Embassy
Embassy of the United States, Malé
Malé
Maldives visa requirements for American citizens
American citizens get a visa on arrival in the Maldives, for up to 30 days.
Passport
USA
United States
Going to
MDV
Maldives
Visa on arrival
A free visa for people visiting Maldives for a holiday.
- Visa
- On arrival
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for American citizens in Maldives
- Extendable up to 90 days.
- Permission from the Maldivian government required to travel to non resort islands.
What to do
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo.
Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
Queue at the visa-on-arrival desk before immigration in the Maldives.
Ways into Maldives
Tourists usually get a free visa when they arrive.
Visa on arrivalTourist visa on arrivalA free visa for people visiting Maldives for a holiday.
- Stay
- 30–90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Prepare your passport, bookings and proof of funds.
- Submit your own IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 4 days before arrival.
- Show your documents to border staff on arrival.
- Apply for an extension before your stay ends.
Documents required
- Machine-readable passport or travel document
- Return or onward ticket
- Prepaid booking at registered accommodation
- Proof of funds or approved sponsor
- Traveller Declaration
- Yellow fever certificate, if needed
- Hotel booking
- Border staff decide your stay; extensions can allow 90 days total.
- You cannot do paid work, unpaid work or business activities.
Sources (24)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Maldives Immigration — Tourist Visa; updated September 2026
- Maldives Immigration — Business Visa; updated September 2026
- Maldives Immigration — Meeting Visa
- Maldives Immigration — Work Visa Service
- Maldives Immigration — Marriage Visa; updated October 2026
- Maldives Immigration — Dependent Visa
- Maldives Immigration — Resident Visa
- Maldives Immigration — Sponsorship Declaration
- IMUGA — Official immigration services portal
- IMUGA — Free Traveller Declaration
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Maldives Visa; official indexed content reviewed, direct access returned 403
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — China visa agreement; official indexed content reviewed
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Indian business entry announcement, February 2022; historical arrangement
- Maldives High Commission in the UK — Visa and Passport Information
- Maldives Embassy in the UAE — Tourist Visa
- Maldives Embassy in the United States — Mission site checked; no inbound visa guide found in the reviewed navigation
- Maldives High Commission in India — Mission site checked; no inbound visa guide found in the reviewed navigation
- Maldives Immigration — July 2021 notice confirming online Student and Special Visa applications
- Maldives Immigration — May 2022 health insurance and medical report notice
- Maldives Immigration — Older permit extension form and supporting-document checklist
- Maldives Immigration — Special Visa application form
- Maldives Immigration Act 2007 — Official indexed English text reviewed; direct PDF address returned 404
- Maldives Immigration — Current downloads index
- ONEGov — Business Visa and Corporate Resident Visa service
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Trips to Maldives
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from United States
- Plugs D G J K LAdapter needed
- MoneyMVR .ރ
- Time+17h
- DrivingOn the leftLook right first
- LanguageDivehi
- Emergency911 police
Planning your Maldives trip
- White sand beachesThe beaches have clear blue water and tropical island scenery.
- Baa atollThis protected biosphere reserve has rich coral reefs and abundant marine life.
- National Museum in MaléSee historic objects, weapons, religious pieces and woodwork engraved in Arabic and Thaana.
- Old Friday MosqueThis 17th-century mosque is the oldest in the country. Polite, properly dressed visitors may be allowed inside.
Scams to watch for in Maldives
- High resort drink pricesBottled water can be very expensive at resorts. Alcohol at licensed venues also usually carries a steep markup. These are pricing risks, rather than evidence of a dishonest charge.
- Marked-up imported souvenirsItems sold as souvenirs on local-island excursions are typically made outside the Maldives and sold at significant markups. A local shopping stop does not mean the goods were made locally.
- Poor dollar exchange rates in shopsShops may convert US dollars at either Rf15 or Rf10 per dollar. At the lower rate, your dollars buy much less. A poor rate is not necessarily a hidden or fraudulent charge.
About Maldives
The Maldives is an archipelago republic of coral atolls in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India.
- Capital
- Malé
- Money
- Maldivian rufiyaa (.ރ)
- Languages
- Divehi
- Time zone
- UTC+05:00
- Cars drive on the
- left side
- Calling code
- +960
Other Americas passports
Going to Maldives
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Maldives with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Are there special rules for American citizens visiting Maldives?
Do american citizens need a visa for the Maldives?
American citizens get a visa on arrival in the Maldives, for up to 30 days.
How long can american citizens stay in the Maldives?
Up to 30 days each visit with the visa on arrival rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Can I get the Maldives visa at the airport?
Yes. American citizens get the visa when they land in the Maldives. Carry cash for the fee, a passport photo, your return ticket and hotel details.
Do maldivian citizens need a visa for the United States?
Maldivian citizens need a visa for the United States, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Americas passports get easier entry to the Maldives?
Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas Barbados, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Maldives are easier for american citizens?
Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Armenia Brunei, and 3 more let american citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to the Maldives?
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo. Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
What money is used in the Maldives?
Maldivian rufiyaa (.ރ). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in the Maldives?
Divehi.
How strong is the United States passport?
It ranks #12 and reaches 150 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck