Maldives: visa and entry rules

The Maldives' borders: every crossing point

The Maldives has no land borders - it is an archipelago of almost two thousand islands.

The main gateway is Velana airport near Male; international flights are also received by Gan, Maamigili and Hanimaadhoo.

Internal travel means seaplanes and speedboats, and that is part of the itinerary rather than a border question: there is no other way to reach the far-flung atolls.

Yachts clear in at ports of entry under a separate procedure; you cannot simply put in at any island.

Resort islands and inhabited islands run on different rules, which is worth understanding when planning: life on them differs, even though the visa is the same.

Driving in the Maldives

You cannot get here under your own steam, and a car is not needed in the Maldives: there is a road network only on a few of the larger islands.

Getting around means boats and seaplanes, booked through your hotel.

Car hire is possible on Male and Addu, and those are the only places where it makes sense.

Traffic drives on the left.

Travelling to the Maldives with a pet

Bringing in dogs is banned.

Cats are admitted under a permit arranged in advance, with a veterinary certificate and a rabies vaccination.

Resorts usually do not accept animals regardless of the permit - a separate restriction that people tend to discover only after the paperwork is done.

Overstaying your visa in the Maldives

The fine is paid on departure.

Overstaying is rare here: entry is tied to your booking and departure to your return ticket, so it is hard not to notice the period running out.

A significant violation ends in deportation and an entry ban.