Source-backed scope
Adult Indian ordinary-passport holder resident in India, still outside Maldives, whose Visiting Sponsorship Declaration has ALREADY been approved by Immigration through an eligible Maldivian citizen or Professional-category Work Visa sponsor. This guide starts at the approved-slip/travel-entry stage; it is not the initial sponsor application, independently funded friend-visit category, dependent/marriage/residence or work process. Initial sponsorship form-number conflict IM20/IM21 is unresolved and outside this stage. Enter within the approval use window and follow actual admitted stay dates, not an assumed 30-day stay.
- Jurisdiction
- Maldives
- Purpose
- Short family / friend visits
- Destination
- Maldives
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Use this guide for your journey. Sign in or verify your account before viewing personalised results. Review the stated scope before proceeding.
Use this guide in the plannerRoute scope
Adult Indian ordinary-passport holder resident in India, still outside Maldives, whose Visiting Sponsorship Declaration has ALREADY been approved by Immigration through an eligible Maldivian citizen or Professional-category Work Visa sponsor. This guide starts at the approved-slip/travel-entry stage; it is not the initial sponsor application, independently funded friend-visit category, dependent/marriage/residence or work process. Initial sponsorship form-number conflict IM20/IM21 is unresolved and outside this stage. Enter within the approval use window and follow actual admitted stay dates, not an assumed 30-day stay.
Maldives Immigration requirements checked 2026-10-26. Only the category and stage stated above are covered.
How to use this checklist
Start with the route facts first: citizenship, residence, application country, destination and purpose. Then review the document rows and order processing only where the row says it is required or optional.
Document requirements
| Document | Status | Scope | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original MRZ passport with at least one month validity | required | visa application | Carry a passport/travel document with Machine Readable Zone and at least one month validity. Maldives does not accept passports whose validity has been extended. Onward countries may require more; do not import a six-month Maldives rule. |
| Individual IMUGA arrival Traveller Declaration | required | visa application | Submit the free self-declaration at imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller within the live form 96-hour window before flight time for arrival. Tourist page says before arrival, while Meeting/live IMUGA say before flight time; follow the actual form timing and retain the completed declaration. This is an arrival form; no paid processing is inferred. |
| Onward-destination entry eligibility where applicable | conditional | visa application | Meet any visa and passport-validity requirements of the next destination; the Maldives passport minimum does not waive another country rule. |
| Outbound Traveller Declaration | not applicable | visa application | The outbound declaration requirement was removed from 15 August 2024. Do not apply the older arrival-and-departure wording as a current exit-form requirement. |
| Approved Visiting Sponsorship slip | required | visa application | Download and carry the actual Immigration approval from IMUGA. Enter within 30 days from approval and check approved traveller/purpose/dates. A simple invitation does not replace approval;30 days is the approval use window, not the permitted stay. Immigration advises tickets after approval. |
| Travel itinerary and return/next-destination arrangements | required | visa application | Keep the actual approved trip itinerary and onward arrangements available. Follow approval and entry instructions; approved sponsorship is the stated alternative to ordinary prepaid accommodation/funding arrangements, so no blanket hotel booking is added. |
| Yellow-fever certificate when travel history triggers it | conditional | visa application | Current visitor entry guidance requires the certificate for arrivals from/recent travel through a yellow-fever-risk country; children under one year are exempt. This adult guide does not impose it on all Indian nationals. Check the actual itinerary/history and health instructions. |
Processing route
- Original MRZ passport with at least one month validityCarry a passport/travel document with Machine Readable Zone and at least one month validity. Maldives does not accept passports whose validity has been extended. Onward countries may require more; do not import a six-month Maldives rule. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Original MRZ passport with at least one month validity in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Individual IMUGA arrival Traveller DeclarationSubmit the free self-declaration at imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller within the live form 96-hour window before flight time for arrival. Tourist page says before arrival, while Meeting/live IMUGA say before flight time; follow the actual form timing and retain the completed declaration. This is an arrival form; no paid processing is inferred. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Individual IMUGA arrival Traveller Declaration in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Onward-destination entry eligibility where applicableMeet any visa and passport-validity requirements of the next destination; the Maldives passport minimum does not waive another country rule. