Do Indians need a visa for Maldives?
No visa before travel: Indians get a visa on arrival in Maldives for 30 days on arrival, extendable to 90 days in total.
The rule
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rule | Visa on arrival |
| Allowed stay | 30 days on arrival, extendable to 90 days in total |
| Verified | 2026-10-22 |
| Processing | Same day once filed |
| Government fee | ₹0 |
Free tourist visa on arrival for Indian passports (India's MEA lists the Maldives as visa-free for up to 90 days under the bilateral agreement; Maldives Immigration stamps 30 days at the airport and extends to 90 on request). Submit the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours of arrival; passport valid 1+ month, confirmed return ticket and prepaid registered accommodation.
What "Visa on arrival" means for Indians
Visa on arrival means Indians fly without a visa and buy one at the Maldives border desk before immigration. Carry the fee in the accepted currency or card, a passport photo and the supporting papers the officer may ask for. The visa is granted at the counter for 30 days on arrival, extendable to 90 days in total; it is not a right of entry, so the officer can still refuse a traveller who cannot show onward travel or funds.
Before you fly
Even without a visa, airlines and border officers check the same things: a passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival (Maldives may accept less; the destination page states the rule), a confirmed return or onward ticket, an address for the first nights and enough money for the stay. Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for most visa-free entries but is the cheapest protection against a medical bill abroad. Keep printed or offline copies of bookings; a dead phone at the desk is the commonest avoidable delay.
At the Maldives border and during the stay
Maldives grants a stay of 30 days on arrival, extendable to 90 days in total, single. The date written at the border is the one that counts, not the visa validity. Overstaying, even by a day, is recorded, usually fined and can lead to a refusal on the next application for Maldives and for countries that share immigration data. Extensions, where they exist, are applied for inside the country before the stay ends; a new entry is not an extension and repeated back-to-back visits are refused at many borders.
When this rule does not apply
This answer is for ordinary India passports and short visits: tourism, visiting family and friends and business meetings without local employment. Study, work, family reunion, medical treatment and long stays follow different routes with their own fees and documents, listed on the Maldives destination page. Note for this rule: Free tourist visa on arrival for Indian passports (India's MEA lists the Maldives as visa-free for up to 90 days under the bilateral agreement; Maldives Immigration stamps 30 days at the airport and extends to 90 on request). Submit the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours of arrival; passport valid 1+ month, confirmed return ticket and prepaid registered accommodation. Diplomatic and official passports, dual nationals travelling on a second passport and holders of a residence permit for a third country can fall under different rules; when in doubt, the official source linked above decides.
How this answer is kept current
The rule comes from Maldives's own immigration authority or official e-visa portal and was last verified on 2026-10-22. The Vistolane operations team re-checks it when the government announces a change, and the page updates the same day. Airline summaries, travel forums and agency websites are never used as the source.
Maldives for India passport holders: costs, documents and timing
A free 30-day tourist visa is granted on arrival in the Maldives. The only online step is the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration, submitted within 96 hours before arrival. You need a machine-readable passport with at least 1 month of validity, a confirmed return ticket and a prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered property.
A free 30-day tourist visa is granted on arrival in the Maldives. The only online step is the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration, submitted within 96 hours before arrival. You need a machine-readable passport with at least 1 month of validity, a confirmed return ticket and a prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered property.
How much does Maldives entry cost? No government fee for Indian tourists. Vistolane's optional service, from ₹1,427 per traveller, completes the IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 4 days of arrival, checks your passport validity, ticket and booking against the official rule and reminds you before you fly.
How long does the IMUGA Traveller Declaration take? There is no decision to wait for: the IMUGA Traveller Declaration is submitted within 4 days of arrival and confirmed within minutes. Entry itself is the border officer's call.
What documents do I need for Maldives? The IMUGA declaration can only be submitted within 96 hours of arrival; we file it in that window. The visa itself is free and issued at the airport. Indian passport holders can extend the 30-day stamp to 90 days in total under the India–Maldives agreement (India's MEA lists the Maldives as visa-free for up to 90 days); the extension is requested at Maldives Immigration in Malé. Passport valid 1 month beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket and your accommodation details. Nothing else is uploaded.
Can I enter Maldives without the IMUGA Traveller Declaration? No. The IMUGA Traveller Declaration is mandatory for every traveller even though there is no visa; airlines and border officers check it. Vistolane files it in its window so it is never late.
How long can I stay in Maldives? Up to 30 days. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.
Where else Indians travel without a visa
Questions, answered
Do Indians need a visa for Maldives?
No visa before travel: Indians get a visa on arrival in Maldives for 30 days on arrival, extendable to 90 days in total.
How long can Indians stay in Maldives?
30 days on arrival, extendable to 90 days in total under the visa on arrival rule.
What does a Maldives visa cost for India passport holders?
Government fee ₹0 plus the Vistolane fee from ₹1,427; visa application centre charges may apply.
How much does Maldives entry cost?
No government fee for Indian tourists. Vistolane's optional service, from ₹1,427 per traveller, completes the IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 4 days of arrival, checks your passport validity, ticket and booking against the official rule and reminds you before you fly.
How long does the IMUGA Traveller Declaration take?
There is no decision to wait for: the IMUGA Traveller Declaration is submitted within 4 days of arrival and confirmed within minutes. Entry itself is the border officer's call.
What documents do I need for Maldives?
The IMUGA declaration can only be submitted within 96 hours of arrival; we file it in that window. The visa itself is free and issued at the airport. Indian passport holders can extend the 30-day stamp to 90 days in total under the India–Maldives agreement (India's MEA lists the Maldives as visa-free for up to 90 days); the extension is requested at Maldives Immigration in Malé. Passport valid 1 month beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket and your accommodation details. Nothing else is uploaded.
Can I enter Maldives without the IMUGA Traveller Declaration?
No. The IMUGA Traveller Declaration is mandatory for every traveller even though there is no visa; airlines and border officers check it. Vistolane files it in its window so it is never late.
How long can I stay in Maldives?
Up to 30 days. Overstaying affects every future application, so count days from the entry stamp.