The Maldives is a four-hour flight from Dubai and the easiest visa in this region: every nationality gets a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival. There is no application, no fee and no difference between Indian, Pakistani, Filipino or Emirati passports. What catches people out is the paperwork around the visa: a confirmed booking at a registered tourist property, a return ticket, and the free IMUGA traveller declaration submitted within 96 hours of your flight.
Checked on 19 October 2026 against Maldives Immigration and the IMUGA portal. Sources at the end.
On this page
- The short answer
- The five things you need at Malé airport
- IMUGA: the declaration everyone must submit
- Taxes and fees already in your bill
- Staying longer than 30 days
- What you cannot bring in
- Mistakes to avoid
- Questions people ask
The short answer
| Who gets it | Tourists of every nationality (Israeli passport holders are refused entry) |
| Fee | Free |
| Stay | 30 days, stamped on arrival |
| Apply in advance? | No visa application. You submit the IMUGA declaration online. |
| Extendable | Yes, up to 90 days in total |
| UAE residence needed? | No. Your passport is what counts. |
Because the visa is the same for everyone, your UAE residence does not change anything. It does help indirectly: a valid UAE residence visa and a return ticket to Dubai or Abu Dhabi show the officer you will leave.
The five things you need at Malé airport
The visa on arrival is free, but it is not automatic. Officers at Velana International Airport check five things:
- A machine-readable passport valid at least 6 months from arrival. Some sources quote one month; 6 months is the safe rule and what most airlines check.
- A confirmed return or onward ticket.
- A confirmed booking at a registered tourist facility — resort, hotel, guesthouse or liveaboard boat — for your whole stay. Booking an unregistered private flat through a social-media contact is a common reason for refusal.
- Enough money for the stay. A commonly quoted guideline is about US$100 plus US$50 per day. A fully prepaid resort booking usually satisfies this.
- The IMUGA traveller declaration (below).
IMUGA: the declaration everyone must submit
IMUGA is the Maldives’ online traveller declaration. It replaced the paper arrival card and combines immigration, health and customs questions.
- Submit it at imuga.immigration.gov.mv.
- Do it within 96 hours before your flight to the Maldives.
- It is required for arrival and departure. Submit both.
- It is free. Websites charging for IMUGA are not official.
- Every traveller needs one, including children. A parent can submit for the family.
Keep the QR code on your phone. Emirates and flydubai staff in the UAE may ask for it at check-in.
Taxes and fees already in your bill
The visa is free, but the Maldives charges three taxes that land on every tourist. You do not pay them at immigration; they are added to your flight ticket or hotel bill.
| Charge | Amount for foreign tourists | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Departure tax | US$50 economy, US$120 business, US$240 first class | In your air ticket |
| Airport development fee | US$100 economy, US$240 business, US$480 first class | In your air ticket |
| Green tax | US$12 per person per night at resorts and larger hotels; US$6 at guesthouses and hotels with fewer than 50 rooms | On your hotel bill |
The ticket charges rose on 1 December 2024 and the green tax doubled from 1 January 2025. Children under 2 are exempt from the green tax. For a couple spending 5 nights at a resort, the green tax alone is US$120 (about AED 440).
Staying longer than 30 days
The 30-day tourist visa can be extended to a maximum of 90 days. Since April 2026, extensions can be filed online through IMUGA, with processing of about 48 hours. You will need to show continued accommodation at a registered property, funds and an onward ticket. A fee applies.
What you cannot bring in
Maldives customs is strict, and items that are normal in Dubai are banned:
- Alcohol — including duty-free bought in Dubai. It is held at the airport.
- Pork products.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes (import banned since 15 November 2024).
- Idols for worship, pornography and narcotics.
- Dogs and other restricted animals.
Prescription medicines are allowed for personal use. Carry the prescription.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking an unregistered stay. If your accommodation is not a registered tourist facility, you can be refused entry.
- Submitting IMUGA too early. More than 96 hours before your flight, it may not be accepted.
- Paying a website for a “Maldives e-visa”. Tourists do not need one.
- Bringing duty-free alcohol from Dubai. It will be confiscated or held until departure.
- A one-way ticket. Airlines in the UAE can refuse boarding without a return.
Questions people ask
Do Indian residents of the UAE need a visa for the Maldives?
No visa application. Indian passport holders get the same free 30-day visa on arrival as everyone else. Submit IMUGA before you fly.
Do Pakistani residents of the UAE need a visa for the Maldives?
No. Pakistani passport holders also get the free visa on arrival, subject to the same five conditions.
Can I stay in a local guesthouse?
Yes, if it is a registered guesthouse. Local islands such as Maafushi have many. Book through a known platform or the guesthouse directly and keep the confirmation.
Is IMUGA a visa?
No. It is a free declaration. The visa itself is stamped at Malé airport.
Can I combine the Maldives with Sri Lanka?
Yes. Many UAE residents fly Dubai–Colombo–Malé. Check whether your passport gets Sri Lanka’s free ETA.
Related guides
- Sri Lanka visa for UAE residents
- Thailand visa for UAE residents
- Indonesia and Bali visa for UAE residents
- Malaysia visa for UAE residents
Sources
- Maldives Immigration — IMUGA traveller declaration: imuga.immigration.gov.mv
- Maldives Immigration: immigration.gov.mv
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority — departure tax, airport development fee and green tax changes (December 2024 and January 2025), as reported by The Points Guy, 27 November 2024
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 19 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly and whenever the Maldives changes its taxes. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.