Maldives Visa for Indians in 2026

Yes, if you plan on visiting the Maldives for a holiday from India, then you must acquire a Maldives visa upon arrival at the country. However, you do not need a pre-arrival visa.

Indians are given a tourist visa on arrival at Male airport, and it comes with the 30 days limit. It is easy to fall in love with the place which may push you to stay longer. If so, then it can be extended up to 90 days after approval from the respective authorities.

Do you know that Indians are an exception to this extension? Thanks to the close strategic, military, economic and cultural relationship. Other than this, it is Bruneians who are allowed for 15 days only. The best part is that no fee is charged for the visa.

Yes, Maldives provides visa on arrival for Indian citizens. The facility is absolutely free of cost.

The Maldives is one of those liberal countries that attract visitors every year. But it is wise that one checks the details with the visa office. At times, the rules may change.

Before boarding your flight to the Maldives, make sure you have:

• A valid Indian passport with at least 1 month validity from your date of arrival and a machine-readable zone (MRZ).
• A completed IMUGA Traveller Declaration, submitted online within 96 hours (4 days) before your arrival in the Maldives.
• A confirmed return or onward ticket showing your planned departure from the Maldives.
• Confirmed accommodation booking, such as a prepaid hotel, resort, guesthouse, or other registered stay.
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the trip, if requested by immigration authorities.
• Entry documents for your next destination, if you are continuing your journey beyond the Maldives.
• A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, only if you are arriving from or have recently travelled through a Yellow Fever-risk country.

The IMUGA Traveller Declaration is an online immigration form that all travellers entering or leaving the Maldives must complete before travel. It is submitted electronically through the official IMUGA (Maldives Immigration) portal and is a mandatory entry requirement for Indian tourists visiting the Maldives.

You can submit the declaration within 96 hours (4 days) before your flight's departure time. The form is completely free of charge, and no payment is required to submit it.

To get entry in Maldives, visa requirements for Indian citizens are listed below.

• Passport or Travel Document: A passport or a travel document with a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) that is valid for at least 1 month. Note that passports with extended validity beyond their original expiration are not accepted for entry. 
• Travel Itinerary: Your full travel plan, including tickets for your return journey and a prepaid hotel booking at a registered hotel. 
• Proof of Finance: You must also show you have enough money for your stay or have a visa sponsorship pre-approved by Maldives Immigration. 
• Document for Next Destination: The required entry documents for your next destination, such as a visa and a passport that is valid for the necessary period.
• Traveller Declaration Form: A Traveller Declaration must be completed and submitted by all travelers going to and from Maldives, at least 96 hours before your flight. This form is submitted online through IMUGA. 
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate: If needed, a Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. Children under 1 year old do not need this vaccination. You can check which countries need this on the specific website. 
• For Minors: Children or minors entering Maldives must have their own passport.

Documents Required if Transiting Through Maldives

If you’re just passing through Maldives on your way to another country, you won't require to go through immigration.

Even if you have all the required documents and bookings, entering Maldives is not guaranteed. Immigration officers at the port of entry make the final call on entry.

We already know that the Maldives give visa on arrival which is valid for a month. As an Indian citizen, you can obtain a Tourist Visa upon arrival in the Maldives, eliminating the need for a pre-application process.

Step 1: Complete the IMUGA Traveller Declaration Before Travel

Before boarding your flight, submit the mandatory IMUGA Traveller Declaration online through the official Maldives Immigration portal within 96 hours (4 days) of your arrival. Keep the confirmation or QR code handy for verification.

Step 2: Arrive in the Maldives and Proceed to Immigration

After landing at Velana International Airport or another authorised port of entry, proceed to the immigration counters for arrival clearance. Tourist visas are issued during the immigration process and do not require a separate visa application counter.

Step 3: Present Your Travel Documents

Submit your passport and supporting documents, including your return or onward ticket, confirmed accommodation booking, proof of sufficient funds, and IMUGA declaration confirmation if requested by the immigration officer.

Step 4: Complete Immigration Verification

The immigration officer may ask questions about your travel plans, accommodation, length of stay, and purpose of visit. Provide accurate information and supporting documents if required.  

Step 5: Receive Immigration Clearance and Enter the Maldives

Once your documents are verified and you meet all entry requirements, you will be granted a free tourist visa on arrival, typically allowing a stay of up to 30 days. Entry approval and permitted stay duration remain at the discretion of Maldives Immigration.

You get a visa on arrival, hence as such, there is no processing time. It is just that the Department of Immigration and Emigration will check for your stay details. If they find everything in place, you will be allowed to have the time of your life at Maldives.

