Maldives visa on arrival for citizens of the United States: conditions and fees 2026
A visa is required for the Maldives, and citizens of the United States 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 the United States
U.S. travellers receive a tourist visa on arrival in the Maldives; completing the online declaration (IMUGA) beforehand is nonetheless recommended to avoid queues.
U.S. nationals travelling to the Maldives for tourism are granted a visa on arrival, issued at the immigration counter. Before the flight, it is strongly advised to complete the online traveller declaration on the official IMUGA portal. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Do you need a visa?
A tourist visa is granted on arrival to U.S. travellers, with no prior consular application. The Maldives also requires travellers to complete the online arrival declaration (Traveller Declaration) via IMUGA within the window before the flight. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.
How much does a visa for the Maldives cost from the United States?
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
Prepare a U.S. passport valid for at least six months, a confirmed accommodation booking (hotel or resort), a return ticket and proof of sufficient funds. The tourist visa on arrival is in principle free of charge; still, check the conditions and any possible fee on the official portal before departure.
How to apply for a visa for the Maldives from the United States
- 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
The visa itself is stamped at the immigration counter on arrival. The IMUGA declaration, by contrast, is completed online at imuga.immigration.gov.mv, usually in the days before arrival. Fill in the form and then keep the confirmation you receive.
Where do you apply for a visa for the Maldives from the United States?
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 the United States on another passport?
The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the United States 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
Complete the IMUGA declaration within the stated window before arrival and keep the confirmation, printed or on your phone. Make sure your accommodation is properly registered. Finally, check any health requirements depending on your country of origin.
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 forgetting the IMUGA declaration, a passport valid for under six months, or lacking proof of accommodation and a return ticket. Paying an unofficial website to complete the declaration, when the IMUGA portal is the official one, is another common mistake.
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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
- IMUGA: Maldives Immigration official portal
- Maldives Immigration
- U.S. Department of State: Maldives International Travel Information
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
Tips for extending your stay in the Maldives
- Make sure you have all the necessary documents for an extension, including an extended reservation at a registered establishment.
- Contact local immigration for extension procedures.
Example: If you wish to extend your stay, it is best to contact local immigration upon arrival for the most up-to-date information.
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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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