Maldives Business Visa – Requirements and Documentation
With its many tourist attractions and the number of visitors every year, Maldives is the perfect destination for foreigners looking for a new market. The country is the right place to set up a new business and get maximum profit in a few years. However, you need a Maldives Business Visa to visit the Maldives for business-related activities.
Moreover, the economic and immigration policies favor international businesses and companies in the Maldives. Whether you want to set up a new company, open a branch, or even a start-up, you have a market in the Maldives amongst the residents and visitors who call the country their home.
Therefore, this article will articulate all the necessary information you need to acquire a visa to conduct business activities in the Maldives.
About the Maldives
The Maldives has become a tourist hotspot over the last decade. The country has attracted millions of visitors from around the globe. And now, the government wants to attract even more tourists.
The Maldives is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean located south of India.
The country is known for its beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. In recent years, tourism has boomed in the Maldives, and the government wants to capitalize on the trend.
To increase tourism, the Maldives government is offering visa-free entry to citizens of some countries. It means that visitors don’t need a visa to visit the Maldives. They only need to apply for a visa at the airport upon arrival.
What is Maldives Business Visa?
The Maldives Business Visa is a multiple-entry visa that allows foreigners to visit the country for business-related activities. However, they cannot work in the country with it. It permits you to stay in the Maldives for up to three months within one year.
Who can apply for a Maldives Business Visa?
The following group of persons can apply for a business visa to visit the Maldives for business-related activities. They include:
- Foreign Individual
- Companies registered under the Companies Act
- Partnerships registered under Partnership Act
- Cooperative Societies registered under Act
- Sole Proprietorships registered under the Sole Proprietorship Act
- Associations incorporated under a law
- Government or State Authorities
Requirements for Maldives Business Visa
- Business Visa application form
- A machine-readable (MRZ) Passport
- Registration copy of the applicant
- Passport size photo
- Travel and Health Insurance
- Declaration
- A letter from the sponsor
- Proof of purpose of visit
- Proof of financial means
- Proof of accommodation in the Maldives
#1. The Maldives Business Visa application form
You will need a Maldives Business Visa application form to provide the details about yourself and your travel plans. The application will contain the following information, including your name, place of birth, nationality, the duration of your stay, and the purpose of your travel to the country.
#2. A machine-readable passport
You will also need a valid passport for six months before you visit the Maldives. In addition, it must contain one blank page for the visa stamp. Plus, it must be a machine-readable travel document.
#3. Passport-sized photo
Your photo must comply with the Maldives immigration photo requirements. It must be in color. Plus, you must take it in the last three months.
#4. Travel and Health insurance
Another document you need for the application for a Maldives Business Visa is travel insurance from a company in the Maldives. It must cover your medical expenses for the time you stay in the Maldives.
#5. Declaration letter
All travelers to the Maldives must fill out a declaration form before they visit the country.
#6. A letter from a sponsor
All foreigners visiting the Maldives for business purposes must get a letter from a sponsor in the Maldives.
Apart from business, there are many other reasons to visit the Maldives. See our top 11 reasons to visit the Maldives, especially if you love different cultures, art, and experience.
#7. Proof of purpose of visit
You must also provide documents showing proof of your reason for visiting the Maldives. You can use the following documents:
- Letter from the applicant stating the purpose of the visit
- A letter from the Managing Director of a registered Company
- A letter from the President of an Association established by a law
- A letter from an authorized official of the Government or state institution
#8. Proof of financial means
You must provide evidence of sufficient financial means for your stay in the Maldives. A bank statement, payslip, or official document from the company can serve.
#9. Proof of accommodation in the Maldives
You will also provide evidence of pre-paid hotel reservation in the Maldives. Other documents showing proof of a place to live in the country can serve.
#10. A valid email address
You also need an email address to send your application. In addition, you will get a response from the Maldivian authorities via email.
Steps to apply for the Maldives Business Visa
You must apply for a Maldives Business visa from your country of origin. However, you must have a sponsor in the Maldives who will help you to apply for your permit in the Maldives.
You can apply for an entry to visit the Maldives for business with the following steps. They include:
Step one. Visit the Maldives visa page.
You must visit the Maldives visa website to get the information you need about your application for a Maldives Business visa, including the requirements.
Step two. Gather the documents for a Maldives Business visa
Gather all the documents you need for your permit. You must make sure you have all the requirements we listed above. Otherwise, you will not receive your visa.
Step three. Send your documents and details to your sponsor in the Maldives.
You can send the documents to your sponsor in the Maldives. Your backer will help you to apply for a visa in the Maldives.
Step four. Your sponsor will email your application to authorities in the Maldives.
Your sponsor will send your application to the Maldivian authorities via [email protected]. The mail must contain your name and passport number. In addition, you must add other documents separately to the mail.
Step five. Get a reply from the authorities.
Your sponsor will get a notification from the Maldivian authorities once your visa is ready. Submit the original set of your application via email to the Immigration Office at Velana International Airport
Step six. Pay your visa fee for a Maldives Business Visa
Once you get a reply, you must pay your visa fee at least one hour before you arrive in the Maldives. Moreover, you cannot receive your entry permit until you complete your payment.
However, if you will use the Gan International Airport, you can pay at the Immigration Office at Gan International Airport.
Step seven. Receive your Maldives Business Visa
After your p[payment, you will receive your visa upon arrival at the Maldives international airport. It will allow you to stay in the country for up to 30 days in each entry.
Also Read:Maldives Tourist Visa – Application, Validity and Fees
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the processing time for a Maldives Business visa?
Generally, it takes about five to ten days to process a visa to visit the Maldives for business. However, depending on the situation, it can take up to two weeks. Thus, you can apply for your permit two weeks from the date you intend to travel to the Maldives.
What is the validity of the Maldives Business Permit?
A Maldives Business permit allows holders to stay in the country for business-related activities for up to 30 days per entry. However, you can stay in the country for 90 days within 12 months. It is a multiple-entry visa.
How much is a visa to visit the Maldives for business?
The cost of obtaining a visa for business activities in the Maldives is MVR 750 every three months. You can pay the fee once you receive a notification from the Immigration Office in the Maldives. Plus, you have to make the payment for an entry permit at least one hour before you arrive at the airport.
The visa fee for a business visa is non-refundable.
Where can you apply for a visa to visit the Maldives for business?
To obtain a visa for business activity in the Maldives, you must apply through a sponsor in the country. Your backer will send your application via email to the Immigration Office in the Maldives.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the Maldives is a perfect place for companies to set up their businesses. The country attracts many visitors for different reasons, including tourism, vacation, work, and study. Whether it is a start-up, expanding, or establishing a new business, you will find a market in the Maldives.
To take advantage of this opportunity in the Maldives, you must obtain a business visa that allows visitors to stay in the country for up to 90 days in one year. During this period, you can conduct business activities, but you can not work as an employee in the country.
Thus, you can follow the instructions in this article to obtain a visa to visit the Maldives for business.
