MaldivesBusiness and self-employment

Maldives business visa

Business Visa (and 14-day Meeting Visa)

In short

Foreigners invited by a locally registered business or organisation can obtain a Maldives Business Visa, a multiple-entry e-visa allowing a cumulative stay of up to 90 days within 12 months. It must be approved before arrival through the Business Portal of the economic ministry. People attending a conference or convention can instead receive a 14-day Meeting Visa on arrival.

Apply on Business Portal (Ministry of Economic Development) checked 24 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in total within a 12-month period (Meeting Visa: 14 days)
Validity
Multiple entry within 12 months
Processing time
Ministry approval, then Immigration verification; e-visa downloaded from the portal
Work
Approved business purposes only; not employment
Where to apply
Online on the Business Portal (business.egov.mv) before travel; Meeting Visa granted on arrival

Meeting Visa for conferences

Since 14 May 2023 the Maldives has offered a Meeting Visa on arrival for foreigners attending a meeting, conference or convention held in the Maldives, provided the event is a permissible business accepted by the Registrar of Businesses, is for government or state use, or is organised with the approval of the competent authority. It is valid for 14 days and cannot be extended.

The requirements mirror the tourist visa: a complete itinerary with a confirmed return ticket, a prepaid booking at a registered hotel and sufficient funds, the IMUGA declaration within 96 hours before the flight, and a machine-readable passport valid for at least one month. A Meeting Visa holder cannot switch to a Business Visa inside the Maldives.

Who qualifies

Under the Business Visa Regulation, the visa is for a foreign national entering for an approved business purpose at the invitation of a business or organisation registered in the Maldives. Applicants must not already hold one of the visa categories listed in article 9 of the Maldives Immigration Act (Law No. 1/2007), and must not be barred from entry under article 8.

The visa is not a work permit. Taking up employment requires the work permit and Work Visa route through an employer.

Documents

Maldives Immigration asks for a clear colour copy of the passport biodata page, with the passport valid for more than six months, and a recent photograph taken within the last three months that meets its photo specifications. Supporting documents about the inviting company are handled by the company on the portal.

Required documents

Identity

  • Colour copy of the passport biodata page; passport valid for more than six months

Work

  • Invitation by a business or organisation registered in the Maldives (submitted on the portal)

Other

  • Photograph taken within the last three months meeting Immigration specifications
  • IMUGA Traveller Declaration before each arrival

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Travel

  • Meeting Visa: return ticket, prepaid registered hotel booking and proof of funds

Applying on the Business Portal

The inviting business submits the application on the Business Portal of the Ministry of Economic Development (business.egov.mv); the service is also listed on the government's ONEGov portal, which requires an eFaas login. Once submitted, a General Service Request (GSR) number is generated and the status shows as submitted. The ministry reviews and approves the request, Maldives Immigration verifies and processes it, and the approved e-visa can then be viewed and downloaded from the portal.

Approval must be in place before arrival, but it does not guarantee entry: all travellers still pass immigration clearance and must file the IMUGA Traveller Declaration.

  1. Agree the purpose of the visit with the Maldivian business or organisation that will invite you.
  2. Send the host a colour scan of your passport biodata page and a recent photo.
  3. The host submits the application on the Business Portal and receives a GSR number.
  4. Wait for ministry approval and Immigration processing, then download the e-visa.
  5. File the IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before each trip.
  6. Keep track of your days so the total stays within 90 days in 12 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enter the Maldives several times on one business visa?

Yes. The Business Visa is multiple entry, with a cumulative limit of 90 days within 12 months.

Do I need a business visa for a conference?

Not necessarily. Attendees of a qualifying meeting, conference or convention receive a 14-day Meeting Visa on arrival.

Can I extend a Meeting Visa?

No. Maldives Immigration states that the Meeting Visa is non-extendable, and you cannot change it to a Business Visa while in the country.

Who submits the business visa application?

The inviting Maldivian business or organisation, on the Business Portal of the economic ministry.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for the Maldives

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 30 days on arrival; extendable by 60 days (90 days in total)

Business and self-employment

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: As long as the work permit; renewals for a maximum of one year

Family

Maldives visa guide