How To Get Residency In The Maldives | A Complete Guide
Capital: Malé
Population: 515,132 (2022, 167th)
Ethic Group: 74.28% Maldivians
Area: 298 km2 (187th)
Offical Language: English
Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) & United States dollar
GDP per Captial: $34,322 (2024, 54th)
Human Development Index: 0.762 (84th)
Country Profile:
The Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, south of the South Asian continent, and consists of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls. The country’s population mainly resides on 189 islands, while the remaining islands are used for tourism, agriculture, and other economic purposes.
Tourism is the cornerstone of the Maldivian economy, contributing approximately 20% to the national GDP and generating 60% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. More than 90% of the government’s tax revenue is derived from import sector and tourism-related activities.
Maldivian culture is richly influenced by a blend of Indian, Sri Lankan, Arab, and African traditions. Islam is the state religion, and the vast majority of the population are devout Muslims.
How To Get Residency In The Maldives:
The Maldives is a small country with tourism as its core industry and has an almost completely closed immigration system.
The only noteworthy visa in this country is its Corporate Residence Visa, which has been in effect since August 29, 2021. This Maldivian visa grants residency in exchange for investment.
Who Can Apply For The Maldivian Corporate Residence Visa:
To apply for the Maldives Corporate Residence Visa, you need to meet at least one of the following financial requirements:
1. Invest 1 million USD in Maldivian businesses over a period of three years;
2. Deposit at least 250,000 USD in a fixed-term deposit for five years in a Maldivian bank;
3. Invest 250,000 USD in a business project designated by the Maldivian government.
This Corporate Residence Visa is valid for five years and can be continuously renewed as long as the investment is maintained.
How To Apply For The Maldivian Corporate Residence Visa:
To apply for the Corporate Residence Visa, you first need to complete investment, then register an account on the Maldives Ministry of Economic Development website, upload all required documents, pay a visa fee of 15,000 Maldivian Rufiyaa, and then submit your visa application.
Required documents for this program include:
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Applicant identity documents: This includes valid passports (with at least six months’ validity) for all main and dependent applicants, one passport-sized photo, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other documents proving relationship between the main and dependent applicants.
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Visa application forms: You need to fill out at least one IM24 Business Visa application form and one IM30 application form.
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Proof of completed investment.
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Proof of financial capability: You must provide financial evidence, including bank statements, to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to complete investment and maintain your daily living expenses.
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A local Maldives address: You need to provide a commonly used address in the Maldives (which can be a hotel) for document mailing purposes.
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Proof of health insurance purchase: You must purchase valid health insurance in the Maldives for each main and dependent applicant annually.
All documents issued outside the Maldives must be notarized, and all non-English documents must be translated into English.
From the time of application submission to approval, the processing time for this Maldives Corporate Residence Visa is approximately 14 days.
Dependents:
For the Maldives Corporate Residence Visa, the main applicant’s spouse, parents, grandparents, and minor children can obtain the visa as dependents.
Visa Validity:
The Maldives Corporate Residence Visa is valid for five years and can be continuously renewed upon maintaining the investment after expiration.
Permanent Residency:
Foreigners can hardly obtain permanent residency in the Maldives simply by accumulating length of residence. It is only granted to two types of people:
1. Those married to Maldivian citizens;
2. High-net-worth individuals who sign a lease of 25 years or more for a luxury villa or island in the Maldives.
In the Maldives, villa rentals start at $30,000 per week, while island rentals start at $350,000 per week.
Moreover, this permanent residency only grants holders the convenience of free entry, exit, and residence in the Maldives; it does not include any national welfare benefits.
Citizenship:
Foreigners are only eligible to apply for Maldivian citizenship if they have legally and continuously resided in the Maldives for 12 years (with total absences not exceeding 6 months) and are (or have become) Muslim.
Passport Power:
The Maldives recognizes dual citizenship, and its passport is ranked 54th globally. Passport holders can freely travel (either visa-free or with visa on arrival) to 93 countries and regions worldwide. (May 27th, 2025)
Useful Links:
The Maldives Ministry Of Economic Development：https://trade.gov.mv/en/
The Maldives E-visa Platform：https://efaas.egov.mv/