Maldives reopened its borders to leisure travellers on 15 July 2020. All foreign tourists who are vaccinated and not fully vaccinated can travel to the Maldives. Here’s everything you should know about travel restrictions in the Maldives.
Also read: Italy travel restrictions: everything you need to plan a visit
Travellers can enter without quarantine
Maldives welcomes everyone.according to Update on Maldives Travel Restrictionsall Foreign tourists to the Maldives do not need to undergo quarantine. One Negative COVID-19 PCR test results will also no longer be required into the country. However, non-leisure traveler YesPCR testing is strongly recommended between days 3 and 5 upon arrival.
While quarantine is not required, foreign travelers who complete 14 days after full vaccination must show proof of their vaccinations Because they will be allowed into any accommodation on any inhabited island. Those who are not fully vaccinated can remain on selected islands, which will be discussed under “Arrival”. All necessary approvals to return to Maldives and work permit holders must pass Hallubron Portal.
Pre-arrival documents required to travel to the Maldives
Foreign tourists must prepare the following documents:
- Passport valid for at least six months with blank visa pages
- Maldives visas are issued upon arrival.bring L: Proof of sufficient funds, proof of round-trip air tickets, proof of hotel reservation, proof of valid yellow fever proof, proof of travel purpose
- A completed Maldives immigrant traveller health declaration form, Submit online 24 hours prior to arrival.
Singapore – Maldives VTL
Singapore currently maintains a vaccination travel route with the Maldives (Changi to male), which allows for quarantine-free travel between the two countries. There are no special Maldives travel requirements for VTL travellers from Singapore.
However, you must be aware of the requirements for VTL travelers to Singapore. Click here to see which other countries have a current or upcoming VTL.
arrive
All tourists will undergo a non-invasive temperature check and screening upon arrival in the Maldives. Maldivian health authorities may also select you for random COVID-19 testing. This is free and voluntary.
A COVID-19 test is not required on arrival. Only those with symptoms of COVID-19, such as a temperature over 38 degrees Celsius, coughing or sneezing, will be tested. People who have had contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days should not travel to the Maldives.
Visitors will also find physical distancing guidelines around the airport, as well as hand hygiene and hygiene facilities.
Travel guide
Foreign tourists must make a confirmed booking at any registered tourist facility prior to their arrival in the Maldives. A representative of your chosen hotel or accommodation will meet you at the airport to assist you with the airport transfer. There are also designated transit hotels. We encourage you to download and use the country tracking app TraceEkee during your stay.
Those who have received all prescribed doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to check in at any hotel on any inhabited island of their choice.
However, those who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can stay in tourist hotels on local islands that meet the following requirements:
- At least 60% of the tourist Guesthouse island population eligible for vaccination has Completed their COVID-19 vaccination and 14 days have passed.
- At least 95% of staff at all tourist facilities on Tourist Guesthouse Island have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations and 14 days have passed.
- At least 90% of residents 65 and older on Tourist Inn Island have completed the COVID-19 vaccination and 14 days have passed.
- For an update on the list of lodgings that may allow visitors to arrive, click here here.
during the stay
Domestic Travel: What’s Allowed and Restricted
Masks are mandatory for all tourists at airports, during domestic travel in the Maldives and in closed public places. You are also instructed to maintain a three-foot distance between others outside the contact bubble. Each hotel, resort or guesthouse has access to medical services, a stockpile of personal protective equipment and a COVID-19 safety manager to help provide guests with proper safety procedures at each venue. Temperature checks at hotels and other venues are also expected.
Foreign tourists can travel from one resort to another, from one hotel to another, from a resort to a tourist hotel, and vice versa. If you wish to travel between islands or split accommodation, please complete the following:
- Email the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) [email protected] Obtain necessary approvals.
- If you are staying in Greater Malé for 48 hours or more and want to go to the tourist hotel island or safari, you must obtain a negative PCR test result (except for pre-arrival PCR test) before leaving Greater Malé.
- If you are coming from a safari or tourist destination and traveling to Greater Male, you do not need to take a PCR test before traveling to Greater Male.
Safaris do not allow overnight and regular stays. They are only allowed to open for one day. They are also expected to follow COVID-19 precautions such as wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and hand sanitizing for crew and visitors.
Dine-in service in Greater Male is open daily at 11.30pm, while the shop is open every night until 10pm.
COVID-19 Testing and Quarantine in Maldives
What if someone feels sick or has possible COVID-19 symptoms?
Visitors with the following symptoms should notify the hotel:
- fever
- cough
- loss of taste or smell
- mild vomiting and diarrhea
- runny nose or sore throat
After coordinating with their accommodation, they will be taken to the clinic for a PCR test and isolated in a hotel room until the PCR test is completed and results are available. All approved accommodation in the Maldives has a designated isolation room in case of a positive case of COVID-19.
If the PCR test result is negative, tourists are free to leave the quarantine area, but are not allowed to enter public places such as restaurants 48 hours after the result is obtained.
What if someone tests positive for COVID-19?
If a tourist tests positive, the Department of Transportation will coordinate with the patient’s guesthouse or hotel and arrange for the patient to be transferred to a new isolation facility. The patient will then be assessed a second time. If after this time, the patient remains only mildly symptomatic and has no high-risk conditions, the patient will continue to be treated in an isolation facility until recovery. However, if they develop serious illness after the second assessment, they will be transferred to hospital care.
Meanwhile, HPA will conduct contact tracing to identify close contacts of all positive cases, who will be required to undergo RT-PCR testing five days after the date of last exposure to the positive case. If a close contact tests positive but is only asymptomatic, isolation is not required. However, if they are symptomatic, they will need to isolate and only leave isolation if they have a negative RT-PCR test result.
All approved accommodations in the Maldives have designated vehicle services to transport suspected COVID-19 cases.
return trip
The following tourists are required to undergo a PCR test before leaving the Maldives:
- Those who stayed in tourist hotels anytime during their trip to Maldives. They must be tested 72 hours before leaving the Maldives.
- Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days identified during exit screening.
- Resorts and hotels have in-house medical staff to collect samples for PCR testing. Some PCR testing rates range from $150 to $300 per person. Visitors can also book their own PCR tests online from various institutions.
Also read: South Korea Travel Restrictions: Know Before You Visit
For efficient contact tracing, tourists are expected to have sufficient responsibility to notify their accommodation in the Maldives if they test positive for COVID-19 after returning to their home country. As a general rule of thumb in Maldives travel restrictions, practice good hygiene at all times during your stay, whether on arrival or departure. Maldives is officially open for tourism, but please pay attention to safety!
Start planning your Maldives trip today or check travel requirements for other popular destinations.
Featured Image Credits: Rayyu Maldives Photographer | no splash
