How to Fill the Maldives Arrival Card & Entry Requirements

What Is the Maldives Arrival Card?

The Maldives Arrival Card is a mandatory electronic travel declaration that all international visitors must submit before entering the country. It is administered through the official IMUGA portal by Maldives Immigration.

Think of it as a digital replacement for the old paper arrival cards that flight attendants used to hand out mid-flight. The system collects your personal details, passport information, travel itinerary, accommodation, health status, and customs declaration in one online form.

Once submitted successfully, you receive a unique QR code which is scanned at airline check-in and again at Maldives immigration upon landing.

Key facts about the IMUGA arrival card:

• It is 100% free to submit on the official government website
• It replaced all paper-based arrival cards
• It combines immigration, health, and customs declarations into a single submission
• It must be completed online before departure
• It generates a scannable QR code used for border clearance

The main purpose of the IMUGA system is to speed up immigration processing, strengthen border security, reduce paper waste, and enable efficient contact tracing if needed.

Do I Need a Maldives Arrival Card?

Yes. Every traveler arriving in the Maldives must complete the IMUGA traveller declaration—there are almost no exceptions.

This requirement applies to:

• Tourists of all nationalities
• Business travelers
• Children and infants (each child needs their own separate form)
• Transit passengers leaving the airport
• Crew members

The only people exempt are Maldivian citizens and holders of Maldivian residency permits. Everyone else, regardless of age, passport type, or length of stay, must submit the form online before boarding their flight.

Important: Airlines will check for your IMUGA QR code at check-in. Without it, you may be denied boarding. This rule is strictly enforced across all carriers flying to Velana International Airport.

When to Apply for the Maldives Arrival Card

You can submit the IMUGA form within 96 hours (4 days) of your scheduled arrival in the Maldives.

Submissions made earlier than 96 hours will not be accepted by the system. The portal automatically rejects applications that fall outside the valid time window.

Recommended timeline

We recommend filling it out 24–48 hours before your flight departs. This gives you enough time to:

• Gather all required documents and booking details
• Troubleshoot any technical issues
• Correct mistakes if information doesn’t match
• Re-submit if your travel plans change

Waiting until the last minute at the airport is risky. Airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable, the portal may be under maintenance, or you might discover missing booking details. Save yourself the stress and do it from your hotel or home the day before you fly.

What Documents Do You Need to Enter the Maldives?

Before you start filling out the arrival card, make sure you have everything ready. Here’s the full checklist of documents required for entry into the Maldives.

1. Valid passport

Your passport must:

• Be machine-readable (have the digital code strip at the bottom)
• Have at least 6 months of validity remaining from your date of arrival
• Have at least one blank page for the entry stamp

2. Confirmed return or onward ticket

Immigration may ask for proof that you will leave the Maldives at the end of your stay. This can be a return flight ticket or an onward ticket to your next destination.

3. Confirmed accommodation booking

You must show a pre-paid or confirmed booking at a registered resort, hotel, guesthouse, or liveaboard yacht. The full name and address of the property are required for the arrival card.

4. Sufficient funds

Officially, you must demonstrate enough money to cover your stay. There is no fixed daily amount specified in law, and this is rarely checked for tourists with confirmed resort bookings. Still, it’s good practice to carry a credit card or cash.

5. IMUGA Traveller Declaration (Arrival Card)

The completed online form with your QR code—saved on your phone or printed.

6. Digital passport photo (2026 update)

As of 2026, all travelers must upload a digital passport-style photo when submitting the IMUGA form. Requirements:

• White or light solid background
• Face centered, taking up 70–80% of the frame
• JPEG or PNG format
• File size under 6MB
• No hats, sunglasses, or head coverings (religious exceptions apply)

How to Fill the Maldives Arrival Card: Step-by-Step

Filling out the IMUGA form takes about 5 minutes if you have your documents ready. Follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Go to the official IMUGA portal

Open the official website: imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller

Warning: There are many third-party websites charging fees to “help” with the form. The official government portal is completely free. Always verify the URL ends with .gov.mv.

Step 2: Select “Traveller Declaration – Arrival”

Choose the arrival declaration option. Note: departure declarations are no longer required as of recent updates.

Step 3: Enter personal and passport details

Fill in your full name exactly as it appears on your passport, along with:

• Passport number
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Gender
• Passport issue and expiry dates
• Country of issue

You may also have the option to scan your passport’s MRZ strip with your phone camera to auto-fill these fields. Always double-check auto-filled data for errors.

Step 4: Upload your digital photo

Upload the passport-style photo you prepared. Make sure it meets the size, format, and background requirements.

