Maldives visa on arrival for citizens of France: conditions and fees 2026
A visa is required for the Maldives, and citizens of France can obtain it on arrival.
Data updated on
Mandatory arrival form: Traveller Declaration (IMUGA). Within 96 hours before arrival. Free: beware of websites that charge for it.
Fill it in on the official website (imuga.immigration.gov.mv)
Indicative information: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
Processing time
On arrival
Our guide to the Maldives visa from France
French travellers heading to the Maldives receive their entry permit on arrival, or via an e-Visa/e-VOA requested online beforehand. Confirm the exact fee and conditions on the official IMUGA portal.
This guide is for French nationals planning a tourist stay in the Maldives. The archipelago operates a visa-on-arrival regime, supported by an online e-Visa/e-VOA system (IMUGA) that is best completed before your flight to avoid airport queues. Always check the current requirements with Maldives Immigration before you depart.
Do you need a visa?
A French passport qualifies for a tourist entry permit issued on arrival in the Maldives. Even so, it is advisable to prepare your trip through the IMUGA portal (e-Visa/e-VOA) before departure. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
How much does a visa for the Maldives cost from France?
The official fee for a visa for the Maldives is not published in a source we can verify. Check the amount on the official portal before paying anything, third-party sites often add service fees on top.
What does a visa for the Maldives really cost?
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
What documents are required for a visa for the Maldives?
The exact list for the Maldives is not published in a source we can verify. Every short-stay tourist application is nonetheless built on the same core:
- Valid passport
- Completed application form
- Compliant passport photo
- Proof of accommodation
- Return or onward ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
Treat this as the common core, not the official list, confirm it with the consular authorities of the Maldives before you apply.
Documents and fees
Bring a passport valid for at least 6 months, a return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation (hotel or resort booking). The IMUGA traveller declaration is also required. Any applicable fee is not confirmed here, refer to the official portal.
How to apply for a visa for the Maldives from France
- 1Check before departure that your entry point actually issues the visa on arrival.
- 2Prepare the supporting documents and the fee, often required in cash.
- 3Complete the form at the dedicated counter after landing.
- 4Pay the fee and collect the sticker before immigration control.
How and where to apply
Apply online through the official IMUGA portal (imuga.immigration.gov.mv) before travelling, which remains the smoothest route. Otherwise, the entry permit can be obtained at the immigration counter at Malé-Velana International Airport on arrival.
Where do you apply for a visa for the Maldives from France?
A visa on arrival for the Maldives is issued at the border post itself, at a counter placed before immigration control.
- Not every crossing issues it. Confirm that your specific airport or land border does before you book.
- The counter is reached after landing and before immigration. Follow the visa signs rather than the exit.
- The fee is usually paid on the spot, sometimes in cash and in a specific currency. Card is not guaranteed.
You live in France on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in France but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.
Pick your nationality to see the rule
How long does a visa for the Maldives take?
A visa on arrival is issued at the counter of the entry point when you cross the border: there is no processing time to plan for before departure.
Processing and tips
Processing time depends on the official portal and is not confirmed here. Complete the IMUGA traveller declaration shortly before arrival, within the window set by the immigration service. Keep your accommodation and onward-travel proof to hand at the border check.
Before you fly, and at the border
Passport validity, border checks, minors, overstays: the rules common to every trip are gathered on our travel tips page. Formalities before you leave
Common mistakes
The main pitfalls are a passport with less than 6 months' validity, forgetting the IMUGA declaration before arrival, and lacking proof of accommodation or an exit ticket. Finally, check any health requirements (including yellow fever depending on your country of origin) on the official source.
Plan your trip
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Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.
Flights (Trip.com)
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eSIM data (Saily)
Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.
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Other visa types for Maldives
A tourist stay is not the only purpose. These are the other permits the destination issues and that your nationality is eligible for, each with its own fee and processing time.
Official sources
- Maldives Immigration: portail IMUGA
- Maldives Immigration (official portal)
- France Diplomatie: Conseils aux voyageurs Maldives
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
- Request a visa extension at least 5 days before the expiration of your initial visa.
- Keep a copy of your passport, return ticket, and hotel reservation for any procedure.
- Prepare the payment of extension fees in USD or by credit card.
- Strictly comply with the authorized length of stay to avoid any fines or deportation.
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Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology · Official portal
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