Travelling to Maldives
Entry requirements by nationality
- Argentina: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Australia: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Brazil: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Canada: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Chile: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- China: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- France: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Germany: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- India: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Italy: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Japan: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Malaysia: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Mexico: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Netherlands: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- New Zealand: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Singapore: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- South Korea: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Spain: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- Ukraine: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- United Kingdom: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
- United States: visa on arrival — up to 30 days per visit
What you can bring
- Alcohol: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cannabis: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Cash: allowed, must be declared — Passengers carrying currency over US$10,000 use the red channel to declare it: the airport operator's customs page lists "currency over $10,000" among goods to declare at Customs.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Controlled medication: depends on specifics — MFDA Guideline §4.9.1: "Importation of controlled drug for prescription should be limited to 30 days' supply, for patients with chronic illness can be of maximum 90 days' supply"; more than three months needs documents on the patient's illness history with a valid prescription, and a controlled-drug prescription is valid for 90 days from the prescribed date. §4.8.2: "It is an offense to import any controlled drug into Maldives without obtaining the import certificate from MFDA", and controlled medicinal products may not be imported by post.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Drones: depends on specifics — Flying a drone needs prior approvals, reviewed "case-by-case" by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority: "Depending on the area of operation, you may need approval from Maldives National Defence Force" (MNDF); "once approval has been obtained from MNDF, apply to the CAA" with the application form and a copy of the MNDF permit; plus "approval from any other relevant parties (e.g. resorts, island or city council)". Operations must stay below 400 feet. The airport operator's customs page: "Permits required in advance from MCAA + MNDF. Drones without permits may be held at customs."Detailscompare everywhere →
- E-cigarettes: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
- Fresh produce: depends on specifics — Under the Plant Quarantine Regulation, "all plants, parts of plants, plant products" must be imported in accordance with the regulation (§3); plants and seeds brought for planting or ornamental purposes must be disease-free, clean of sand and water, correctly packed and labelled, and accompany a phytosanitary certificate. The regulation states that "raw flora and bouquets and garlands made from fresh flora weighing less than 500 grams may be imported without a phytosanitary certificate". Prohibited outright (§9): "all parts of Maldivian coconut trees (cocos nucifera) except timber", any plant prohibited by other law, and FAO-listed invasive species.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Prescription medication: allowed, within limits — MFDA Guideline on Good Import Practice §4.7: "Importation of medicines for personal use will be limited to 90 days' supply"; more than 90 days needs additional documents on the patient's illness history (up to 6 months' supply with them). The medicines "should be accompanied by a valid prescription (not older than 3 months from the prescribed date) from a registered medical practitioner", stating the patient's full name and address, prescribed date, indication, medicine name (generic/brand), dosage form, strength, dosage, duration of treatment, and the doctor's name, registration number, signature and official seal.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Prohibited items: prohibited
- Tobacco: allowed, within limits — Effective 9 November 2024, only travellers on a tourist visa may import limited tobacco for personal use, duty-exempt: "Up to 200 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco." Quantities above that "will be retained by Customs for a maximum of 30 days" and can be collected at the Velana International Airport departure customs counter before leaving.Detailscompare everywhere →
- Weapons: prohibitedDetailscompare everywhere →
Checked against official sources on 2026-09-21. Official source