Step 5: Fill in travel details

Enter your:

• Arrival flight number and date
• Departure country / last port of embarkation
• Length of stay (number of days)
• Purpose of visit (tourism, business, etc.)
• Departure flight details (if known)

Step 6: Add accommodation information

Enter the full name of your resort, hotel, or guesthouse. If you’re staying on a liveaboard yacht or cruise ship, enter the vessel name and local operator details.

Step 7: Complete the health declaration

Answer a short series of yes/no health questions about symptoms, recent illnesses, and exposure to communicable diseases. Most healthy travelers will answer “No” to all questions.

Step 8: Complete the customs declaration

Declare any restricted or dutiable items you are bringing in, such as large sums of cash, certain medications, professional equipment, or goods for commercial use.

Step 9: Review, submit, and save your QR code

Double-check every field—especially your name, passport number, and flight details. Typos can cause delays at immigration.

Submit the form. The portal will immediately generate a QR code. Save it to your phone, screenshot it, and email a copy to yourself. You can also print it as a backup.

Maldives Arrival Card vs. Visa on Arrival vs. Other Documents

This is one of the most common points of confusion for travelers. Let’s clarify the differences.

Key takeaway

The arrival card is not a visa. It is an information form.

The visa on arrival is the actual permission to enter the country. The Maldives grants a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival to nearly all nationalities. You still need both: you submit the arrival card online before flying, and then you receive the visa stamp in your passport when you land.

You cannot use the IMUGA QR code alone to enter the country—you must still present your passport at immigration and receive an entry stamp.

Maldives Entry Requirements: Full Breakdown

To successfully enter the Maldives as a tourist, you must satisfy all of the following conditions at the port of entry:

1. Valid machine-readable passport with at least 6 months validity remaining
2. Completed IMUGA traveller declaration with QR code ready
3. Confirmed return or onward travel ticket
4. Confirmed booking at a registered accommodation facility
5. Sufficient funds for the duration of your stay
6. Entry requirements for your onward destination (if transiting)

Immigration officers make the final decision on entry according to the Maldives Immigration Act. Having all your documents ready does not guarantee entry, but refusals are extremely rare for genuine tourists.

For business travelers

If you’re traveling for business, conferences, or meetings, you still get a visa on arrival. You may be asked for an invitation letter or contact details of the local host company.

For children and infants

Every child, regardless of age, needs:

• Their own passport
• Their own separate IMUGA submission with photo
• Their own visa stamp on arrival

Children listed only on a parent’s passport are not accepted—each traveler must have an individual passport.

Maldives Entry and Customs Steps: What Happens When You Land

Velana International Airport (MLE) in Malé is the main entry point. Here’s what to expect step by step.

1. Deplane and follow signs to Immigration

After exiting the plane, follow the “Arrivals” and “Immigration” signs. The airport is small and well-signposted.

2. Present your documents at the immigration counter

Have your passport open and your IMUGA QR code ready on your phone or printed paper. The officer will:

• Scan your QR code
• Check your passport
• Verify your return ticket and booking (occasionally)
• Ask a few routine questions about your trip
• Stamp your passport with a 30-day tourist visa

3. Collect checked baggage

Proceed to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Trolleys are available.

4. Go through customs

All luggage passes through an X-ray scanner. You may be asked to open your bags for inspection if something triggers an alert.

Items that must be declared include:

• Cash exceeding USD 10,000 (or equivalent)
• Firearms, weapons, or dangerous goods
• Alcohol above the duty-free allowance
• Pork products or religiously restricted items
• Prescription medications in large quantities

5. Exit the arrivals hall

Once through customs, you’ll enter the public arrivals area where your resort representative, speedboat transfer, or taxi will be waiting.

What If You Don’t Fill Out the IMUGA Form Before Arriving in the Maldives?

This is one of the most common questions travelers ask. The short answer: you can still fill it out on arrival, but it is not recommended.

Technically, you can complete the IMUGA form using your phone at the airport, either before boarding or after landing. The form only takes a few minutes with an internet connection.

However, there are real risks:

• Boarding denial risk: Many airlines will not let you board the flight if you cannot show a completed IMUGA QR code at check-in. This is enforced at the departure airport, not in the Maldives.
• Longer queues: If you fill it out after landing, you will hold yourself up while everyone else proceeds through immigration.
• No Wi-Fi guarantee: Airport Wi-Fi quality varies, and mobile data roaming may be expensive or unavailable until you purchase a local SIM.

Maldives Immigration’s official stance is that all travelers should complete the declaration prior to departure. While you will not be refused entry solely for not having pre-completed it, you will be required to fill it out on the spot, causing delays for you and those behind you.

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