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Onward-destination entry eligibility where applicable in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Outbound Traveller DeclarationThe outbound declaration requirement was removed from 15 August 2024. Do not apply the older arrival-and-departure wording as a current exit-form requirement. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Outbound Traveller Declaration in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Approved Visiting Sponsorship slipDownload and carry the actual Immigration approval from IMUGA. Enter within 30 days from approval and check approved traveller/purpose/dates. A simple invitation does not replace approval;30 days is the approval use window, not the permitted stay. Immigration advises tickets after approval. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Approved Visiting Sponsorship slip in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Travel itinerary and return/next-destination arrangementsKeep the actual approved trip itinerary and onward arrangements available. Follow approval and entry instructions; approved sponsorship is the stated alternative to ordinary prepaid accommodation/funding arrangements, so no blanket hotel booking is added. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Travel itinerary and return/next-destination arrangements in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
- Yellow-fever certificate when travel history triggers itCurrent visitor entry guidance requires the certificate for arrivals from/recent travel through a yellow-fever-risk country; children under one year are exempt. This adult guide does not impose it on all Indian nationals. Check the actual itinerary/history and health instructions. The cited source does not specify a general translation, notarisation or apostille rule for this item. Confirm any additional language or authentication instructions with the receiving authority; no processing service is selected automatically. 1. Prepare Yellow-fever certificate when travel history triggers it in the format described above 2. Submit according to the linked official application instructions
Official citations
- Maldives ImmigrationMaldives Immigration official guidancewww.immigration.gov.mvLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version maldives-visitor-current-20261026
Current 10 September 2026 page: MRZ passport at least 1month, no extended-validity passports; itinerary/return/prepaid registered facility/funds OR Immigration-approved sponsorship, onward eligibility, individual arrival declaration, travel-history yellow-fever condition. No fixed stay length inferred from this page.
- Maldives ImmigrationMaldives Immigration: India to Maldives private visit: entry after approved Visiting Sponsorshipwww.immigration.gov.mvLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version india-maldives-visit-approved-sponsorship-entry-2026-10-26
Current 10 September 2026 sponsorship page directly confirms Visiting, eligible sponsor, approval before arrival and downloadable slip/use within 30 days. Tourist entry framework recognises approved sponsorship as an alternative accommodation/funding branch. Initial sponsor-form selection not represented as resolved.
- Maldives ImmigrationMaldives Immigration official guidancewww.immigration.gov.mvLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version maldives-approved-visiting-sponsorship-20261026
Current 10 September 2026 sponsorship page explicitly supports Visiting with Maldivian citizen or Professional Work Visa sponsor; applicant must be outside Maldives, approval before arrival, downloadable slip, enter within 30 days of approval. This is a use window, not stay duration. Initial form IM20/IM21 discrepancy lies outside the approved-slip stage.
- Maldives Immigration IMUGAMaldives Immigration IMUGA official guidanceimuga.immigration.gov.mvLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version maldives-imuga-arrival-20261026
Live operational declaration: free, within 96 hours before flight time for arrival. Tourist content instead says before arrival; actual form timing controls, not exactly 96 hours before travel.
- Maldives ImmigrationMaldives Immigration official guidancewww2.immigration.gov.mvLast checked 2026-10-26; evidence version maldives-departure-declaration-abolished-20261026
Official 13 August 2024 notice abolishes outbound Traveller Declaration from 15 August 2024; arrival declaration remains. Do not use old to-and-from wording as current departure requirement.
Exceptions
- Requirements and accepted document formats can change. Follow the linked authority for your exact purpose and application stage.
- Use row-level processing labels: translation, notarisation, apostille, embassy attestation and MEA or HRD attestation are not interchangeable.
Relevant Enuncia services
- Document checklist review
FAQs
Are all documents for Maldives short family / friend visits automatically translated?
No. Translation is shown per document row because official sources may accept some documents as issued while requiring translation for others.
Can I order document processing from this checklist?
Build your checklist using the route facts first. A processing option can be selected only where supported by the document row. Rows needing language or authentication confirmation remain under review before pricing.
Related guides
- Maldives destination guide
Destination overview for all published source-backed routes.