/kazakhstan|title=Kazakhstan|website=foreign.gov.mv}}</ref> *17 February 2023: China<ref>{{cite news | date=17 February 2023 |title=《中华人民共和国政府和马尔代夫共和国政府关于互免签证的协定》生效 | trans-title=The Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Maldives on Mutual Visa Exemption takes effect | url=http://www.news.cn/world/2023-02/17/c_1129372834.htm | access-date=27 March 2024 | work=Xinhua | language=Chinese}}</ref> *4 May 2023: Cambodia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreign.gov.mv/index.php/en/consular/for-maldivian/visa-information/visa/cambodia|title=Cambodia|website=foreign.gov.mv}}</ref> *20 August 2023: Kyrgyzstan<ref>{{cite news | date=19 August 2023 |title=《中华人民共和国政府和马尔代夫共和国政府关于互免签证的协定》生效 | trans-title=Информационное сообщение МИД КР от 19 августа 2023 года | url=https://mfa.gov.kg/ru/osnovnoe-menyu/press-sluzhba/novosti/informacionnoe-soobshchenie-mid-kr-ot-19-avgusta-2023-goda | access-date=23 August 2024 | language=Russian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreign.gov.mv/index.php/en/consular/for-maldivian/visa-information/visa/kyrgyzstan|title=Kyrgyzstan|website=foreign.gov.mv}}</ref> *26 September 2023: Guyana<ref>{{cite web | url=https://foreign.gov.mv/index.php/en/consular/for-maldivian/visa-information/visa/guyana | title=Guyana }}</ref> *12 January 2024: Mongolia<ref>{{cite web | last=D. | first=Oyunsan | date=2 January 2024 | title=Visa-Free Travel with Maldives to Take Effect from January 12, 2024 | url=https://montsame.mn/en/read/334591#:~:text=An%20agreement%20between%20the%20Government,force%20on%20January%2012%2C%202024. | access-date=27 March 2024 | website=Montsame}}</ref> *29 April 2026: Azerbaijan<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mahmudova |first1=Gulnar |title=Azerbaijan and Maldives lift visa requirements |url=https://report.az/en/foreign-politics/azerbaijan-and-maldives-lift-visa-requirements |website=Report.az |access-date=29 April 2026 |language=en |date=29 April 2026}}</ref> *15 May 2026: Seychelles<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreign.gov.mv/index.php/en/media-center/news/minister-of-foreign-affairs-of-seychelles-concludes-official-visit-to-the-maldives|title=Seychells|website=foreign.gov.mv}}</ref> |- |}

In addition, holders of diplomatic, official and service passports of Japan can enter the Maldives without a visa.

==Entry requirements== All visitors to Maldives must: * Hold a passport or a travel document with a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) with at least 1 months validity. (Passengers with an extended validity in their passports are not allowed to enter.)<ref name="EntryRequirements">{{cite web |title=Entry Requirements |url=https://www.immigration.gov.mv/visa/tourist-visa |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=Maldives Immigration}}</ref> * Have a complete travel itinerary including confirmed return journey tickets, a prepaid confirmed booking at a [https://www.tourism.gov.mv/en/overview/19 registered facility], and sufficient funds to cover the stay in the Maldives, or a pre-approved sponsorship visa from Maldives Immigration.<ref name="EntryRequirements"/> * Have entry requirements to their onward destination; for example, the visa and passport validity.<ref name="EntryRequirements"/> * Have [https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller Traveller Declaration] form filled in and submitted by all foreigners arriving to the Maldives, within 96 hours (4 days) to the flight time. Submission of the form is free of charge and must be filled electronically via the [http://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ IMUGA] portal.<ref name="EntryRequirements"/> * Have ''Carte Jaune'' proof of a yellow fever vaccination, if applicable. Children under 1 year of age are exempt from the yellow fever vaccination.<ref name="EntryRequirements"/><ref>{{cite web | title=List of Yellow Fever Endemic Countries | url=https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/countries-with-risk-of-yellow-fever-transmission-and-countries-requiring-yellow-fever-vaccination-(november-2022) | access-date=27 March 2024 | website=WHO}}</ref>

==Admission restricted== * As of 15 April 2025, entry and transit is refused to Israel citizens, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight. This is a temporary measure in response to the Gaza war and domestic public anger until further notice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament approves banning entry on Israeli passports |url=https://edition.mv/maldives/40532 |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=The Edition |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=15 April 2025 |title=Abbas: Banning Israel passport the best and harshest measure possible on a national level |url=https://en.sun.mv/95963 |archive-url= |access-date= |work=Sun.mv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 April 2025 |title=Maldives bans entry of Israelis in 'resolute solidarity' with Palestinians |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/maldives-bans-entry-of-israelis-in-resolute-solidarity-with-palestinians/ |access-date=15 April 2025 |work=The Times of Israel |agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref>

* Regardless of citizenship, Maldives does not allow entry for periods of less than 24 hours, even (especially) for transit purposes.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==Future changes== Maldives has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Country ! Passports ! Agreement signed on |- | {{flag|Ghana}} | All | 14 March 2023 |- | {{flag|Burundi}} | All | 26 April 2023 |- | {{flag|Rwanda}} | All | 5 May 2023 |- | {{flag|Serbia}} | Diplomatic, official | 8 May 2023 |- | {{flag|The Gambia}} | All | 11 June 2023 |- | {{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}} | All | 19 September 2023 |- | {{flag|Honduras}} | All | 19 September 2023 |- | {{flag|Togo}} | All | 19 September 2023 |- | {{flag|Andorra}} | All | 20 September 2023 |- | {{flag|Oman}} | Diplomatic, official | 2024 |- | {{flag|Tajikistan}} | All | 2024 |- | {{flag|Dominica}} | All | 9 July 2025 |}

==Visitor statistics== Most visitors arriving to the Maldives were from the following countries of nationality:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tourism.gov.mv/ | title=Tourist arrivals by nationality - Ministry of Tourism | website=www.tourism.gov.mv | access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Tourism Yearbook 2019 | url=https://tourism.gov.mv/dms/document/6f8c3fdcbd9e3d3ea7fbfad2cdcfde5d.pdf|website=Ministry of Tourism (Maldives) | access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- |- style="color:white;" ! Country ! 2019 ! 2018 ! 2017 ! 2016 ! 2015 |- | {{flag|China}} || 284,029 || 283,116 || 306,905 || 324,326 || 359,514 |- | {{flag|India}} || 166,030 || 90,474 || 83,019 || 66,955 || 52,368 |- | {{flag|Italy}} || 136,343 || 105,297 || 88,867 || 71,202 || 65,616 |- | {{flag|Germany}} || 131,561 || 117,532 || 112,109 || 106,381 || 105,132 |- | {{flag|United Kingdom}} || 126,199 || 114,602 || 103,977 || 101,843 || 92,775 |- | {{flag|Russia}} || 83,369 || 70,935 || 61,931 || 46,522 || 44,323 |- | {{flag|France}} || 59,738 || 50,476 || 42,365 || 40,487 || 42,024 |- | {{flag|United States}} || 54,474 || 42,901 || 39,180 || 32,589 || 29,308 |- | {{flag|Japan}} || 44,251 || 42,304 || 41,133 || 39,894 || 39,244 |- | {{flag|Australia}} || 39,928 || 37,254 || 27,360 || - || - |- | Total || 1,702,887 || 1,484,274 || 1,389,542 || 1,286,135 || 1,234,248 |}

==See also== {{Wikivoyage|Maldives}} * Visa requirements for Maldivian citizens

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links==

* [https://immigration.gov.mv/ Maldives Immigration]

Maldives