Guide on how to apply for a Maldives Residence Permit
The Maldives is a beautiful country around the Indian Ocean. Its clear sky-blue waters and recreational white sand beaches are well known. It’s a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy the beaches, resorts, and water activities. However, if you are planning to move to the Maldives, you must apply for a residence permit. This guide will show you how to apply for a Maldives Residence Permit.
About the Maldives
The Maldives is home to over 400,000 people, who mostly live on the capital island of Male. The official language of the Maldives is Dhivehi; however, English is also widely spoken.
The Maldives has a rich culture reflected in its arts, cuisine, and architecture. In addition, the people of the Maldives are very hospitable and welcoming, making tourism a key industry for the country.
Life in the Maldives is relatively relaxed and laid-back. The tropical climate and beautiful beaches make it a perfect destination for those seeking to escape everyday life’s chaos.
With a population of about 528,000 and a land area of 298 square kilometers, Maldives is one of the world’s smallest countries by population and land area. However, the Maldives has a GDP per capita of $12,600 and a human development index (HDI) of 0.795. This makes her rank as a “high” human development country.
The Maldives is predominately Islamic, with 98.4% of the population adhering to Islam. Sunni Islam is the official religion of the Maldives and is practiced by all citizens.
The Maldives has a tropical climate, and its terrain mainly consists of coral reefs. The capital city of Male is home to about 75% of the country’s population.
Maldives Visa Policy
The Maldives has a very strict visa policy in place. Therefore, tourists who want to visit the country must obtain a visa before they travel. There are a few ways to do this, but the most common is to apply for a tourist visa through the Maldives embassy or consulate in your home country.
Applying for a Maldives visa can be time-consuming and expensive, but it is worth it because once you have your visa, you can enjoy all the Maldives offers without any restrictions.
If you are planning on traveling to the Maldives, make sure to start the visa application process as early as possible to avoid delays or problems.
Maldives Visa Types
There are several types of visas; each type depends on the reason you need them. Below is a breakdown of the different types of visas, along with their requirements.
Work Visa
This is issued for a foreign national who wants to work in the Maldives. Unlike the Kuwaiti work visa, foreign nationals are granted 15 days from arrival. To obtain this visa, they must have a work permit issued by the Ministry of Economic Development, which was received within 90 days of the issue.
Business Visa
A temporary business visa called Business Visa grants foreign businesspersons multiple entries to enter the Maldives for business purposes, such as meetings, seminars, expos, etc. If you are applying for this visa, you must submit proof of a business in the Maldives or a letter from a host like an employer or business partner.
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is issued to any foreigner on entry to the Maldives for up to 30 days. Thus, you won’t need to apply for a visa when traveling to the Maldives as a tourist. However, you need to meet the main entry requirements to bring immigration clearance there upon arrival.
Maldives Residence Permit
To live as a long-term resident here, you must have a permanent resident permit. The permit is only issued to a foreigner legally married to a Maldivian and a Muslim. You can also try becoming a citizen by investing in a local company. A permanent residence permit may give you citizenship, but it doesn’t give you all the legal rights of a Maldivian.
Maldive Residence permit
Investors are welcome to apply for a corporate resident visa to obtain long-term residency in the Maldives. The corporate resident visa is also known as the residence permit.
Eligibility for Maldive residence permit
- Shareholder or more Directors or Partners of an existing Foreign Investment registered under Law no. 25 79 (Maldives Foreign Investment Act) who meet the requirements specified in Section 5 (a) (h) of Regulation no. 2021 R-115 (Regulation on Corporate Resident Visa), who is not employed in the Maldives or a family member of the eligible person. They must have invested USD 1 million in the past three fiscal years and have hired 50% local full-time workers.
- An investor who maintains a Fixed Deposit of $250,000 in the Maldives for five years deposits that amount in a bank account.
- An investor who has invested $250,000 in the Government of Maldives development project.
Maldives residence permit requirements
- Declaration form. You are required to upload a signed declaration page to complete the application.