The Maldives visa for Indian citizens is absolutely free and does not come with any hidden clauses. For all nationals, including Indians, Maldives provide visa on arrival which is valid for 30 days. Anyone applying for the visa should have valid documents along with the passport.

However, charges may apply if you apply to extend your travel visa for Maldives.

Yes, you could be denied entry to the Maldives at the immigration. Receiving a free tourist visa on arrival does not automatically guarantee entry into the Maldives. Even if you have a valid passport, return ticket, and hotel booking, Maldives Immigration officers will assess whether you meet all entry requirements before granting immigration clearance. The final decision on admission is made by the immigration authorities at the port of entry.

To avoid any issues, ensure that your passport, accommodation details, return travel arrangements, proof of funds, and IMUGA Traveller Declaration are accurate, complete, and readily available for verification.

• Failure to submit the mandatory IMUGA Traveller Declaration before travel.
• Passport validity does not meet Maldives entry requirements or the passport is not machine-readable.
• No confirmed return or onward travel ticket.
• Missing or unconfirmed hotel, resort, or accommodation booking.
• Inability to demonstrate sufficient funds to cover the stay.
• Providing incorrect, misleading, or inconsistent information during immigration checks.
• Failure to meet entry requirements for the next destination when travelling onward from the Maldive
• Not carrying a required Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate when arriving from a Yellow Fever-risk country
• Attempting to enter on a tourist visa while intending to work, conduct business activities, or engage in unauthorised employment.

The Department of Immigration always reserves the right to allow you a stay fewer than 30 days. In case you wish to extend the stay, a written application, 2 days prior to your visa expiry, can be submitted. You may then get new visa approval for the next 60 days or less, as the need may be. The department may reject or approve the application or request for a visa.

Extension fees and additional requirements might apply. For the latest information on fees, it’s recommendable to visit the Maldives Immigration website.

No, a travel insurance is not a mandate for Indian nationals to visit Maldives. But, as there is always an ‘if’ which is associated with risks during a foreign trip, it is important to protect yourself with travel insurance for your financial security.

International travel insurance can help protect you from unexpected expenses during your Maldives trip, including medical emergencies, trip disruptions, lost baggage, passport loss, and emergency evacuations. While it is not mandatory for Indian travellers visiting the Maldives, it can provide valuable financial support when unforeseen situations arise.

Here are some common travel scenarios where travel insurance can help:

• Medical Emergencies During Your Trip: Whether it's food poisoning, a sudden illness, or an accident during your holiday, medical treatment in the Maldives can be expensive. Travel insurance can help cover eligible medical expenses incurred during your trip.
• Adventure and Water Sports Risks: The Maldives is known for activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, and jet skiing. If you suffer an injury while participating in covered activities, your policy can help cover the associated medical costs.
• Loss of Passport: Losing your passport in a foreign country can be stressful and may disrupt your travel plans. Travel insurance can assist with expenses related to obtaining a replacement passport and the associated travel inconvenience.
• Lost, Delayed, or Misplaced Baggage: If your checked baggage is lost, delayed, or mistakenly taken by another passenger, travel insurance can help compensate for the resulting inconvenience and necessary purchases.
• Trip Cancellation or Curtailment: If an unforeseen emergency, such as a serious illness or a family emergency, forces you to cancel or cut short your trip, travel insurance can help recover eligible non-refundable travel expenses.
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Some resorts and islands in the Maldives are located far from advanced medical facilities. If a serious medical situation requires transportation to an appropriate hospital or evacuation to India, travel insurance can help cover these potentially significant costs.
• Personal Liability Cover: If you accidentally cause injury to another person or damage someone else's property during your trip, travel insurance may provide coverage for eligible third-party liability claims.

There are quite a few reasons which make Digit a prime choice as a Maldives travel insurance provider.

• High Cover Amount at low premium - With premiums starting at ₹290 for 4 days trip for 1 adult, Digit offers a high sum insured of $50,000 under its Maldives travel insurance.
• Flight Delay Compensation - Digit takes wastage of time and the ensuing harassment due to flight delay very seriously, offering reimbursement immediately.
• Trip Cancellation - If any emergency circumstance necessitates you to cancel your trip and get back home, Digit also offers compensation for it.
• Fast Paperless Claim - Digit offers a smartphone-enabled process which makes the whole method of filing a claim easy and fast. Additionally, Digit also offers the option for 24x7 missed call facility for claim settlement.

Travel Insurance is designed to help you in times of some blow and bust. Buying international travel insurance for Maldives will not avert your misfortune but will surely be of great help during your Maldives trip. Furthermore, while travel insurance is not mandatory for obtaining a Maldives visa on arrival for Indians, it can be very beneficial for financial security.