How to apply Maldives Tourist Visa: A group of islands in South Asia’s Indian Ocean makes up the country of the Maldives. It is located southwest of India and Sri Lanka, about 750 kilometers (470 miles; 400 nautical miles) from the Asian continent’s major landmass. The Maldives is well known for a variety of things, such as its vibrant culture, immaculate beaches, abundant vegetation, and intriguing monuments. Maldives is well-known for its water sports and other adventurous pursuits in addition to its numerous magical sites.
Let’s Know Required Information for Maldives Tourist Visa
Why is the Maldives popular among tourists?
The Maldives, a group of 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean, is among the world’s most tranquil, enchanting, and beautiful locations. The islands are encircled by tranquil, azure lagoons and are grouped into atolls based on their proximity to different coral reefs. When visiting the Maldives, you simply can’t resist the allure of the area’s stunning beaches, pleasant climate, unique corals, and exciting activities. The Maldives island-hopping trip is one of those things to do. One of the most idyllic places to visit, the Maldives offers stunning scenery, comfortable weather, cool sea air, stunning coral reefs, and secluded accommodations.
Why do Indians prefer to visit the Maldives?
Following the demise of Covid, the Maldives experienced a surge in Indian tourists in 2021, and this upward tendency has continued at the start of this year as well. With more Indian tourists visiting the Maldives than ever before, India has now surpassed Russia as the main source market for tourists to the island nation. It’s actually a lot simpler than ever to journey to the Maldives. Maldives continues to be one of the most popular foreign travel destinations due to direct flights between the country and some of India’s largest cities and Covid-safe “bubble tours” issued by the government. Nowadays, people understand that the Maldives are more than just a romantic getaway. Families on vacation or groups of friends can stay here too because of the all-inclusive resorts and experiences available. Travelers from India continue to rank the Maldives as their top favorite location.
Maldives Visa Eligibility
The Maldives’ visa-free status for Indian citizens is one of the best things about traveling there. Maldives is totally free and doesn’t have any hidden fees for all Indian residents. Indian nationals do not require advance visa arrangements because the Maldives provides visa on arrival. The length of the Maldives entry visa is one month.
Indians are excluded from the requirement of a Visa, in respect of visits or stays
made for the objective of vacation, that does not surpass a period of ninety (90)
days* in Maldives, stipulated that you are in the ownership of a legitimate Passport/travel document, accommodation reservations, and evidence of adequate funds to support your stay.
Types of Maldives Visa
Five different visa categories are typically issued by the Maldives government.
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Work Visa
- Marriage Visa
- Dependent Visa
Maldives Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens
The following papers must be prepared and ready to present at the immigration desk in order to obtain the visa. A limit of 90 additional days may be added to the visa on arrival.
- Ticket confirmations for flights departing from the Maldives
- The passport must be current and have at least six months remaining from the entry date.
- Hotel reservation in the Maldives is confirmed.
- The traveler should have enough cash to cover the cost of their visit and their stay in the nation.
- Within 72 hours of the scheduled departure, a traveler health declaration must be completed and filed.
The Maldivian government has reportedly started a procedure to award Indian business travelers entry without a visa, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry. Indian citizens will be eligible for a non-resident, multiple-entry business visa that will be valid for 90 days within a six-month period beginning on 1 February 2022. Additionally, Indian nationals who have a business visa that has been approved can renew it once every fiscal year for up to 180 days. The 90-day visa-free period outlined in the bilateral agreement will now also be extended through this procedure.
The ministry also stated that business visa applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Development prior to the end of the time during which entry without a visa is permitted. Also required is an employment approval form for Indians with business visas whose stay surpasses 180 days in a calendar year.
Visa Processing Time
There is no waiting period because you will get a visa right away. If your information and documents appear good, you will be permitted to enter the Maldives after the Department of Immigration has double-checked and verified your details.
Covid-19 guidelines for tourists traveling to and from Maldives
In order to facilitate foreign travel, the Maldives government has loosened regulations at all of its international airports. Instead of the prior 72-hour requirement, visitors from India must now have a negative RT-PCR test within 96 hours of travel.
The “I’m Vaccinated!” initiative was established by the Ministry of Tourism. The intention is to make the Maldives’ tourism industry the first completely immunized one in history. By June 2021, 69% of resort staff members had finished the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that were recommended, while more than 96% had only gotten the first dose of the vaccination.
