Maldives visa for Indian citizens

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A completed Maldives Traveller Declaration must be submitted online within 96 hours before your flight.

• Imuga | Traveller Declaration ↗
• Travel extension ↗

• Passport Validity: Official sites state a minimum of 1 month validity, but some documentation mentions 6 months. Always have at least 6 months validity. Travelers note that multiple airlines operating out of Indian cities (like Mumbai or Delhi) will actively deny you boarding at check-in if your passport has less than 6 months left, regardless of lenient Maldivian border rules.

• Accommodation: Must be a confirmed, pre-paid voucher from a registered tourist establishment. Splitting your stay? You must show consecutive, pre-paid vouchers covering every single night of your itinerary.

• Return Flight: Must be a confirmed return or onward ticket. Dummy tickets or open-ended reservations are heavily scrutinized and can result in denied entry.

• Proof of Funds: Resort vs. Local Island: If you have a fully pre-paid luxury resort booking that includes transfers and food, immigration rarely requests proof of funds. Local Island/Budget Travel: If you are staying on local islands (like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo) or hopping between guesthouses, officers are significantly more likely to ask for financial proof. Keep a recent, downloadable bank statement accessible on your phone or carry international credit cards. Keep $100/day accessible in your account or bring an active international credit card.

• The IMUGA Form: Must be filled online within 96 hours prior to departure. Take a screenshot of the generated QR code immediately. The Maldivian IMUGA Portal can be notoriously laggy, and airport Wi-Fi at Velana International Airport (Malé) can be spotty. Indian check-in counters will ask to see this QR code before giving you a boarding pass.

• Resort/Island Transfers: Booked separately via speedboats or seaplanes. Align flight times with transfer schedules. A major pitfall is arriving late afternoon. Seaplanes do not fly after dark (typically past 4:00 PM). If your flight lands late, immigration might question your accommodation logistics if you don't have a one-night transit hotel booked in Malé/Hulhumalé.

• Alcohol Laws: Zero tolerance policy. The Maldives is an Islamic nation. You cannot bring duty-free alcohol purchased at Indian airports into the country. It will be confiscated at the Malé baggage x-ray scanners, held in a bond room, and returned to you only upon departure.

• Vapes & E-Cigarettes: The Maldives has implemented strict bans and restrictions on importing electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. Leave them at home to avoid delays or fines.

• Seaplane Cut-offs: Seaplanes only operate during daylight hours (typically ending by 3:30 PM–4:00 PM). If your flight from India lands late in the afternoon, you will be forced to book an unexpected night's stay in Malé or Hulhumalé.

• Speedboat Schedules: Public and resort speedboats have fixed timetables. Always coordinate your landing time directly with your property before you clear immigration, as officers sometimes ask how you intend to reach your island destination.