Maldives Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in maldives, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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A valid passport, along with an onward/return ticket and sufficient funds, is required for entry. A no-cost visitor visa valid for 30 days is issued upon arrival. All travelers are required to submit a Traveler Declaration (IMUGA) within 96 hours prior their flight time for arrival in Maldives; travelers may submit the form electronically via the IMUGA portal.

Maldives Immigration routinely approves requests for extension of stays up to 90 days for travelers who present evidence of sufficient funds and who stay in a resort/hotel or present a letter from a local sponsor. Anyone staying more than 60 days without proper authorization may face heavy fines and deportation.

Yellow Fever vaccine is required for individuals above nine months of age who are traveling to the Maldives from a country the World Health Organization (WHO) designates as having a risk of Yellow Fever transmission, including transit wait time of more than 12 hours in an airport located in such a country. For more information, please refer to WHO.

For additional information, please check the Republic of Maldives, Department of Immigration and Emigration, for the most current visa information.

Travel Advisory

For U.S. government travel advisories, please see the U.S. Department of State’s Maldives Travel Advisory on travel.state.gov.

Visa Requirements 

Tourist visas are granted for all nationalities on arrival to the Maldives. As such, a foreigner travelling to Maldives as a tourist does not require pre-approval for the visa. However, the person must satisfy the basic entry requirements to clear immigration upon arrival.  Visa applicants should go to the following links for additional information: https://www.foreign.gov.mv/

Currency 

The Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the national currency and is represented by the currency symbol Rf. The MMA controls issuance of the currency. The most used symbols for the Rufiyaa are MVR and Rf.  As of December 2025, the value of the currency was approximately $0.065 U.S. dollars (USD) per Rufiyaa. One U.S. dollar was equal to 15.42 Rufiyaa at the MMA official exchange rate.

Language 

The official language of the Maldives is Dhivehi (often called Maldivian), which uses the Thaana script. English is a principal secondary language.

Health 

There are three large hospitals in the Malé area: ADK Hospital, Tree Top Hospital, and the government-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. Medical facilities outside Malé are limited. Hospitals and doctors typically require upfront payment prior to service or admission. The availability of medical supplies is uneven, and many common medications used in the United States are unavailable, so travelers should carry their prescription medications. Mosquito-borne viruses, including Chikungunya and Dengue, are endemic to the Maldives, including the capital and surrounding areas. For ambulance services, dial 102. Ambulance services are not present throughout the country or are unreliable in most areas, except the capital Male region. Ambulances are not staffed with trained paramedics and often have little or no medical equipment. Some inter-island sea ambulance service is available via the Maldives’ Coast Guard, but the service does not serve the entire country.  

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

The work week starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday, with offices generally open from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Most banks are open from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. Most stores are open to customers daily, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., while the opening is in the afternoon on Fridays.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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