Visa and Entry Requirements

Free Visa on Arrival

The Maldives grants a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival to eligible travellers. There is no need to apply in advance, no visa fee, and no sponsorship letter for a standard tourist stay. You simply arrive at Velana International Airport, pass through immigration, and receive your entry permission if you meet the current requirements.

This policy makes the Maldives one of the more accessible beach destinations for international tourists, but entry rules can change and nationality-based restrictions may apply. Check the latest Maldives Immigration guidance before you travel, especially if you hold anything other than a standard tourist passport.

What You Need at Immigration

While the visa itself is free and automatic, you must meet a few basic requirements to enter:

• Valid passport: You need a passport or travel document with a machine-readable zone and at least six months of validity remaining from your date of arrival.
• Return or onward ticket: Immigration officers may ask to see proof of a return or onward flight. In practice, this is rarely checked for tourists with resort or guesthouse bookings, but having your return ticket accessible is sensible.
• Accommodation confirmation: You should be able to show a hotel, resort, or guesthouse booking. Again, this is not always requested, but having it ready speeds up the process.
• Sufficient funds: You should have enough money to cover your stay. There is no specific minimum amount defined, and this requirement is almost never enforced for tourists, but it exists on paper.

Traveller Declaration

All travellers to the Maldives must complete an online Traveller Declaration form before arrival. This replaced the old paper-based arrival card. The form collects basic information: personal details, flight information, accommodation details, and a health declaration. You should complete this within 96 hours before your arrival. After submitting, you receive a QR code that immigration officers scan on arrival.

The declaration is free to submit and takes about five minutes. Complete it before you board your flight to avoid delays at the immigration queue.

Visa Duration and Extensions

The standard tourist visa is valid for 30 days. For the vast majority of visitors, this is more than enough. If you wish to stay longer, you can apply for an extension at the Maldives Immigration office in Male. Extensions of up to 90 days are possible but require documentation and a fee. Overstaying your visa results in fines and potential difficulties on future visits.

Customs and Prohibited Items

The Maldives has strict customs regulations rooted in Islamic law and environmental protection. The following items are prohibited and will be confiscated at customs:

• Alcohol: You cannot bring alcohol into the Maldives. This applies to all travellers, regardless of nationality or religion. Alcohol purchased at duty-free shops before arrival will be confiscated at customs. Resorts serve alcohol on their own islands, but you cannot bring your own into the country.
• Pork products: Pork and pork-derived products are not permitted.
• Religious materials: Items deemed contrary to Islam, including religious idols, statues, and non-Islamic religious texts intended for proselytising, may be confiscated. Personal items such as a Bible for private use are generally allowed.
• Drugs and narcotics: Drug offences carry severe penalties in the Maldives, including long prison sentences.
• Pornographic material: Prohibited and subject to confiscation.
• Weapons and explosives: Including knives, spear guns, and fireworks.
• Drones: Drones require prior approval from the Maldives Ministry of Defence. Bringing a drone without permission will result in it being held at customs until your departure.

Your luggage passes through an X-ray scanner on arrival. If prohibited items are found, they are typically confiscated and held until your departure rather than resulting in prosecution, with the exception of drugs, which are treated as a criminal matter.

Duty-Free Allowances

Travellers may bring the following items duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco
• Personal electronics, cameras, and sporting equipment for personal use
• Gifts and personal items up to a reasonable value

Arriving with Children

Children travelling to the Maldives need their own passport - they cannot be included on a parent's passport. The same six-month validity rule applies. There are no specific additional documentation requirements for children travelling with both parents, but if a child is travelling with one parent or a non-parent guardian, carrying a consent letter from the absent parent is advisable, as some airlines enforce this.

For more on planning a family trip, see our travel with kids guide.

Departure

There is a departure tax included in your airline ticket price, so you do not need to pay anything separately when leaving. The departure process at Velana International Airport is straightforward: check in, pass through security and immigration, and proceed to your gate. Allow extra time during peak season (December to March) when the airport is busiest.