Maldives Work Visa Process for 2024 (Quickest Processing Time)

Typically, obtaining a Visit Visa for a stay of up to 30 days in the Maldives is not necessary if you’re visiting for tourism from any country, as the Maldives offers on-arrival Tourist Visas for all nationalities. However, if your visit is for employment purposes, securing a work visa becomes essential. Those planning to initiate their own business ventures in the Maldives, such as water activities, hotel jobs, or restaurant businesses, must apply for a business visa.

A Maldives Work Visa serves as permission for a foreign individual to reside in the Maldives for employment, while a business visa is a temporary multiple-entry visa designed for foreign nationals engaging in business activities in the Maldives. The processing time for your work visa application is impressively swift at just 48 hours. Let’s delve into the various types of visas and their corresponding requirements. For more details, you can visit the provided link on the Maldives Work Visa process in 2024.

Varieties of Maldives Work Visas:

Work Visa for Maldives
Business Visa for Maldives

Entry Requirements for Work Visa:

Your passport with a minimum validity of 1 year.
A valid Entry Pass, not exceeding 90 days from the arrival date.
The passport used for the Work Permit must match the one presented during travel.
Copy of the Employment Approval.
A recent passport-size photograph of the applicant.
Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable.

How to Apply for a Maldives Work Visa:

The Maldives Work Visa is granted upon obtaining a work permit from the Ministry of Economic Development. The application process is facilitated by the employer or their representative on behalf of the applicant. The necessary documents include:

Passport of the employee.
Recent passport-size photo adhering to specified standards.
Medical health screening report from a Hospital/Clinic authorized by the relevant government authority, if required.
Submission Receipt of IM29 form (Generated from Xpat System), an online visa service. When the visa application reaches the “Ready for Submission State” in the online Xpat System, the employer should schedule an appointment to submit the passport for visa processing.

Distinguishing Between Maldives Work Permit and Work Visa:

A Work Permit is issued by the Ministry of Economic Development for employment purposes within the Maldives.
A Work Visa is granted by Maldives Immigration, enabling foreigners to travel, reside, and work in the Maldives after obtaining a work permit.

Visa Fee:

The fee for the Maldives Work Visa is MVR50.

Processing Time:

The Maldives Work Visa application undergoes a swift processing period of 48 hours.

Official Website:

For a detailed guide on submitting an online application for the Maldives Work Visa, the Maldives Immigration Department has provided a video and comprehensive information on their official website. Visit: Maldives Immigration – Work Visa.