- Valid Passport Copy
- Individual (color photo that complies with the photo requirements set out by Maldives Immigration) required by the photo formatting requirements.
- Travel and Health Insurance (Travel and Health Insurance issued by a licensed insurer or an insurer approved by the Republic of Maldives).
- Source of Investment (Document identifying and confirming the source of investment, such as a letter indicating that the entity satisfies the investment requirement based on audited financial statements or bank statements of the applicant or a letter from the government of Maldives issued to the applicant or other supporting document).
- Board resolution (If an applicant is eligible as a Senior Management Personnel, Board Resolution determines senior positions of the organization).
- Copy the most recent entry stamps from the Maldives (if the applicant has already been granted a visa to enter the Maldives).
Application process
You can apply for a corporate residence permit through the Maldives e-government site. But, you will need to create an efaas account first.
You are to pay a non-refundable fee of MVR 15,000 together with the application for a Corporate Resident Visa.
Once your application scales through the approval process, you will get an email notification, and the payment gateway will become accessible through the Business Portal.
Also Read: Maldives Visa Requirements – Who and How to apply
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get residency in the Maldives?
An individual is regarded as a resident if his or her permanent abode is the deed of Maldives or if it is intended to be kept there for a year or more. The individual should stay there for 183 days in at least 12 months.
How can I get a permanent visa in the Maldives?
Other than permanent residency, a foreigner may obtain citizenship and reside permanently if he or she is a citizen by birth, born to at least one parent who is a Maldivian citizen. A foreigner is also eligible if he or she has Maldives-origins, that is, born outside the country to a Maldivian citizen.
Do I need a visa to live in the Maldives?
Tourist visas are issued for all nationalities upon arrival in the Maldives. Therefore, a foreigner traveling to the Maldives as a tourist doesn’t need prior permission for a tourist visa. However, in order to obtain immigration clearance upon arrival, the tourist must meet the requirements set forth by the country.
Can we immigrate to the Maldives?
When you travel to the Maldives, you’ll be issued a 30-day visa free of charge upon arrival. No prior visa is required to enter the Maldives, and you’ll only be allowed to enter the country upon immigration authorization.
Can I buy Maldives citizenship?
Allowed. Presently, one may acquire Maldivian citizenship at birth if born in the Maldives to a Maldivian parent. Additionally, one may attain citizenship using descent, even if born outside of the Maldives, to a Maldivian citizen.
Can I extend my stay in the Maldives?
You can extend your “30-day on-arrival visa” for an additional 60 days by applying for an extension of your visa directly to the Department of Immigration and Emigration before the expiration of your visa.
How strong is the Maldives passport?
Each passport page has a different design, with many illustrations set by the Maldivian artisan Hussain Ali Manik. It is one of the most secure biometric passports in the world, with 34 security features and numerous hidden elements.
How long does it take to get a Maldives visa?
The Maldives government issues a visa on the entrance to citizens of all countries, valid for 30 days. Foreign tourists can get an extension of another 60 days on request on the tourist visa, but the application must be submitted two days before the visa expires.
Which countries can enter the Maldives without a visa?
Citizens of India and Russia can live in the Maldives for 90 days without a visa.
Is a marriage certificate required for the Maldives?
Photo Required work visa Employment Approval (Copy) Marriage certificate. If Children (Birth Certificate)
How long is a work permit valid in the Maldives?
A person traveling to the Maldives on a visit for employment will get 15 days from the date of arrival. To obtain this early date, the foreign national must have a valid work permit issued by the Ministry of Economic Development, which does not last more than 90 days from the time of issue.
What is a sponsorship visa in the Maldives?
An individual from the outside might be able to enter the Maldives under the SEVP program if the sponsor applies and completes the relevant application form received by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
You may not enter the Maldives under this program as an applicant until the SEVP application is approved.
What language do they speak in the Maldives?
While the national language is Dhivehi, most Maldivians can speak English without problems.
Conclusion
The Maldives Residence Permit is a great way to gain long-term residency there. It is a simple process, and there are many benefits to having the permit. If you are considering moving to the Maldives, try applying for the Residence Permit.
