Maldives visa on arrival for citizens of Nigeria: conditions and fees 2026
A visa is required for the Maldives, and citizens of Nigeria 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 Nigeria
Nigerian travellers can receive a visa on arrival in the Maldives, but completing the online form (e-Visa/IMUGA) beforehand is strongly advised to speed up airport processing.
The Maldives grant a visa on arrival to visitors, including Nigerian nationals, provided the required documents are presented. To avoid queues, applying in advance through the official IMUGA portal from Nigeria is recommended. The passport must stay valid for at least six months.
Do you need a visa?
Yes, but it is easily obtained: Nigerian citizens receive a visa on arrival in the Maldives. In practice it is better to prepare the file online before departure via IMUGA rather than handling everything at the counter at Malé airport.
How much does a visa for the Maldives cost from Nigeria?
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?
The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.
- Government feeNot published in a source we can verify
Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.
- Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.
We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.
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
Prepare a passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed hotel or accommodation booking, a return ticket and sufficient funds. The tourist visa on arrival is generally free, but confirm the fee and any portal charges on the official source. Also check the health requirements that apply to your route.
How to apply for a visa for the Maldives from Nigeria
- 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
From Nigeria, log in to the official portal imuga.immigration.gov.mv, create an account and complete the Traveller Declaration and the authorization request. The visa on arrival is then issued at the airport on presentation of the documents. No consular step is needed for a tourist stay.
Where do you apply for a visa for the Maldives from Nigeria?
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 Nigeria on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Nigeria 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
The IMUGA formality is completed in the days before travel; the Traveller Declaration in particular is required shortly before arrival. Keep a digital and printed copy of your accommodation confirmation, which is often checked. Make sure your passport meets the validity requirement before booking.
Before you fly, and at the border
- Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
- A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
- Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
- Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
- Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.
Common mistakes
The usual pitfalls: arriving without a confirmed accommodation booking, skipping the IMUGA Traveller Declaration, or using a paid intermediary site when the official portal is free. Check that the name entered matches the passport exactly and confirm the entry conditions in force on the official source.
Plan your trip
Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)
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.
Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)
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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
Guide generated automatically on July 26, 2026, from the verified catalogue.
Short-stay (tourism)
Visa on arrival
Entry regime
Visa on arrival
Price
Free
Official websiteVerified
Business visa
Consular visa
Duration
90 days
Price
750 MVR
Processing time
15 business days
Official websiteVerified
Work visa
Work visa
Duration
1 year (renewable)
Price
750 MVR
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
Family Reunification
Family reunification
Duration
1 year
Price
800 MVR
Processing time
30 business days
Official websiteVerified
Student visa
Student visa
Duration
Duration of programme
Processing time
20 business days
Official websiteVerified
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a visa to travel to the Maldives from Nigeria?▾
A visa on arrival is issued to travellers from Nigeria directly at the border of the Maldives.
How much does a tourist visa for the Maldives cost?▾
The application is free: there are no official fees. Service fees may apply when using a provider.
How long does it take to get a visa for the Maldives?▾
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.
How do you apply for a visa for the Maldives from Nigeria?▾
The visa is issued at the dedicated counter after landing. Before departure, check that your entry point actually issues it, and bring the fee, often in cash, along with your supporting documents.
What other visa types exist for the Maldives?▾
Depending on the purpose of stay, the Maldives offers among others: Business visa, Work visa, Student visa, Family Reunification.
Data verified on 28/10/2026 · Our methodology
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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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