Allowed visitors must bring a negative COVID-19 test issued no more than 96 hours prior to departure, but they do not need to quarantine. Also, insurance that covers COVID-19 is recommended.

Visitors who test positive or have been in close contact with people who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

Related:
– Seychelles reopening for tourism
– Sri Lanka reopening for tourism
– Join our COVID Travelers Advice – FB Group

Disclaimer: Travel restrictions and governmental regulations can change rapidly and the information below might be outdated within a few hours. Therefore, double-check all information with your embassy or on official websites. Traveling Lifestyle does not take any responsibility for your decision to travel.

The Maldives Open for Tourism – Latest Updates

July 5 – Maldives eased multiple internal COVID-19 restrictions and plan to reopen to Indian travelers on July 15

Effective July 1, Maldives relaxed multiple domestic COVID-19 related restrictions following a decrease in coronavirus cases in Greater Male.

Non-essential businesses can reopen again and restaurants can resume serving dining-in customers. Additionally, legal permits to exit home during non-curfew hours are no longer required.

Also, the government plans to resume flights with India from July 15. Indian visitors will need to bring a negative RT-PCR COVID test result to be allowed entry, said Maldivian Tourism Ministry at a press conference.

Source: India Today

June 16 – Maldives to modify domestic COVID-19 restrictions as of June 16

Maldives continues to enforce tightened domestic COVID-19 measures due to a massive increase in COVID-19 cases.

As of June 16, the country remains open for tourism but under strict inter-zone travel bans and night curfews.

Effective today, two residents from the same household must get a police-issued movement permit to exit home during curfew hours.

All gatherings larger than 5 people are forbidden across Greater Male and police permission is required for all events.

Additionally, travelers exiting this zone must present proof of a negative (RT-PCR) COVID-19 taken no older than 72 hours before departure.

On the other hand, night curfew was shortened from 16:00-08:00 to 16:00-04:00.

(Source)

May 12 – Maldives to enforce night curfews to an unprecedented spike on COVID-19 cases

A few months ago, the Maldives was named the “biggest 2020 international tourism success story” by international media. With more than 555,000 visitors who did not have to bring a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine and a very low coronavirus incidence rate, the country was an oasis in the middle of a world fighting the deadliest pandemic in a century.

Unfortunately, things are changing rapidly. This week the country has reported the highest world COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Even though the Maldives is the fifth-most-vaccinated country in the world with 36% of its residents fully inoculated, apparently the lack of COVID-19 restrictions is taking a toll on the pandemic figures.

Residents of the capital are currently under a severe curfew that goes from 4 p.m. until 4 a.m. Additionally, visas for tourists from India and other nations in South Asia will be halted from May 13.

April 25 – Maldives to offer COVID-19 vaccines to tourists

In an attempt to bring back the tourism figures the country was used to, the nation has announced a new marketing campaign called the “3V” “Visit, Vaccinate and Vacation.”

According to the Tourism Minister, the country has already immunized 90% of its frontline workers, and almost half of their entire population has received one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. This sets the country in a good position to make these types of bold economy moves.

“The main idea of tourism being open is to provide a reasonably safe tourism with minimum inconvenience,” Said Maldivian Tourism Minister Abdulla Mausoom on CNBC. “So once the country gets vaccinated, then we will move on to ‘3V’ tourism.”

Is Maldives open for Americans?

Yes. Maldives is open for Americans who can produce a negative COVID-19 test.

COVID-19 situation in the Maldives

As of July 5, Maldives has reported 74,351 COVID-19 cases and 213 deaths.

As a collection of islands, some of them underpopulated or even uninhabited, The Maldives provides the much needed social distancing that has shown to be the most effective measure to control the spreading of the virus.

FAQs

When did the Maldives open for tourism?

The Maldives opened its borders for tourism from all countries on July 15, 2020.

What is the CDC recommending?

According to the CDC, Maldives is a high-risk country and the warning level is at 4, which means no type of travel is recommended. (Source: CDC.gov).

What are the current restrictions to enter the Maldives?

To enter the country visitors must,

Submit proof of a negative COVID-19 test.
Fill out a Health Declaration on https://www.ivisa.com/maldiveshealth-declaration-form

What should travelers expect during their flight and arrival at Velana International Airport?

First and foremost – Visitors do not need any pre-arrival visas. Tourists are provided a 30-day free visa upon arrival.

All passengers are requested to wear masks.
Travelers are demanded to keep social distancing.

Visitors who believe to have had contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 within the past 14 days and/or persons who display any of the COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath within the past 14 days are advised not travel to the Maldives.

For more information and updates consult the official “Guideline to travel to the Maldives under the “New normal”, call their hotline at 722313,1 or reach out to them at smu@tourism.gov.mv

Why travel to the Maldives

The Maldives has been or still is on the bucket list of every single travel lover in the world. Its sky-blue beaches, its underwater wildlife, along with 5-star hospitality and high-class resorts make it one of the most wanted holiday hotspots.

The country went from being highly dependent on fisheries to be almost exclusively dependent on tourism.

The islands have world-renowned diving sites with clear sky-blue waters and an abundance of marine life. If lucky, visitors may even catch the annual shark migration.

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