Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• We advise against all but essential travel to Malé Island.
  
  
• There are political demonstrations in the capital Malé, which have resulted in violent clashes involving police, military and demonstrators.  The situation remains uncertain. If you are in Malé, or choose to travel to Malé, you should exercise caution, avoid demonstrations and beware of spontaneous gatherings.
  
  
• There are currently no reports of social unrest or demonstrations at Malé International Airport (which is on the island of Hulhule), or at the tourist resorts.  The airport remains open and is operating normally.  There have been reports of unrest on other non-resort islands generally around municipal buildings such as police stations and courtrooms.  You should exercise caution and check with your tour operator or travel company for further information. 
  
  
•  Our advice against all but essential travel to Malé Island does not include Malé International Airport or travel from the airport to any part of the country other than Malé Island. 
  
   
• There is no British diplomatic mission in Maldives. A Consular Correspondent in the capital, Malé can liaise with the British High Commission in Sri Lanka on emergency consular matters. They can be contacted through the British High Commission in Colombo. See Contact details.
  
  
• There is a general threat from terrorism and attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates, foreign travellers including tourists.
  
  
• The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Maldives in 2009 were for lost/stolen passports and hospitalisations. Petty crime occurs and you should take care of your valuables and other personal possessions.
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• All British nationals who are resident and/or working in Maldives should register with the British High Commission in Colombo.
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• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a general threat from terrorism and attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers including tourists. On 29 September 2007, a small bomb exploded on the capital island of Malé, injuring a number of foreigners including two British nationals. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Crime levels in Maldives are relatively low, but petty crime, including the theft of goods left unattended on the beach or in hotel rooms, does occur. You should take care of your valuables and other personal possessions, especially when travelling in Malé. Use safe deposit boxes on island resorts.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Demonstrations
There have been political demonstrations in Malé since the middle of January. These escalated on 6 February, leading to clashes between the government and opposition supporters and later between the police and defence forces.  Reports of protests in Malé Island continue.  No reports of disturbances on tourist resorts.  Some unrest reported to have taken place on some non-resort islands, however these are generally away from areas tourists frequent.  You should exercise caution and check with your tour operator or travel company for further information.

In July 2010, following a period of political unrest within the Maldivian Parliament (Majlis), there were a number of political protests and demonstrations in Malé. They were predominantly outside government buildings and political figures’ residences.

In October 2010, a number of political protests and demonstrations were held in Malé resulting in some injuries.

You should exercise caution, avoid large gatherings and beware of spontaneous demonstrations.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Maldives Country Profile

Maldives held their first multi-party presidential elections in October 2008. The elections passed peacefully. On 11 November 2008 President Mohamed Nasheed took office. He announced his resignation on 7 February and Vice-President Waheed has assumed power.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
The majority of visitors to Maldives spend their time on resort islands and would only visit the capital island, Malé, if they choose to go on a specific excursion there. The international airport is on a separate island within the larger Malé atoll. There are also many resort islands within Malé atoll. Advance approval is normally required to visit most non-resort islands, other than the capital island. Travel between islands is by boat or seaplane, and many of these services stop before sunset.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel
Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, especially for shipping which does not take appropriate precautions or follow agreed shipping industry best practice guidelines.  Although no actual acts of piracy have been reported in the Maldives Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) the Maldivian authorities are currently detaining a number of individuals suspected to have been involved in piracy outside their EEZ.  For specific advice on piracy in the Indian Ocean, please see our Piracy in the Indian Ocean page.

Maldives has very strong anti-drug laws. Importation or possession of drugs in Maldives can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment.

Local laws reflect the fact that Maldives is an Islamic country and serious violations of local laws may lead to a prison sentence. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

See our Travelling During Ramadan page.

It is an offence to import into Maldives: explosives, weapons, firearms and ammunition; pornographic material; materials deemed contrary to Islam, including “idols for worship” and bibles; pork and pork products; and alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are only available on resort islands and should not be taken off a resort. The export of tortoise shell and coral is forbidden.

Dress is generally informal but you should be sensitive to local dress standards when visiting inhabited islands. Nudism and topless sunbathing are prohibited throughout Maldives including on resort islands.

Same sex relations are illegal and convicted offenders could face lengthy prison sentences and fines. Mariners in possession of firearms must surrender them to the local authorities. Any unregistered firearms will not be returned to the owner.

See our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
If you are a British tourist, you are eligible to obtain a tourist visa for up to 30 days on arrival in Maldives, provided you hold a valid ticket to continue your journey out of Maldives and have enough funds to cover your stay. Staying longer than 30 days without the proper authority is an offence.

Those intending to work in Maldives require a work permit in advance of arrival. A security deposit must also be paid to the Ministry of Finance, current rates can be found here.

For further information and advice on entry requirements you should contact the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives in the UK or the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Maldives.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Maldives. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
You should carry your international certificate of vaccination if you are coming from a yellow fever region.

Medical facilities are limited. There are only two hospitals and these are on the capital island, Malé. Neither has a trauma unit. Although most resort islands are within easy reach of a general physician, many are several hours' travel away from the hospital facilities on Malé. Many resort islands are more than an hour away from the nearest decompression chamber.

The number of cases of Dengue fever rose sharply in 2010, with the majority reported in the Capital, Malé.

While in Maldives you should take precautions to avoid sunburn and dehydration.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that less than 100 adults aged 15 or over in Maldives were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at less than 0.1% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to the Maldives and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

Maldives was hit by the December 2004 tsunami. More than 90 people were killed. There was serious damage to a number of islands, including 19 resort islands. The large majority of resorts affected are now operating normally.

See our Tropical Cyclones page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. If you plan to go diving or engage in other water sports, you should check that your insurance policy covers these. Check for any exclusions and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

The most common problems faced by visiting British nationals in Maldives are lost passports and swimming/diving related accidents.

General - Registering your presence
All British nationals who are resident and/or working in Maldives should register with the British High Commission in Colombo. 

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
Island resorts in Maldives are generally expensive and you should bring sufficient funds. There are no cash machines and travellers' cheques are used infrequently. Major credit cards are accepted at most resorts and hotels. US dollars can be exchanged at the airport, banks or hotels.

General - British Representation
There is no British diplomatic mission in Maldives. Enquiries before travel should be directed to the British High Commission in Sri Lanka.

If you need consular assistance while in Maldives please contact the British High Commission in Colombo on 00 94 11 5390639 (24 hours).