How to get a Maldives visa: the most important information and tips

The Maldives is a distinct tourist destination for those seeking a luxury vacation, as it is surrounded by clear waters and white sandy beaches, and given the popularity of the destination and its cost, the visa policy of Maldives is very lenient, as a tourist can enter the Maldives without having obtained an entry visa prior to arrival, but the following conditions must be met:

•  The tourist must have a valid passport containing a machine-readable chip that can be read by the Passport Reader (MRZ) device.

• A valid ticket is required to continue travel outside the Maldives.

• You must have enough money to cover your expenses for the duration of your stay, or confirm your reservation at a hotel or tourist resort.

Types of visas

Here are the visa types for the Maldives: 

tourist visa

The tourist coming to the Maldives does not need to obtain prior permission to obtain an entry visa before arriving in the country, as a free tourist visa is issued to all nationalities upon arrival in the Maldives, and the period is equal to or less than more than 30 days at the discretion of immigration officials, The period appears on the approval stamp in the passport, and its owner is not allowed to work in any way. 

Tourist Visa Requirements: The basic entry requirements that must be met to obtain this approval from the Immigration Department, which all entrants to the Maldives must meet upon arrival: 

•  A machine-readable document or passport valid for at least six months.
• Return tickets valid for departure from the Maldives after the end of the tourism, subject to issuance of an approved arrival/departure card by the Maldives Airport Immigration Department. 
• Sufficient funds to cover tourist expenses for the duration of your stay in the Maldives, or to confirm reservation and prepayment of accommodation at a particular hotel or resort. 
• Entry facilities (visa) to the next destination after leaving the Maldives if necessary.
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate if required at that time.
• Complete the Travel Health Form 24 days before their trip, this can be done online.

Extension of tourist visa: The tourist visa can be extended if the tourist submits a visa extension application form to the main office of the Immigration Department, and the cases and conditions relating thereto vary as follows

•  The extension can be done before the expiry of the visa previously granted to the tourist.
• Before the competent authority approves the extension, it reassesses the financial situation of the person for the period of stay to be extended.
• If the extension is approved, it will be for a period not exceeding 90 days, including the previous visa period.
• The maximum period a tourist is allowed to stay in the Maldives is 90 days, so if the first visa is for 30 days, the tourist can get an extension for up to another 60 days. 
• Visitors who remain in the Maldives after their residency visa has expired will be deported.
• The fee for extending a visa beyond 30 days - including the days permitted on the original tourist visa - is Maldivian rufiyaa.
• Tourists who stay less than 30 days do not pay any fees.

business visa

A Maldives work visa is issued online to foreigners who travel to the Maldives for their own business without the intention of working for a local Maldivian company, and here is the most important information about it:

 Work visa requirements: To apply, the sponsor (i.e. the company the person will be dealing with or their representative) must submit the following documents by email to the Maldives Immigration Department .

• Work visa application form. 
• A scanned color copy of the alien's passport identification page.
• A copy of the person's registration.
• A recent passport photo of the foreigner.
• A copy of the foreign health insurance policy.
• Any other supporting documents for the foreign person, such as certificates of qualification or certificates of experience.
• Visa Applicant Information Form, if applicable.
• A letter from the sponsor specifying the duration of the foreigner's stay in the Maldives.

Requirements for required documents: Several specifications are required in the preceding documents, including: 

• Attach all previous documents in PDF format.
• Attach all photos in JPEG format.
• The required forms must be obtained through the Maldives Immigration website.
• Consent must be obtained online; So that the person can travel to the Maldives.
• The original documents and papers mentioned above must be presented in order to obtain the visa at the immigration counter at the airport.

work visa

If a person wants to move to the Maldives for work, he must obtain a work visa, but he must first find a job, so the employer (sponsor) applies for him to obtain a work permit from the service Maldives immigration, and the sponsor must be a local business or a locally registered  

Work Visa Requirements: Individual and employer must submit the following documents, which can be found on the Maldives Immigration Affairs website, as it is not permitted to work in the Maldives without a work permit.  work: 

• The job seeker's passport.
• A copy of the work approval.
• Work visa card fee, which is 50 Maldivian rupees.
• A recent passport size photo of the person applying for a job.
• Medical examination report for the job applicant, to be issued by a medical institution accredited by the relevant government agency.
• Receipt of the work visa application.

Marriage Visa

The foreigner must issue a marriage visa if he is going to marry a Maldivian citizen, as his godfather (the Maldivian spouse) must apply to the Maldives Immigration Department to obtain the visa before the foreigner travels , because the stranger cannot.  Marriage or marriage registration in the Maldives if he holds a tourist visa, and once he has entered the country on his sponsored visa, he can start the marriage visa procedures within 30 days.  

Marriage Visa Requirements: The following documents show the documents a person needs to obtain a Maldives Marriage Visa, which can be found on the Maldives Immigration website.  

• License Extension Application Form, which must be signed and stamped by the Family Court.
• The foreign person's passport and passport must be machine readable.
• Original and copy of the marriage contract or document.
• A copy of the Maldivian husband's ID card.
• A passport size photograph of the alien.
• Marriage visa card fee, which is 50 Maldivian rupees.
• A copy of the foreign spouse's health insurance policy.
• A medical examination report for the foreign spouse issued by a medical institution accredited by the relevant government agency.

visa dependent

If a family member - dependents of a person living in the Maldives (such as a work visa holder) - wishes to live in the Maldives, such as a wife or husband, and children under the age of 18, the applicant must present marriage certificate certificate, guardianship document for children and their birth certificates, all in English,  He must also obtain his visa by submitting the following documents to the Immigration Department in the Maldives , which are available on the department's website which is:

•  License extension application form.
• Passport for dependents, and the passport must be machine readable.
• Passport size photo for dependents.
• Visa fees payable.
• A copy of the dependent's Maldives work authorization or work visa card.
• Proof of family status (such as a marriage certificate and birth certificate).
• If the person is the mother or father of the breadwinner holding the primary visa, a letter from the relevant embassy indicating their living situation should also be sent. 
• A copy of the health insurance policy for dependents.
• Medical examination report for dependents issued by a medical institution accredited by the relevant government agency.

Other types of visas

• Residence permit: Those who hold a residence permit are allowed to work. It is available for people who have a valid work permit.

• Widow's Visa: It is granted to a foreign woman who married a Maldivian but died. The holder of this visa is authorized to work. It should be noted that the widow's visa converts to a marriage visa in the event that the woman later marries another Maldivian.

• Student Visa: The student must have a guardian responsible for him or her in the Maldives, and the guardian

Other important information

Here are the most important:

Entry bans to the Maldives

A person may be refused entry to the Maldives upon arrival if: 

• Carry false travel documents.
• One of its aims is to disrupt the system and engage in illegal activities.
• Has hostile political or religious views.

Leaving the Maldives

When a tourist leaves the Maldives, the departure card is seen, and it should be noted that all travelers are reminded that exceeding the length of stay granted to them in the Maldives is punishable by law.  

Maldives deportation case

A person can be deported from the Maldives in the following cases: 

• Work with a tourist visa.
• Engage in any illegal activity.
• Disruption of religious and political harmony.
• To be a public nuisance.
• expiry date of stay.
• Expiry of work permit.