Maldives tourist visa on arrival and the IMUGA declaration explained

The Maldives is one of the easiest countries in the world to visit. There is no visa to apply for in advance, no fee, and the formalities on arrival are quick for most travellers. But there are still rules, and travellers are regularly caught out by the online traveller declaration, called IMUGA, or by fake websites that charge for it. This guide covers what you need before you fly, what happens at the airport, and what you can and cannot do on a tourist visa.

The free 30-day tourist visa

Tourists of all nationalities are granted a 30-day tourist visa on arrival, free of charge. You do not need to apply in advance or visit an embassy. The visa is stamped or recorded when you pass through immigration at Velana International Airport or another international airport.

The visa is granted on arrival only if you meet the entry requirements below. In practice immigration officers do check them, especially the return ticket and accommodation.

What you need to enter

1. A valid passport

Your passport must be valid for the length of your stay. Official Maldivian mission guidance refers to a minimum of one month's validity, while many airlines and travel guides recommend six months. To avoid problems at check-in, especially if you are transiting through other countries, travel with a passport valid for at least six months.

2. A return or onward ticket

You need a confirmed ticket leaving the Maldives, within the period of your visa.

3. A confirmed booking or proof of funds

You should have a confirmed booking at a registered tourist resort, hotel or guesthouse. If you do not have a booking for your whole stay, you may be asked to show you can support yourself. The Maldivian mission guidance mentions funds of at least USD 100 plus USD 50 per day of stay, shown in cash or a bank statement.

Keep printed or offline copies of your booking confirmation and ticket. Airport Wi-Fi is not something to depend on at the immigration desk.

4. The IMUGA traveller declaration

Every traveller must complete the IMUGA declaration online before arrival. It is explained in detail below.

The IMUGA traveller declaration

IMUGA is the Maldives' online immigration and health declaration system. It replaced older paper arrival cards. It applies to everyone entering the Maldives, whatever their nationality, age or reason for travel; only Maldivian citizens are exempt.

When to submit it

Submit the declaration within 96 hours before your flight to the Maldives. A declaration submitted earlier than that is not valid and you will have to do it again. Many travellers complete it a day or two before departure.

Where to submit it

The only official site is imuga.immigration.gov.mv. The declaration is free. Maldives Immigration has publicly warned about fake websites that look official and charge a fee for "processing" IMUGA. If a site asks for payment, close it.

What you'll be asked

• passport details;
• flight details for your arrival;
• where you will stay (resort, hotel or guesthouse, with the name and island);
• contact details; and
• health and customs questions.

One declaration per person

Every traveller, including children and infants, needs a separate declaration. If you are travelling as a family, complete one for each person and keep the confirmations together.

Departure

A separate departure declaration is no longer required; the departure form was discontinued in 2024.

At the airport

On arrival at Velana International Airport, follow signs to immigration. Have ready your passport, IMUGA confirmation (on your phone or printed), return ticket and accommodation booking. After immigration, collect your bags and pass through customs. If you are staying at a resort, its representatives usually meet you in the arrivals hall and arrange your speedboat or seaplane transfer. If you are going to Malé, Hulhumalé or a local island, see our guide to getting from the airport.

Customs: what not to bring

The Maldives is a Muslim country with strict import rules. Do not bring:

• alcohol, which is confiscated at customs (and may be returned when you leave);
• pork products;
• pornographic material;
• idols or religious statues for worship, and large quantities of non-Islamic religious material; and
• narcotics, including cannabis in any quantity. Drug laws are strict.

Alcohol and pork are available at resorts and some hotels licensed for tourists, but not on inhabited local islands or in Malé. Our guide to local laws and customs explains more.

What you can and can't do on a tourist visa

A tourist visa is for holidays, visiting and short trips. You cannot work on it, paid or unpaid, and you should not carry out business activities beyond what is allowed for visitors. Working on a tourist visa can lead to fines, deportation and future entry bans. If you are coming for meetings, conferences or to explore investments, look at the business visa. If you have a job offer, your employer must arrange a work visa.

Staying longer than 30 days

If you want to stay beyond the initial 30 days, it may be possible to apply to Maldives Immigration for an extension, subject to conditions such as a continuing confirmed booking and sufficient funds. Apply before your visa expires. Overstaying a visa is an offence and can lead to fines and difficulties entering the Maldives in the future.

Staying on local islands

Since local islands opened to tourism, many visitors stay in guesthouses rather than resorts. The same visa rules apply, but be ready to show your guesthouse booking and know how you will reach the island. Public ferries do not run every day on every route, so check the schedule before booking your arrival; our public ferry guide explains how.

Costs to expect

The tourist visa itself is free, and so is IMUGA. Your accommodation will add the government's green tax to your bill: USD 12 per person per night at resorts, hotels, liveaboards and larger guesthouses, and USD 6 at guesthouses with 50 rooms or fewer on inhabited islands (rates from January 2025; children under two are exempt). Tourism goods and services also carry tourism GST at 17%. See our guide to the green tax for details.

Common IMUGA mistakes

• Submitting too early. Declarations made more than 96 hours before your flight are not valid.
• Using a fake site that charges a fee. Only imuga.immigration.gov.mv is official.
• One form for the whole family. Each traveller needs their own.
• Wrong accommodation details. Use the exact name and island of your resort or guesthouse.
• Changed flights. If your flight changes after you submit, check whether you need to update the declaration.

Health requirements

Check the health rules for your route before travelling. Travellers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever may be asked for a vaccination certificate, and the IMUGA form includes health questions. Travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation is strongly recommended, because resorts and many islands are far from hospitals.

Travelling with children

Children need their own passports and their own IMUGA declarations. If a child is travelling with only one parent, or with someone other than their parents, carrying a letter of consent from the absent parent or parents is a sensible precaution, as airlines and border officials anywhere can ask about it.

Pre-travel checklist

1. Passport valid for at least six months.
2. Return or onward ticket booked.
3. Resort, hotel or guesthouse booking confirmed for your stay.
4. IMUGA submitted on the official site within 96 hours of your flight, for every traveller.
5. Printed or offline copies of all confirmations.
6. No alcohol, pork or prohibited items in your luggage.
7. Transfer from the airport arranged or planned.