Maldives work visa

Maldives Immigration lists a recent photograph meeting its photo standards, a clear colour copy of the passport biodata page and any additional supporting documents that apply to the case. The work-visa section of the Immigration downloads page also provides the IM29 work visa submission receipt and the IM41 miscellaneous visa fee form.

Everything is handled by the employer. Work permits and work visas are applied for in the Xpat Online System (xpat.egov.mv), which uses the government eFaas login. A newly recruited expatriate travels on a valid Entry Pass, which is the work permit issued by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology; apart from these first arrivals, entering and leaving the Maldives requires a valid e-visa.

After the worker arrives, the employer or its authorised representative must apply for and obtain the Work e-Visa within 15 days. In the Xpat system this is done from the organisation account under Work Permit, View Work Permit, Details and the Visa tab, by choosing Apply for Visa and New Request. Once approved, an e-visa logo appears in the visa section and the document can be viewed or downloaded at any time.

If you receive a new passport, the visa record must show the new passport number before you leave or re-enter. Otherwise your passport may be held at the border for verification before entry is approved; Business or Corporate Resident Visa holders with a mismatch may be admitted after submitting a new visa application. Dual citizens are exempt from these checks.

The Work e-Visa is valid for as long as the approved work permit, and renewed work visas are issued for a maximum of one year. A visa whose work-permit fees have expired is shown as invalid. Only an approved e-visa counts as a valid work visa: passport stickers lost their validity after 23 November 2025.