Maldives Visa on Arrival for Indians 2026: Rules, IMUGA, Taxes

Published 2026-10-28 · 7 min read · By the Travlys visa team

Indian passport holders do not apply for a Maldives visa in advance. You get a free tourist visa on arrival if you carry the right papers and file the IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours of landing.

Indian passport holders do not need to apply for a Maldives visa before travel. You get a free tourist visa on arrival, normally valid for 30 days, as long as you show a confirmed return ticket, a prepaid booking at a registered resort, hotel or guesthouse, enough money for your stay and a passport valid for at least one month. You must also file the free IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before you land.

At a glance: Visa: Free tourist visa on arrival, normally 30 days. Apply in advance: Not needed. Online step: IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before arrival, free, one per person including children. Passport: Machine-readable, at least 1 month validity (we suggest 6 months). Must carry: Confirmed return ticket, prepaid booking at a registered property, proof of funds. Green tax: USD 12 per person per night at resorts; USD 6 at small guesthouses on local islands. Departure charges: USD 50 departure tax plus USD 50 airport development fee in economy, usually included in the ticket. Extension: Online through IMUGA.

Do Indians need a visa for the Maldives?

No, not in advance. Maldives Immigration grants the tourist visa on arrival, and foreigners travelling as tourists do not need pre-approval. The visa costs nothing and is normally given for 30 days. The final decision is still made by the immigration officer at the airport, who checks that you meet the entry requirements below.

One point that confuses people: the Maldives started a 90-day visa-free arrangement for Indians in 2022, but it applies to business visits, not tourism. Indian tourists get the same 30-day visa on arrival as everyone else.

Entry requirements at Velana airport

The official tourist visa page of Maldives Immigration, last updated on 10 September 2026, lists these requirements:

• Passport: A passport with a machine-readable zone and at least one month's validity. A passport whose validity has been extended by endorsement is not accepted.
• Return ticket: Confirmed return journey tickets as part of a complete travel itinerary.
• Accommodation: A prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered facility, or a sponsorship approved by Maldives Immigration.
• Funds: Sufficient money to cover your stay. No fixed amount is published, so carry an international card and some US dollars.
• Next destination: If you fly onward rather than home, you must meet that country's visa and passport rules.
• IMUGA declaration: Submitted within 96 hours before arrival.
• Yellow fever certificate: Only if you arrive from, or recently travelled through, a country with risk of yellow fever. Children under one are exempt.

The official minimum passport validity is one month, but we suggest at least six months. Some airlines apply stricter checks at check-in, and a short-validity passport also limits where you can go next. Children must travel on their own passport.

IMUGA Traveller Declaration: the 96-hour rule

IMUGA is the Maldives Immigration portal at imuga.immigration.gov.mv. Every foreigner arriving in the Maldives must submit a Traveller Declaration there within 96 hours (four days) before arrival. Each traveller, including children and infants, needs an individual declaration. Submission is free.

• Fill it after you have your flight and hotel confirmed. The form asks for your travel and stay details, so do it once your bookings are final.
• Do not file too early. A declaration made more than 96 hours before arrival is outside the window.
• Use only the official portal. Lookalike websites charge a fee for a form that is free.
• Keep the confirmation. Save it on your phone and carry a printout for the immigration counter.

Departing travellers no longer need to file a declaration. Maldives Immigration dropped the departure form for outbound travellers from 15 August 2024. The IMUGA home page still mentions a form within 96 hours of arrival or departure, so if your airline asks for one, follow its instructions.

Taxes and fees you will pay in 2026

Green tax

Since 1 January 2025, resorts, resort hotels, tourist vessels and larger properties charge USD 12 per person per night. Hotels and guesthouses on inhabited islands with 50 or fewer rooms charge USD 6 per person per night. Children under two are exempt. For a couple spending five nights at a resort, that is USD 120. At a small guesthouse it is USD 60.

Tourism GST

Tourism goods and services tax (TGST) rose from 16% to 17% on 1 July 2025. It applies to resort, hotel and guesthouse bills, meals and activities. Check whether your quote includes it, especially for extras such as spa treatments and excursions.

Departure tax and airport development fee

From 1 December 2024, foreigners pay a USD 50 departure tax in economy, USD 120 in business, USD 240 in first class and USD 480 on private jets. An airport development fee of the same amount is charged on top. These are normally collected through your air ticket, so check the tax breakdown on your fare rather than expecting a counter at the airport.

Tax on overseas booking platforms

From 1 October 2026, the Maldives extended its 17% TGST to overseas booking platforms and foreign tour operators. In late October 2026 a bill to reverse this was before Parliament. This mainly affects how agents price packages. When you compare quotes, ask whether the price includes all taxes and the green tax.

Local islands or resorts?

Both work with the same visa on arrival. The choice changes your budget, your transfers and the rules you live by.

• Resorts: Usually one resort per island, private beaches, alcohol served, and transfers by speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight arranged by the resort. Green tax is USD 12 per night. Best for honeymooners who want privacy and convenience.
• Local islands: Guesthouses on inhabited islands such as those near Male, usually cheaper, with public ferries or speedboats. Green tax is USD 6 per night at smaller properties. Alcohol is not sold on inhabited islands, and you should dress modestly outside designated bikini beaches.
• Mix and match: Many travellers spend a few nights on a local island and finish with two or three nights at a resort. Carry paid confirmations for every property you will stay at.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

• 1 January 2025: Green tax doubled to USD 12 and USD 6.
• 15 April 2025: Entry stopped for Israeli passports. This does not affect Indian travellers.
• 1 July 2025: TGST rose to 17%.
• 26 July 2025: The new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport began opening in phases.
• 23 April 2026: Visa extensions on IMUGA were simplified, with processing expected within 48 hours.
• 1 October 2026: 17% TGST extended to overseas booking platforms, with a reversal bill pending.

Tips for honeymooners and families

• Match transfers to your flight. Seaplanes fly only in daylight. If you land late, your resort may put you on a speedboat or a domestic flight, or you may need a night near Male.
• One IMUGA form per person. Parents often file one for themselves and forget the children. Each child needs their own declaration and their own passport.
• Budget for the green tax. A family of four on a seven-night resort stay pays up to USD 336 in green tax, less if a child is under two.
• Pack with customs in mind. Do not carry alcohol, pork products, pornography or idols meant for worship. These are on the Maldives prohibited list.
• Buy travel insurance. Resort clinics and medical evacuation by seaplane or speedboat are expensive.
• Carry US dollars in small notes. They are handy for tips and local island purchases.

Common mistakes that delay entry

• Booking a property that is not registered for tourists, or one you plan to pay at check-in.
• Filing IMUGA a week early, outside the 96-hour window.
• Travelling on a one-way ticket and planning to book the return later.
• Assuming the Indian business visa-free rule gives tourists 90 days.

Who the Maldives suits

It suits couples, families who want a short flight from India, and divers or snorkellers. It is less suited to travellers on a tight budget who want nightlife and lots of sightseeing. In that case a local island stay, or a destination like Sri Lanka or Thailand, may give you more for your money.

How Travlys helps

Travlys plans holiday packages with hotels and private transfers, and we can check your documents and entry rules before you fly, including your IMUGA timing, booking proof and return ticket. Message us on WhatsApp at +91 82009 18967 with your dates and budget. If you are combining the Maldives with another country, we also file visas for destinations such as Singapore, Thailand and the UAE.

Last checked: We checked these rules on 28 October 2026 against Maldives Immigration, the IMUGA portal, the President's Office, Visit Maldives and the other sources listed below. Rules and taxes can change at short notice, so check the official site before you travel.