Effective from May 14, 2023, foreign nationals visiting the Maldives to attend a meeting, conference, or convention may be granted a 14-day short-stay ‘Meeting Visa’ upon arrival, provided they meet the entry requirements for the Maldives.

The prerequisites for entry are as follows:

• The primary purpose of the visit must be to attend or participate in a meeting, conference, or convention held in the Maldives, whether organized by permissible businesses accepted by the Registrar of Businesses, government and state entities, or other approved organizations.
• A complete travel itinerary, including confirmed return tickets, prepaid hotel bookings at registered hotels, and proof of sufficient funds to support the stay in the Maldives.
• A Traveler Declaration must be completed and submitted electronically via IMUGA within 96 hours of the flight to the Maldives.
• A passport or travel document with a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and at least 1 month of validity. Passports with extended validity are not accepted.
• Proof of entry requirements for onward destinations, such as visa and passport validity.

Important Note:

• The Meeting Visa is non-extendable.
• Holders of a Meeting Visa are not eligible to obtain a Business Visa while in the Maldives.
• Entry into the Maldives is not guaranteed even with a complete travel plan (including confirmed return tickets, prepaid accommodation at registered hotels, or proof of sufficient financial resources). Entry will be permitted at the port of entry based on the immigration officer’s determination of eligibility, in accordance with Sections 7 and 8 of The Maldives Immigration Act 2007.

A Work Visa allows a foreign national to stay in the Maldives for employment purposes.

When traveling to the Maldives for work, a foreign national will initially receive a 15-day stay from the date of arrival. To obtain this stay, the individual must hold a valid Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Economic Development, which should be valid for no more than 90 days from the issue date. Additionally, the foreign national must present the same passport used to issue the Work Permit upon arrival. Re-entry on a Work Permit is allowed without obtaining a new visa as long as the Work Permit remains valid (within 90 days from the issue date).

The Work Visa application process includes a medical check-up from a permitted hospital or clinic, and health insurance must be in place during this period.

Failure to obtain a visa within the specified time frame may result in penalties under the Immigration Act 1/2007, including deportation for overstaying.

Work Visa services are decentralized and available at the following locations:

• Malé (Visa Division, Star Cloud, 8th Floor, Majeedhee Magu)
• Hithadhoo Immigration Office (Addu City)
• Fuvahmulah Immigration Office (Fuvahmulah City)
• Kulhudhuffushi Immigration Office (H. Dh. Kulhudhuffushi)

Entry Requirements for Work Visa:

• A machine-readable (MRZ) copy of the passport bio-data page (valid for at least 1 year).
• A valid Work Permit not exceeding 90 days from the date of arrival.
• The same passport used to obtain the Work Permit.
• A Traveler Health Declaration, submitted electronically via IMUGA within 48 hours prior to departure.
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable.

Applying for a Work Visa: To apply for a Work Visa, the following documents are required, and the application must be submitted by the employer or their representative:

• Passport of the employee
• Copy of the Work Permit
• Passport-sized photo (must meet Maldives Immigration photo standards and be recent)
• Medical health screening report from an authorized hospital or clinic
• Work Visa Application Submission Receipt (IM29)

Since November 17, 2019, Maldives Immigration offers an online Work Visa service through the Xpat Online System. This service allows for visa processing within 48 hours of submission. Applicants can request an online appointment to submit their passport(s) for the visa. The visa processing time is 3 working days, and applicants will be notified when their passport is ready for collection. An additional online appointment will be required for passport collection.

Notes:

• Expatriates must be registered under the “Expatriate Medical Insurance” from Allied Insurance Company before applying for the visa.
• Work Visa fees must be paid for a minimum of 3 months from the date of application submission.
• Existing employees returning to the Maldives from abroad should ensure their visa or Work Permit remains valid.

A Marriage Visa is a permit that allows a foreign national married to a Maldivian citizen to stay in the Maldives.

Foreigners traveling to the Maldives to marry a Maldivian, or those already married to a Maldivian and seeking to register their marriage in the Maldives, must obtain sponsorship before arrival. The Sponsorship Declaration must be submitted online via IMUGA, the digital immigration platform.

After arriving, the foreign national must complete the legal marriage process and apply for the Marriage Visa within 30 days. If the foreign national is already in the Maldives, they must transfer their existing visa to a Marriage Visa upon completion of the legal marriage procedures.

Applying for a Marriage Visa:

The following documents are required to apply for a Marriage Visa:

• Application for Permit Extension Form (IM23)
• Passport of the applicant
• Signature and seal from the Family Court on the application form
• Original and copy of the Marriage Certificate
• Copy of the Maldivian national’s Identity Card
• Passport-sized photo (must meet Maldives Immigration photo standards and be recent)
• Visa card fee of MVR50
• Medical health screening report from a government-authorized hospital or clinic
• Health insurance (required for new visa applications)

Marriage Visa applications should be submitted online via IMUGA. Applicants will be notified via the portal when their application is processed and will receive an appointment to submit their passport for the visa.

Note: A Marriage Visa is initially issued for 1 year. Extensions for Marriage Visas can be granted for up to 5 years.

To apply for a Dependent Visa, the following documents are required:

• Application for Permit Extension Form (IM23)
• Passport or Travel Document with Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and at least 6 months of validity
• Passport-sized photo (must meet Maldives Immigration photo standards and be recent)
• Dependent Visa card fee of MVR50
• Dependent Visa fee of MVR750 for each 3-month period
• Copy of the Employment Approval or Visa Card of the foreign national holding the Work Visa
• Proof of dependent status (such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate)
• A letter from the respective embassy detailing the living situation, if the dependent is the mother or father of the employment visa holder
• Medical health screening report from a government-authorized hospital or clinic
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable

Dependent Visa applications should be submitted via IMUGA.

A Business Visa is a temporary multiple-entry visa granted to foreign nationals intending to stay in the Maldives for business purposes.

As per the new Business Visa Regulation effective from August 25, 2021, applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Development through the Ministry’s Business Portal.