Employment route linked to an approved Work Permit and processed through the Xpat system.
Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 4
Official government source: immigration.gov.mv · checked 2026-07-25
Southern Asia · Immigration
Maldives
Maldives sits in Southern Asia. Its immigration system runs 7 distinct routes — led by short stays and visits, family and work, each set out in official law. All 7 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.
- Immigration routes
- 7across 4 route categories, each set out in official law
- Source-cited routes
- 7 of 7cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
- Largest category
- Short stays and visits3 of the 7 routes — see them under Short stays and visits below
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Capital
- Malé
- Population
- 529,676
- Official language
- Maldivian
- Currency
- MVR
- Time zone
- UTC+05:00
Source-cited pathways
Immigration routes
All 7 routes, grouped by purpose — 7 of 7 cite an official government source directly.
Work
1 route
Investment
1 route
Corporate Resident Visa is available to eligible investors who apply through the official business portal under the corporate-residence framework.
Process & costs: 1Report facts: 3
Family
2 routes
Family route for immediate family members of expatriates in qualifying professional categories.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: immigration.gov.mv · checked 2026-07-25
Residence route for a foreign national legally married to a Maldivian citizen.
Documents: 2Process & costs: 3Report facts: 4
Official government source: immigration.gov.mv · checked 2026-07-25
Short stays and visits
3 routes
Temporary business-entry route initiated through the Ministry of Economic Development Business Portal.
Documents: 2Process & costs: 2Report facts: 2
Official government source: immigration.gov.mv · checked 2026-07-25
Fourteen-day on-arrival route for approved meetings, conferences or conventions.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 5
Official government source: immigration.gov.mv · checked 2026-07-25
Tourist admission granted on arrival subject to entry requirements and immigration-officer assessment.
Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 7
Official government source: immigration.gov.mv · checked 2026-07-25
Official sources
- Maldives ImmigrationGovernment
See which Maldives routes you actually qualify for.
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