MALDIVES FROM INDIA
What Indian travellers should prepare before flying: entry checks, the online declaration and how to choose your island.
ENTRY ON ARRIVAL
No pre-approval is needed. Tourists get the visa on arrival if they meet the basic entry requirements. Check the permitted stay on the official site.
PASSPORT CHECK
Your passport needs a machine-readable zone and at least one month of validity. Passports with an extended validity are not accepted.
DOCUMENTS
Officers can ask for a confirmed return ticket, a prepaid booking at a registered resort, hotel or guesthouse, and enough funds for the stay.
BEFORE YOU FLY
Submit the free Traveller Declaration on the official IMUGA portal within 96 hours before arrival. Each traveller needs one, children included.
CHOOSE YOUR STAY
Resorts usually occupy a whole island. Guesthouses on inhabited islands suit smaller budgets, but follow local customs and dress modestly in villages.
GETTING AROUND
From Velana airport, islands are reached by speedboat, public ferry, domestic flight or seaplane. Check the transfer when you book the stay.
IN THE WATER
Reef fish gather close to many islands. Use reef-safe habits: do not stand on coral, touch marine life or take shells.
DAY TRIP
Short boat trips to sandbanks and lagoons are a highlight. Carry water, sun protection and shade, as there is often no cover.
QUICK CHECKLIST
Valid MRZ passport, return ticket, prepaid booking, funds, IMUGA declaration and transfer plan. Recheck official rules before you fly.