Maldives visa options for India passport holders

Visa types & longer-stay routes for Maldives

Rules are written for foreign nationals of essentially all countries, since the Maldives grants a free 30-day visa on arrival to all nationalities that meet entry conditions. Holders of Israeli passports have been barred from entry since the Third Amendment to the Immigration Act was ratified on 15 April 2025; dual nationals travelling on a non-Israeli passport remain eligible.

• Most nomadsTourist

  Tourist Visa on Arrival

  30 days free on arrival; extendable through Maldives Immigration's IMUGA portal, commonly up to a 90-day total (verify; extensions are fee-based and the official page does not state a fixed cap).

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required by immigration, but strongly recommended given remote-island care and costly medical evacuation.

  Good for

  Leisure travellers and short-stay visitors of essentially all nationalities (no pre-approval needed).

  Requirement

  Passport/travel document with a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) and at least 1 month validity, a complete itinerary with confirmed return tickets, prepaid confirmed booking at a registered facility, sufficient funds, plus the IMUGA Traveller Declaration submitted up to 96 hours (4 days) before arrival.

• Business

  Meeting Visa (on arrival)

  14 days on arrival; cannot be extended and cannot be switched to a Business Visa.

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot required by immigration; travel/medical insurance recommended.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals arriving to attend a permissible meeting, conference or convention held in the Maldives.

  Requirement

  Must meet standard entry requirements; granted on arrival for the stated meeting/conference purpose (organisers typically issue an invitation letter for registered participants).

• Business

  Business Visa

  Granted for 30 to 90 days at a time, not to exceed a total of 180 days per calendar year; not issued automatically at the border.

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot specified by immigration; private travel/medical insurance recommended.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals conducting business or commercial activity in the Maldives beyond a short on-arrival meeting.

  Requirement

  Application initiated with the Ministry of Economic Development via the Business Portal (business.egov.mv), then verified and processed by Maldives Immigration; passport (colour data page, min. 6 months validity) and a recent photo are required.

• Work

  Work Visa (Employment)

  Tied to the approved work permit; renewed work visas carry a maximum validity of one year. The worker must obtain the work visa within 15 days of arrival.

  Insurance

  Requiredthe underlying work permit mandates registration under expatriate medical insurance from a registered local provider (e.g. Allied Insurance, minimum ~MVR 100,000 inpatient cover) before the work visa is granted (verify current provider list and terms).

  Good for

  Expatriates taking up employment with a Maldivian employer on a valid work permit.

  Requirement

  Employer-sponsored work permit, then an e-Visa applied through the Xpat Online System (xpat.egov.mv) via an eFaas account; only an approved e-Visa is valid (paper work-visa stickers are invalid after 23 November 2025).

• Residence

  Marriage Visa

  Issued for 1 year for new applications; extensions issued for up to 5 years.

  Insurance

  Requiredfor first-time applications: applicants must submit a health insurance policy from a local insurer plus a medical health-screening report (verify current terms).

  Good for

  Foreign nationals married to (or travelling to marry/register a marriage with) a Maldivian citizen.

  Requirement

  Pre-arrival Sponsorship Declaration via IMUGA for those arriving to marry; completed marriage registration, passport, marriage certificate and spouse's ID for the visa application on IMUGA.

• Residence

  Dependent Visa

  Generally tied to and matching the primary work-permit holder's validity.

  Insurance

  Requireda health insurance policy and a medical report are listed among the mandatory application documents (verify current terms).

  Good for

  Immediate family members (spouse and children) of expatriates in professional categories working in the Maldives.

  Requirement

  Sponsorship by the primary expatriate worker; Form IM23 with passport, relationship proof and a medical report, applied through IMUGA.

• Residence

  Resident Visa

  Issued for 1 year initially; renewable for up to 5 years (extensions within 3 months before expiry).

  Insurance

  Requiredfor first-time applications: a health insurance policy and a medical report must be provided (verify current terms).

  Good for

  Foreign nationals married to a Maldivian citizen who are granted long-term residence (this is the named Resident Visa; it does not cover investors or retirees).

  Requirement

  Marriage certificate, passport, Form IM23 stamped by the Family Court and spouse's ID; applied through IMUGA.

• Residence

  Maldives Pearl Residence (Residency by Investment)

  Long-term/renewable residence (specific term not yet published in official detail; verify).

  Insurance

  RecommendedNot yet specified in official detail; comprehensive private health cover recommended (verify).

  Good for

  Foreign nationals seeking long-term residence through a qualifying investment (the Maldives' first residency-by-investment programme, with real estate expected to be a primary route).

  Requirement

  Make a qualifying investment under the programme rules; administered via the official Maldives Pearl Residence portal (maldivespearl.gov.mv) with the Ministry of Economic Development. The programme has an official April 2026 launch — confirm that applications are open and check current investment thresholds before relying on this route.

General guidance only, not immigration or insurance advice; figures and requirements change and entry is always at the discretion of Maldives Immigration at the port of entry. Verify with the official Maldives Immigration portal (immigration.gov.mv / imuga.immigration.gov.mv) before travelling. Last checked: 2026-06

Last verified June 2026

India → Maldives: frequently asked

Do India passport holders need a visa to visit Maldives?

Visa-free · up to 90 days. Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

Can a India passport holder live or work long-term in Maldives?

Yes, via a long-stay visa. Maldives has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.

Do I need travel insurance for Maldives?

Entry to Maldives never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Maldives visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.