Every traveller flying into the Maldives has to submit a Traveller Declaration online. Maldives Immigration says it is completely free, you can do it yourself, and the only place to do it is its own IMUGA portal at imuga.immigration.gov.mv. The government itself warns that some websites and individuals charge for it. If a page asks you for money, you are on the wrong page.
What the declaration is
It is a self-declaration form. You fill in personal details, travel information and accommodation details, and submit it electronically. Maldives Immigration says no agent or middleman is needed and no payment is required. (Source: Maldives Immigration, Traveller Declaration, Source: Maldives Immigration, Tourist Visa)
When to fill it in
The tourist visa page says the form can be completed up to 96 hours (4 days) before you arrive in the Maldives. The IMUGA portal says to submit it within 96 hours before your flight time. These use different reference points, so do not treat the windows as identical. Submit on the official IMUGA portal before you fly. The sources do not specify which flight segment to use for a connecting itinerary; check with your airline if that matters for your trip. At arrival you present the completed declaration at immigration. (Source: IMUGA portal)
The part about paying
Maldives Immigration says there have been reports of websites or individuals charging a fee to submit this form. Its advice is to use only the official IMUGA portal, and not to share personal information or make payments on unofficial websites. We cannot tell you how common this is. We can tell you what the owner of the form says: free, self-service, one official address.
A simple check before you type anything: look at the web address. It should be imuga.immigration.gov.mv. The official pages carry a banner saying "An official website of the Maldives government".
The rest of the entry checklist
The declaration is one item on a longer list. Maldives Immigration's tourist visa page says a tourist visa is granted on arrival with no pre-approval, provided you meet the entry requirements:
- A passport or travel document with a machine readable zone and at least 1 month of validity.
- A complete itinerary: confirmed return tickets, a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered facility, and enough funds for the stay. The alternative is a pre-approved sponsorship visa.
- The entry requirements for your onward destination, such as visa and passport validity.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate, if it applies to you. Children under 1 year are exempt.
- Children and minors need their own passport.
The page also says a complete itinerary does not guarantee entry. Immigration officers decide admissibility at the port of entry. (Source: Maldives Immigration, Tourist Visa)
Our advice
Submit the declaration from your own phone, save a screenshot of the confirmation, and keep your resort booking and return ticket where you can reach them at the airport. If you are also working out other visas for the trip, our visa guides are a good next stop. The airport side of leaving India is covered in our airport guide.
Want a person to check the paperwork before you fly? Message us on WhatsApp.
Quick questions
Does the Maldives Traveller Declaration cost anything? No. Maldives Immigration says it is completely free.
Where do I submit it? On the official IMUGA portal, imuga.immigration.gov.mv. Maldives Immigration advises against using any other website for it.
How early can I fill it in? The tourist visa page says up to 96 hours (4 days) before arrival. The IMUGA traveller page says within 96 hours before flight time for arrival. These are different reference points. Submit on IMUGA before flying, and check your itinerary with the airline if needed.
Do I need an agent to submit it? No. Maldives Immigration describes it as a simple self-declaration you can submit yourself.
Do I need a visa before I fly? The tourist visa page says a tourist visa is granted on arrival, with no pre-approval for tourists, if you meet the entry requirements. It does not state a stay length on that page, so check your permitted stay with the immigration officer or in our visa guide.
Does the declaration guarantee entry? No. Officers decide admissibility at the port of entry.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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