Maldives Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Indian passport holders can enter Maldives visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism or short-term visits. No visa application is required and no fee is charged. Entry is granted on arrival at the border or airport. No embassy visit is needed. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
the Maldives visa at a glance
- Government fee
- $0 — visa-free entry
- Official processing
- On arrival at border or airport
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days per entry
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for the Maldives?
Most other nationalities need a visa for Maldives. Check the Maldives Immigration visa requirements list for your nationality before traveling.
the Maldives visa types
- Visa-free entry
- Tourism, short-term visits — Up to 90 days for Indian passport holders
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, business, family visits — Varies by nationality
- Transit visa
- Passing through Maldives to a third country — Per the transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a Maldives visa depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities (including India) can enter Maldives visa-free for short stays — typically 90 days.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a the Maldives visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportVisa-free entry (Indian passport holders) · 6+ months validity from date of entry, 2+ blank pages.
- Return ticketVisa-free entry (Indian passport holders) · confirmed return or onward flight within 90 days.
- Hotel bookingVisa-free entry (Indian passport holders) · confirmed resort or hotel reservation.
- Immigration cardVisa-free entry (Indian passport holders) · completed on arrival (provided at airport).
- Proof of fundsVisa-free entry (Indian passport holders) · sufficient funds for stay — hotel confirmation often covers this.
- Valid passportTourist visa · 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photoTourist visa · Recent passport photo.
- Proof of travel itineraryTourist visa · Proof of travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodationTourist visa · Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial meansTourist visa · Proof of financial means.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
the Maldives visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- $0 — visa-free entry
- Expedify processing fee
- No visa application required
- Validity / stay
- Up to 90 days per entry
- Official processing
- On arrival at border or airport
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a the Maldives visa
The official route, step by step.
Check your passport
Ensure it is valid for at least 6 months from your entry date with 2+ blank pages.
Book return travel
Have a confirmed return or onward flight ticket within 90 days.
Reserve accommodation
Keep a confirmed resort or hotel booking available to show if asked.
Prepare proof of funds. Have sufficient funds available
hotel confirmation may satisfy this requirement.
Arrive and clear immigration
Present your passport, return ticket, and hotel booking. Complete the immigration card on arrival. Entry is usually granted the same day.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Maldives' entry rules yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your trip
Document check
- Apply yourself
- You verify your passport, ticket, hotel, and funds
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before you travel
Other documents
- Apply yourself
- You arrange IDP, insurance, and permits separately
- With Expedify
- We handle IDPs and document preparation
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- $0
- With Expedify
- $0 — no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into the Maldives is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a the Maldives visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
the Maldives visa questions, answered.
More for your the Maldives trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.