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This guide makes your tedious documentation work stress-free. You can imagine stepping onto an island surrounded by turquoise waters and staying in a luxury overwater villa.
To experience these in person, one must determine how to reach the Maldives and develop an ideal itinerary. This blog simplifies essential documentation and addresses the most crucial questions.
Do Indian Nationals Need a Visa for the Maldives?
The answer is a relief to Indians: you receive a visa on arrival, but you must still complete a traveller declaration form, which is explained below.
One major advantage of travelling to the Maldives is that no embassy visits are required for a tourist visa, unlike many other countries. Your passport and a few supporting documents are sufficient.
Here is what you need to know once you land in the Maldives
Upon arrival at Velana International Airport in Male, proceed to the immigration counter and present your passport, IMUGA confirmation, hotel booking, and return ticket.
The officer will review your documents and may ask questions about the purpose and duration of your trip.
This process usually takes only a few minutes, provided you have all the required documents ready. If everything looks good, then the officials will stamp your passport with a tourist visa.
Maldives Visa on Arrival for Indians: Required Documents
Indian tourists must submit specific documents at the airport. Immigration officers will then examine them to decide their eligibility for entry. If you fail to present those necessary documents, your entry will be denied.
Essential documents when visiting the Maldives
- Passport: It should be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival.
- Accommodation Booking: Show a confirmed reservation at a resort, guesthouse, or hotel covering the entire duration of your stay.
- Return Flight Tickets: You should prove that you intend to leave the Maldives, either with a return ticket to India or another destination outside the Maldives.
- Traveller Declaration-IMUGA: This online form must be completed within 96 hours before arrival.
Applying for a Maldives Visa Online: Step-by-step Instructions
As an Indian passport holder, you will automatically receive a visa on arrival. However, the IMUGA Declaration must be completed 96 hours before landing in the Maldives.
Step 1: Open the IMUGA Declaration website
When you are on this page, click on the “Travel Declaration,” and on that page again click on the “New Declaration.”
Step 2: The user will be redirected to a new page where they must provide personal details.
Here are the things you need to fill in on this page.
- Upload your passport, or you can click “Skip Upload” and fill in the Purpose of the visit
- Name
- Gender
- Date of birth
- Passport number
- Passport expiry date
- Nationality
- Country of residence
- Email address
- Mobile number
- Photo (JPG, JPEG or PNG < 6.00 MB)
Once you have completed this, click Next to fill in the Travel Details.
- Origin country of departure
- Port of entry
- Arrival date
- Flight number
- PNR number
- Length of stay
- Accommodation details
- Port of departure
- Departure date
- Destination after the Maldives
Click Next to continue the Health Declaration form and enter the following details.
- Here, you can review the following details and select Yes or No.
Next, you will be on the Custom Declaration page:
- Read the prohibited & restricted items information and pack things accordingly
- Number of check-in bags
- Mention if you are carrying any prohibited items.
Cost of a Maldives Visa for Indians
The best thing about the Maldives is that it does not charge a visa fee. If you hold an Indian passport, you are eligible for a standard tourist visa valid for 30 days.
However, let’s now see what happens when you extend your stay.
The first 30 days are free; you will need to pay to extend. Always prepare some cash for this, even if you have not planned it due to unforeseen circumstances.
Costs of Maldives visa extension: Approx 4,000 INR per person for 30 days
Other Essential Information for Visiting the Maldives
In addition to visa requirements, here are a few tips to help ensure your Maldivian holiday is a success. Understanding these points saves time in planning and avoids common mistakes.
Is insurance needed for the Maldives?
Travel insurance when visiting the Maldives is not mandatory, but strongly recommended.
Insurance can protect you from many unfortunate circumstances, such as losing your luggage or passport, trip cancellations, or any health-related incidents.
How Do You Go to the Maldives?
There are direct flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai. Reaching the Maldives will take approximately 2 to 5 hours, depending on the Indian city you board from.
The cost of a one-way ticket is approximately 9,000 to 14,000 INR, depending on when you book and the season you visit the Maldives.
When to Visit the Maldives?
The best time is during the shoulder season: April, May and November. It has a generally favourable climate: low rainfall, low humidity, and calm seas. The temperature is approximately 27°C to 30°C.
The cost is lower than during peak season, and the weather is less severe than in the wet season.
What to Pack?
Never leave home without beach essentials, including beachwear, sunglasses, sunscreen & flip-flops.
Also, remember, the Maldives is a Muslim country, and it’s essential to respect the culture. Avoid wearing bikinis on local islands, and do not carry pork or alcohol with you.
For a dinner at an underwater restaurant or in a dedicated restaurant on a private island, pack smart-casual attire.
If you are going to try water sports in the Maldives, then carry a reef-safe sunscreen, underwater cameras, motion sickness medication, and water shoes and dry bags.
Conclusion
When planning a holiday to the Maldives, prioritise the visa process before finalising your itinerary.
Once you have your passport, hotel bookings, return tickets, and the IMUGA form, you are set for a Maldivian experience.
The Maldives offers something for every type of traveller: adventure seekers through scuba diving and snorkelling, couples enjoying romantic villas, and those looking to unwind on pristine beaches.
If you need any assistance with booking a trip to the Maldives, contact Dimaak Tours. We can help with a family, friends, or honeymoon trip to the Maldives.
Frequently Asked Questions on Maldives Visa for Indians
What are the costs of a vacation to the Maldives?
A trip to the Maldives from India will cost you approximately 1,50,000 INR for 4 to 6 nights on a private island. There are a few budget resorts to choose from to save money.
If you are a budget traveller, it can cost approximately 80,000 INR for 5 days when staying on the Public Island.
The cost mentioned above is per person and covers flights, accommodation, island transfers, and meals.
What is the visa cost for the Maldives for Indians?
Indian citizens receive a free 30-day tourist visa with no fees. If you need to extend your visa, the fee is approximately 4,000 INR.
However, as a tourist, you are unlikely to need to stay longer than ten days. Though the Maldives is a luxury destination, a free visa and a better plan can make it affordable.
What is the ideal length of stay in the Maldives?
4 – 5 days in the Maldives is the most recommended duration. You can split these days to enjoy different experiences on the island. The number of days you stay depends on the occasion and the traveller’s type.
- 2 – 3 days: For a quick weekend getaway. Relaxing on the beaches, snorkeling or diving, and water adventures. Even an excursion to the neighboring sandbar or island.
- 3 – 4 days: Budget travelers and those seeking an experience of living the Maldivian lifestyle can stay for 3 – 4 days on the public islands.
- 4 – 5 days: Honeymooners can spend a little more time unwinding and enjoying the romance on secluded beaches.
What currency can tourists use in the Maldives?
The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), and Indian tourists can use this widely in the islands.
On the other hand, USD is widely accepted, particularly in resorts, restaurants, and tourist centers, to the point that prices are set in US dollars. The smaller stores on the public island usually accept MVR.
