Traveling to the Maldives during Corona Pandemic : What you need to know before you go

Updated on Wednesday, 12th May 2021

Upon arrival in Maldives, travelers, regardless of nationality, will be granted a 30 day visa. Passengers traveling as tourists must have a hotel reservation confirmation for the entire stay in a registered tourist facility. The Maldives reopened as a travel destination since July 15 2020, allowing travelers from all over the world to travel to the Maldives without a quarantine period. The primary exception to this is the crowded capital city of Malé, which is off-limits to visitors as it has been the source of the majority of the country’s coronavirus cases until now.

All arrivals to Maldives must have a medical certificate with a negative Coronavirus (COVID-19) PCR test result. The test must have been taken at most 96 hours before departure of the first flight, clearly showing the name and address of the laboratory, as well as the date of the sample taken. The result must be attached to the Traveler Health Declaration form which must be submitted online within the 24 hours prior to arrival. Visitors are asked to download the national contact tracing app, TraceEkee, and use it during their journey.

Recent updates :

• From 27th April, travelers from India are not permitted to stay at tourist facilities in inhabited islands, while cruise ships are currently banned.

• From 3rd May, all travelers to the Maldives will once again be required to present a negative PCR test result from a sample taken not more than 96 hours prior to their departure to the country, including who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Children below the age of one are still being exempted from this rule.

• From 9th May, Tourists traveling from South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) are restricted to stay in inhabited islands. However, they can stay in resorts and vessels approved by Ministry of Tourism. Except healthcare professionals, entry is suspended for the work permit holders arriving from South Asian countries. This suspension includes all other categories of visa holders arriving from those countries as well. Additionally, this includes the travelers transited in these countries during the past 14 days.

• From 13th May, entry is temporarily suspended for tourists originating from South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) are restricted to stay in inhabited islands. With this change, all categories of visa holders originating from South Asian countries are now temporarily restricted to enter Maldives, until further notice. Exception apply only for healthcare professionals with valid work permits. Healthcare professionals are required to hold a PCR negative result with a sample taken 96 hours prior to their departure to the Maldives and undergo home quarantine for 14 days. They also require a negative PCR test result before they are released from quarantine.

• From 15th July, Maldives will restart issuing of on arrival tourist visa starting 15th July to tourists traveling from South Asia. Tourists need a negative PCR result to enter Maldives. Further details will follow accordingly. In addition, work visa holders can re-enter Maldives from 1 July. However, they will have to be quarantined in Maldives while entering in the country

Important Information :

Those who have transited for more than 24 hours must repeat the test. Exception: This does not apply to passengers younger than 1 year.

Tourists are allowed to travel between inter-tourist facilities and all split stays must be according to the split stay procedure set forth by the Ministry of Tourism.

Tourists who initially stay at a tourist guest house or hotel in Greater Male’ area as part of a split stay, must do PCR testing for COVID-19 (despite a pre arrival PCR test done prior to entry into the country) if the duration of stay in Greater Male’ area is more than 48 hours. He/she may travel to the resort, safari or tourist guest house island if the result of this PCR test is negative.

Expect also for your resort to have some rules, especially a temperature check on arrival, and masks to be worn indoors.

Passengers and airline crew must complete a “Traveller Health Declaration” 24 hours before departure at https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ 

Future Plans :

Now Maldives plans to offer vaccinations to tourists on arrival in a bid to lure more visitors over. Maldives is developing a “3V tourism” scheme, which would allow tourists to “Visit, Vaccinate and Vacation” and this program will help boost tourism on the country. Maldives plans to offer two doses of the vaccine to visitors, which means those who sign up for it would need to remain in the Maldives for several weeks.