Maldives travel resources
Coral atolls, snorkelling and diving, and stays on resort islands or in guesthouses on local islands near Malé.
Quick facts
- Currency
- Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR)
- Language
- Dhivehi
- Best time to visit
- Jan–Mar (dry season) Compare countries by month
- Emergency
- 119 police · 118 fire · 102 ambulance Emergency numbers by country
- Plug types
- D, G, J, K, L Plug types by country
- Drives on
- Left Driving side by country
- Government travel advice
- UK Canada How to read it
General guidance; seasons vary by region. Plug types from Wikipedia's mains electricity by country table; currency and driving side from Wikidata; emergency numbers checked against UK government travel advice in . Check the latest advice for entry rules and safety before you book.
Before you go
- Complete the Traveller Declaration (IMUGA) on Maldives Immigration’s official site. The site calls it mandatory and says to submit it within 96 hours of arrival or departure.
- GOV.UK says British citizens get a 30-day tourist visa on arrival, and their passport must expire at least one month after they arrive.
- TravelHealthPro lists dengue and chikungunya risks in the Maldives and advises avoiding mosquito bites, particularly during the day.
Top destinations in the Maldives
Travel resources
Travel tips
- Leave alcohol at your resort. GOV.UK says it is only available on resort islands, and you can be arrested and deported for having or drinking it outside resorts and on inhabited islands.
- Dress for the island you are on. Outside resorts, including on beaches used by locals, GOV.UK says to keep your shoulders covered, avoid short or tight-fitting shorts and cover your arms and upper legs when bathing.
- Ask resort staff where it is safe to swim. GOV.UK says strong tidal currents can drag swimmers away from the shoreline.
- Check your luggage thoroughly before you travel or transit. GOV.UK says the Maldives has a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, including cannabis, even if it is legal where you live.
- Don’t take coral or tortoiseshell souvenirs home. GOV.UK says it is illegal to take tortoiseshell jewellery or ornaments, or pieces of coral, out of the Maldives.
Booking a hotel or tour in the Maldives? See which review sites to trust and five checks before you pay.