Good news first: almost everyone gets a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival in the Maldives. No embassy visit, no application, no fee. But “visa on arrival” does not mean “walk straight through” — immigration at Velana International Airport checks a short list of things, and the one most travellers miss is the online IMUGA Traveller Declaration. Here is exactly what you need in 2026, written from Malé.
The 5 things immigration actually checks
- Passport — machine-readable, valid for at least 1 month beyond your arrival under Maldives Immigration rules. In practice, many airlines refuse boarding with less than 6 months validity, so treat 6 months as the real minimum. Hand-written validity extensions are not accepted.
- IMUGA Traveller Declaration — submitted online within 96 hours (4 days) before your flight. You get a QR code; have it on your phone. Details below.
- Confirmed return or onward ticket — a booking, not just a plan. One-way arrivals get questioned.
- Confirmed accommodation at a registered resort, hotel or guesthouse — or proof of enough funds for your stay. The booking confirmation email is enough.
- Entry requirements for your next destination — if you fly on to somewhere that needs a visa, immigration may ask to see it.
Children, including babies, need their own passport and their own IMUGA form. There is no family form.
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IMUGA: the form everyone forgets
IMUGA is Maldives Immigration’s online declaration. It replaced the paper arrival card. You must submit one before arriving and a second one before departing, each within the 96-hour window.
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- Where: imuga.immigration.gov.mv — the official site, and it is free. Several look-alike sites charge USD 20–50 for the same thing. If a site asks for money, you are on the wrong site.
- What you need: passport details, flight number, arrival date, accommodation name and address, an email address for the QR code.
- Time: about 5 minutes per person.
- At the airport: show the QR code on your phone or printed. Officers scan it, stamp the passport with the 30-day visa, done.
If you forget, you can fill it on your phone in the arrivals hall — airport Wi-Fi is free — but you will be doing it in the immigration queue with 300 other people. Do it before you fly.
How long can I stay? Extending beyond 30 days
The visa on arrival is 30 days. It can be extended to a maximum of 90 days from your arrival date by applying to Maldives Immigration before the first 30 days run out. Applications are made online through the Immigration portal; you need proof of accommodation for the extra period and a return ticket. There is a fee (around MVR 750, roughly USD 50) and processing takes a few working days, so do not leave it to day 29.
Overstaying is fined per day and can block future entry. Working of any kind — paid or unpaid, remote work for a foreign employer included — is not permitted on a tourist visa.
Taxes and fees you will pay
- Green Tax — charged per person per night and added to your room bill: USD 12 at resorts and hotels, USD 6 at local-island guesthouses (children under 2 exempt). It is collected by the property, not at the airport.
- Departure tax and airport development fee — USD 50 per person for foreign passengers in economy (higher in business and first). This is built into your air ticket; you will not pay it at the airport.
- Tourism GST — 17% on resort and guesthouse bills, usually already included in quoted prices.
Customs: what you cannot bring in
The Maldives is an Islamic country and customs at Velana airport does X-ray arriving luggage. The following are prohibited for tourists:
- Alcohol — any amount, including duty-free bought on the way. It is confiscated and held until you depart (you can collect it on the way out). Resorts serve alcohol legally; local islands do not.
- Pork and pork products
- Religious materials for public worship (a personal Bible or prayer book is fine)
- Narcotics — severe penalties
- Firearms, spear guns, explosives
- Pornographic material
Drones are allowed but must be declared on arrival and need Civil Aviation permission to fly; most resorts ban them outright. Prescription medicines are fine in reasonable quantities — carry them in the original packaging with the prescription.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for the Maldives?
Not in advance. Every nationality receives a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival, provided you meet the entry requirements above.
Is IMUGA really mandatory?
Yes, for arrival and for departure, for every passenger including children. It is free on the official site.
Can I enter with a one-way ticket?
Technically you need a confirmed onward ticket. Some travellers get through without one, but airlines frequently refuse to board one-way passengers to Malé. Book a cheap onward flight to be safe.
Do I pay anything at immigration?
No. The visa is free, and the departure taxes are already in your ticket. Anyone offering to “process your visa” for a fee is not needed.
Based on Maldives Immigration and Maldives Customs rules as of October 2026. Rules change; always check immigration.gov.mv before travel. TopTravelSky is based in Malé — tell us if you spot a change.
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