Country Information

The Maldives have deep blue seas, turquoise reefs, white sandy beaches and palm trees. It is also a place full of character, where the people have long spent their days languishing in the very essence of idyll living. While it is the perfect place to sit on a beach and watch a sunset with a cocktail balanced on your hand, it is also a geographical marvel, knowing that there are thousands of fish swimming around the vivid corals just a few feet away from where you sit.

The Maldives lie in two rows of atolls in the Indian Ocean, just across the equator. The country is made up of 1,190 coral islands formed around 26 natural ring-like atolls, spread over 90,000 square kilometres. These atolls structures are formed upon a sharp ridge rising from the ocean, making way for their secluded uniqueness.

Each atoll in the Maldives is made of a coral reef encircling a lagoon, with deep channels dividing the reef ring. A string of islands take their places among this atoll ring; each island has its own reef encircling the island lagoon. The reefs of the islands, alive with countless types of underwater creatures and vibrant corals, protect the islands from wind and wave action of the surrounding vast oceans. This unique structure of reefs and channels makes navigation almost impossible for the passer-by without sufficient information about these waters.
Ninety-nine percent of the Maldives is made up of sea. The people of the islands are widely dispersed across the atolls, with about 200 inhabited islands. About 90 islands are developed as tourist resorts and the rest are uninhabited or used for agriculture and other livelihood purposes.

Earth Trip specialises in compiling a bespoke itinerary to match your tastes and preferences. Call us today to get expert advice on your holiday plans.

Visa

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.The authorities in the Maldives set and enforce entry rules. If you’re unsure how Maldives’ entry requirements apply to you, contact its UK embassy, high commission or consulate.

All travellers

You will need the following to enter or travel through Maldives as a visitor. All travellers to the Maldives must fill in a Traveller Declaration Form within 96 hours of arrival/departure.

A PCR test is no longer required to enter Maldives.

If you’re fully vaccinated

Entry requirements for Maldives are the same for all travellers, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

If you’re not fully vaccinated

Entry requirements for Maldives are the same for all travellers, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.

If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year

Entry requirements for Maldives are the same for all travellers, regardless of whether you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past year.

Children and young people

There are no specific requirements for children and young people.

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel

Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Passport validity

If entering Maldives as a tourist, you will be granted a 30-day visa upon arrival and your passport must be valid for a minimum of one month. However, if arriving by air, most airlines state that your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into the Maldives. Check with your transport provider or tour operator before travelling. You should ensure your passport has no damage or you may be stopped by Immigration, who examine passports carefully.

Visas

The visa on arrival service continues as normal for all tourist arrivals.

If you intend to work in Maldives, you will need to get a work permit before you arrive. You must also pay a security deposit to the Ministry of Finance. See the Maldives Immigration website for current rates.

For further information and advice on entry requirements you should contact the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives or the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Maldives.

Yellow fever vaccination certificate

Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.

Health information

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.

General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines. For further information on the legal status of a specific medicine, you’ll need to contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.

While travel can be enjoyable, it can sometimes be challenging. There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page . Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) .

Weather and when to go

The weather in the Maldives is usually picture perfect: sunlit days, breezy nights, balmy mornings, and iridescent sunsets. The temperature hardly ever changes – which makes packing for your holiday an easy task. With the average temperature at about 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The sun is a constant most days, shining through treetops, creating lacy patterns on your feet, healing cold-bones with its warmth. Throughout the day, the sun will make itself known, ensuring that it will be remembered and missed, like an old friend, as you pack up your suitcases to leave.

The Maldives has two distinct seasons; dry season (northeast monsoon) and wet season (southwest monsoon), with the former extending from January to March and the latter from mid-May to November.

The rare thunderstorm in the Maldives, especially around the southwest monsoon months can be a welcome respite from the sun. Cloudy skies and slate grey seas, and crashing thunder makes up for lovely reading weather. The warm temperatures will allow you to go for a walk in the rain, a verdant, wet, thoroughly enjoyable experience. For extra exhilaration, take a swim in the rain – the sea will be extra warm.

The northern atolls have the highest rainfall from May-November and the rain reaches the southern atolls from November-March.

+++ the best time to visit

++ good time to visit

+ good time with some rain expected

Month by month weather

January to April

Pleasant hot temperatures, clear blue skies, minimal rain fall, make this one of the best times to visit the Maldives. The Indian Ocean will be calm and the underwater visibility will be very good, so it is ideal for sun-seekers and snorkellers alike.

May – September

Despite wetter months, the weather is still good. You may experience few showers and increased humidity. Saying this, keep in mind that the rain will usually clear very fast. Considered as low season, the prices are lower, temperatures are high and rains are not constant, meaning it is an excellent time to visit. As most islands have an in-house reef, you will be able to snorkel there.

During the rainy season it tends to rain a bit more at night, which means that the actual daytime rain that visitors see is even more consistent than it first appears. Even during the rainy season it’s rare to have more than a few cloudy days per week, so it would be very bad luck to see much grey during an average holiday.

October – December

Mid of October is the end of the wet season in the Maldives. Hot, dry weather returns to the islands. Expect long days of sunshine and temperatures in the range of 30 degrees. This is a very popular time to travel.

Flights

The Maldives is a very popular destination therefore there are many direct and indirect flights from all over the world. Whether you live in Europe, the Americas, Asia or Australasia, flying to the Maldives is possible either in one single flight or with a simple connection.

International flights arrive at Malé’s International airport (MLE) also known as Velana International Airport, which is on an island of its own called Hulhule.

There are scheduled services with British Airways, Emirates (via Dubai), Etihad (via Abu Dhabi), Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), Qatar (via Doha), Swiss Airlines (via Zurich), Oman Air (visit Muscat), Air Sri Lanka (via Columbo) and Singapore Airlines (via Singapore).

Direct scheduled service with British Airways fly from London Gatwick.

Transfers from the Malé International airport to your resort island are either by boat, seaplane or domestic flight, depending on the distance. If your resort requires a seaplane transfer, there are a few things to be aware of: the seaplanes only operate in daylight hours, so if you arrive after sunset you will have to stay in Malé overnight before being able to transfer to your resort.

Likewise if your flight home is early in the morning – you will leave your resort in the afternoon. The seaplane journey in itself is an experience, as you get stunning views of the atolls – make sure you get a window seat and that you get your camera out before boarding (your hand luggage will probably be put at the back of the plane as there is no space under or over the seats). The seaplane will usually land next to a floating platform, from which you will be picked up by boat to be taken the remaining few metres in shore to your resort.