How Indian passport holders get a visa for Maldives: visa type, government fee, processing time, maximum stay, the documents required and where to apply. Government-sourced — always verify on the official site before you travel.
Quick facts
- Visa type: Free Visa on Arrival — 30 days
- Government fee: No visa fee. Green Tax: USD 12 per night at resorts/hotels/safari vessels, USD 6/night at guesthouses (children under 2 exempt). Hotels also bill TGST at 17%.
- Processing time: Granted on arrival at Velana International Airport (MLE) for all nationalities
- Maximum stay: 30 days, extendable up to 90 days in total by paying an extension fee at Maldives Immigration
- Interview: Not required
- Ease for Indian travellers: 95/100
Documents you'll need
- Passport with machine-readable zone, valid 1+ month from arrival (manually extended passports are not accepted)
- Confirmed return / onward ticket
- Confirmed hotel or resort booking for the full stay
- Proof of sufficient funds (approx. USD 100 + USD 50/day)
- Completed IMUGA Traveller Declaration (free)
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (only if arriving from a risk country)
How & where to apply
Nothing to apply for in advance — but every traveller must complete the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration online within 96 hours before arrival (and again before departure). IMUGA Traveller Declaration — Maldives Immigration (official)
Transit & connections
Airside transit at Velana (MLE) without clearing immigration does not require a visa.
How Maldives compares in the subcontinent
With an ease score of 95/100 this is one of the smoother applications for Indians. Indians can get a Maldives visa on arrival — but check the entry-port and cash/fee conditions below before flying.
| Country | Visa type | Government fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | Free Visa on Arrival — 30 days | No visa fee. Green Tax: USD 12 per night at resorts/hotels/safari vessels, USD 6/night at guesthouses (children under 2 exempt). Hotels also bill TGST at 17%. | Granted on arrival at Velana International Airport (MLE) for all nationalities |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | eVisa (ETA) — apply online before travel | Currently free for Indian nationals (the standard US$20 ETA fee is waived under Sri Lanka's active free-ETA scheme — reconfirm it is still in force). | Usually 24–48 hours by email |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Visa-free — unlimited stay (Indo-Nepal Treaty) | No visa fee — entry is free under the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship | No advance application — walk through the immigration counter on arrival |
| 🇧🇹 Bhutan | No visa — Entry Permit + SDF ₹1,200/night | Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for Indians: ₹1,200 per adult per night, ₹600/night for children aged 6–12, free for children 5 and under (locked through August 2027). No separate visa fee. | Apply online at immi.gov.bt 5+ working days before travel to skip the airport queue, or get the Entry Permit on arrival at Paro or Phuentsholing. |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Sticker visa — apply at Bangladesh High Commission (free) | Government visa fee is waived for Indian nationals. BDVAC service charge of around ₹825 (₹699.50 + taxes) is payable separately. | Typically 5–14 working days; longer at peak times or during diplomatic slowdowns. Submission is in person at a Bangladesh Visa Application Centre (BDVAC). |
Fees and processing times are indicative and change with exchange rates and season — always confirm on each country's official source before applying.
Good to know
The IMUGA declaration is FREE on the official imuga.immigration.gov.mv portal — beware of copycat sites charging a fee. Green Tax was revised on 1 January 2025 (resorts: USD 6 → USD 12; guesthouses: USD 3 → USD 6). Visa rules change often — confirm on the official government source: https://www.immigration.gov.mv/visa/tourist-visa
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Maldives?
Free Visa on Arrival — 30 days. The IMUGA declaration is FREE on the official imuga.immigration.gov.mv portal — beware of copycat sites charging a fee. Green Tax was revised on 1 January 2025 (resorts: USD 6 → USD 12; guesthouses: USD 3 → USD 6).
What documents do Indians need for a Maldives visa?
Passport with machine-readable zone, valid 1+ month from arrival (manually extended passports are not accepted); Confirmed return / onward ticket; Confirmed hotel or resort booking for the full stay; Proof of sufficient funds (approx. USD 100 + USD 50/day); Completed IMUGA Traveller Declaration (free); Yellow fever vaccination certificate (only if arriving from a risk country)
How long does a Maldives visa take and what does it cost?
Processing: Granted on arrival at Velana International Airport (MLE) for all nationalities. Government fee: No visa fee. Green Tax: USD 12 per night at resorts/hotels/safari vessels, USD 6/night at guesthouses (children under 2 exempt). Hotels also bill TGST at 17%.. Maximum stay: 30 days, extendable up to 90 days in total by paying an extension fee at Maldives Immigration.
How do Indians apply for a Maldives visa?
Nothing to apply for in advance — but every traveller must complete the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration online within 96 hours before arrival (and again before departure). Official source: https://www.immigration.gov.mv/visa/tourist-visa
Is a Maldives visa hard to get for Indian citizens?
With an ease score of 95/100 this is one of the smoother applications for Indians. No interview is normally required.
Can Indians get a Maldives visa online or on arrival?
Indians can get a Maldives visa on arrival — but check the entry-port and cash/fee conditions below before flying.
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