The Maldives earned the Safe Travel Stamp in September 2020. The Save Travel Stamp, an international safety and hygiene campaign run by the World Travel and Tourism Council, aims to reassure travelers that their travel location is secure enough for tourism.
Documents required for Maldives Visa
Every foreign citizen visiting the Maldives is issued a tourist visa. Indian nationals do not require prior permission for a visa because the Maldives offers visas on arrival. Upon arrival, the travelers must satisfy the minimum entry criteria.
- A valid passport that is current and has at least one month left on it
- In the Maldives, there is concrete evidence of accommodations.
- A white-background passport-size picture
- The bank account shows that you have enough money to cover your Maldives vacation.
- Flight tickets for your return to your place of origin
- Yellow fever and the CoVid-19 vaccine
- Within 96 hours of departure, a travel declaration document is completed. It must be electronically filed through the IMUGA website.
Procedure to get Maldives Visa for Indians
When Indian travelers arrive at the airport, immigration officers give them a tourist visa for the Maldives. It’s a straightforward process with no hassles.
- You will receive a Maldives tourist form, which you must complete with all accurate information. This form is typically offered by the airlines as well. To save time on arrival, fill it out beforehand.
- After completing the form, you must provide the government with a number of legitimate papers as required.
- An immigration official will then ask you some questions in a brief interview that follows.
Visa Extension for Maldives
Applying at the Maldives Immigration in Malé, the nation’s capital, prior to the expiration of your present visa will allow you to extend your visa on arrival for the Maldives. As the Immigration Office will review your application, be sure you have the resources required to help support your stay.
Your vacation in the Maldives can last a maximum of 90 days. You will therefore be granted a 60-day extension if your present visa is only valid for 30 days.
Travel Insurance for Maldives
The Maldives, a group of small islands in the Indian Ocean, is one of the world’s most popular tourist locations. The small archipelago has long piqued the interest of visitors from all over the world with its tranquil beaches, serene islands, varied marine life, and opulent resorts. The Maldives is a great option whether you’re looking for the ideal getaway from the stress of everyday life or a destination for a family vacation.
To make sure your trip and accommodations are fiscally secure, you must buy Maldives travel insurance before departing for the picturesque island nation.
Planning and preparing properly is essential for a safe international journey. As a result, you must make sure you have enough knowledge about the archipelago and, in particular, the island or islands you intend to explore, before traveling to the Maldives. In order to leave enough time to handle any unforeseen circumstances, it is advised to make travel plans well in advance. No matter how well laid out a strategy may be, unforeseen events can cause it to fail.
For instance, the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic caused significant changes in the way we move and live. It is now even more important than before to carefully plan your international trip because the majority of nations have recently closed or limited international borders. As a result, you need to make sure your trip is fiscally secure by getting Maldives travel insurance.
However, it is not mandatory to have current medical travel insurance when visiting the Maldives. To ensure that your trip is financially protected against any unforeseen circumstances, it is highly advised that you purchase a suitable medical travel insurance plan before leaving the country.
Also Read: 22 VISA-FREE TRAVEL FOR INDIANS IN 2023
Maldives Visa fees
When traveling to the Maldives with a visa on arrival, there is no visa charge. On the other hand, you must pay the 666.69 Maldivian Rufiyaa visa entry fee. Indian citizens are exempt from Maldives immigration fees. Their immigration request was granted without charge. If the visa is extended for an additional 90 days, there is a charge of INR 3350 (or MVR 750).
Frequently Asked Questions – Maldives Tourist Visa
1. How do I obtain a Maldives visa at the airport?
Answer- If you have all the required paperwork, such as a passport that is current for at least six months, enough money to cover your expenses while you are there, pre-paid lodging, and return tickets to your home country, you may be able to obtain a visa upon arrival.
2. Are all Maldives visas subject to the visa-on-arrival policy?
Answer- No, only tourists with valid visas to the Maldives may use the visa-on-arrival option.
3. Can a Maldives visa be extended after arrival?
Answer- Visa extensions are possible for travelers with visas on entry. A document must be completed and submitted to the Immigration Head Office in Male.
4. Is there a maximum duration allowed in the Maldives?
Answer- There is a 90-day limit on how long you can remain in the Maldives. As a result, you will be given a 60-day extension if your present visa is for 30 days.
5. What is the expense of an Indian visitor’s visa-on-arrival for the Maldives?
Answer- All visitors visiting the Maldives are subject to the visa-on-arrival requirement. The best aspect is that Indian nationals don’t have to pay a dime for a visa on arrival.
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