MALDIVES ONLiNE

Customs

The import of firearms, liquor, drugs and pornography are prohibited. An official license is required for import of alcohol. Alcohol is available in all the resorts and not sold / available in Male’. Dogs, Pigs, and pork products are prohibited. Special permission should be sought to bring the personal pets (dogs not allowed).


Immigration


Arrival

Free 30 days Visa upon arrival for all visitors

Visitors entering the Republic of Maldives should fulfill the following requirement for the grant of an entry permit into the country.

Possession of a valid international travel document issued by the Government of a Sovereign State.

Possession of a valid return air ticket to a destination where the passenger has permission to enter, together with necessary visas for the onward journey to the next destination.

Possession of minimum of US$30.00 per person per day or confirmed hotel reservation for the intended period of stay in the Maldives. Following are exempted from this requirement.

Diplomats

UN Personnel
Approved persons for employment
Technical and other experts attached to the Government
Those who have confirm bookings in registered tourist resort/hotels etc.
Those sponsored by Maldivians
No prior visa is required to enter the Republic of Maldives. Entry permit will be granted to visitors on arrival at designated ports of entry, based on the immigration requirements.

An entry permit does not allow an visitor to take up employment, set up any business or exercise any profession whether paid or unpaid except with the consent and in conformity with the pertinent laws and regulations of the Maldives. However, a visitor or foreign delegation visiting the Maldives to conclude business agreements, contracts or to negotiate business transactions with their counterparts do not require work permits if the stay does not exceed the duration granted on arrival.

An expatriate must obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources Employment and Labour prior to arrival in Maldives to engage in employment.

Visitors who stay beyond the period for which they have been approved may be deported.

The Government of Maldives refuses admission and transit to holder of Merchant Seaman books.

Disembarkation and Embarkation card shall be filled by every passenger and submitted to the Immigration Officer on entry.

Transit

Transit passengers must leave Maldives within 24 hours of arrival. If a transit passenger fails to leave within 24 hours the passenger shall revise his permit to stay.

Crew

Crew member on scheduled services shall retain their passport in possession when disembarking and embarking, remains at the airport where the aircraft has stopped or within the confines of the island adjacent there to, departing on the same aircraft or next regular scheduled flight out of Maldives.

Passport or valid international travel document is acceptable for temporary admission in to the Maldives.

Departure

All persons leaving the Republic of Maldives shall possess a valid passport or travel document. All passengers shall complete and submit an embarkation card with their passport to the Immigration Officer for inspection

Port Health

Maldives being free from certain diseases that are of public health concern as well as of international importance, implementing continuous vigilance activities at Ports of entry at sea and Air, to ensure that appropriate surveillance activities are carried out effectively in safe guarding against any threat of introducing diseases are of health importance.Intensified surveillance for incoming passengers and continuous inspection of food items, and animals that were imported into the country is being carried out at all ports of the country.

In preparation for the certification of the Malaria Free Maldives, all incoming passengers from malaria-infected countries are screened.
For Certification of Sanitary Port an organized Medical Service, adequate staff and equipment provides in and out passengers care and attend Medical emergencies at port.

Disinfections is compulsory for Cargo aircraft and passenger aircrafts coming from Yellow Fever and Malaria endemic areas.

Duty Free

Duty free shopping is only available in the departure terminal of the Male’ international airport. The lounge has specialized shops for electrical goods, watches, cameras, fashion, liquor, jewelry, tobacco and more.