Airport

​When searching for flights you are looking for the MLE airport code. Scroll down for a list of airlines flying to the Maldives and the official airport website can be found here https://macl.aero.
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​The international terminal is one building with both arrival & departure areas intermixed. On arrival & having exited the secure area you will enter the large public area, where you will find plenty of seating, free device charging points, airport, information desk, resort & Maldivian Airways desks, public toilets, baggage storage facility costing $6 for up to 24 hours, dining area with coffee bistros a Burger King and others, convenience shops, pharmacy, currency exchange, ATM's, mobile service operator stores where you can purchase/collect a local sim. There is also an Ooredoo self service 24hr machine where you purchase a sim or recharge without having to enter their store. If you unfortunately do not have time to purchase a sim at the airport, we sell prepaid Ooredoo sims for $30 & 50.
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There are no walk in landside lounges, only the the VIP Service Lounge which is part of the arrival/Departure VIP Service. The VIP Service is available for a fee. You will be greeted at the plane & cared for right through to boarding your transfer to the island. For more information please go to the dedicated page on the airport website here.
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Departing. What to expect air side.
There are no on-site sleeping facilities but there is one lounge air side which can be accessed for a fee or free depending on the arrangements with your airline. None of the airlines have their own lounge. There is plenty of seating, free device charging points, toilets, smoking room, the usual abundance of duty free and shopping for gifts and other outlets, a variety of food outlets and large dining area with amazing views over the apron and runway. All the gates are on the lower level, accessible by stairs or the lift.

 

Immigration

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Arriving to Maldives
While you are heading to immigration your luggage is being screened before you receive it at Baggage Claim. However, after immigration you may be asked to do a second screening. It is an offence to have pork and pork products, alcohol, explosives, weapons, firearms, ammunition, pornographic material, materials deemed contrary to Islam including ‘idols for worship’ and bibles.
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Immigration & Customs

Duty Free Allowances. Items brought in by passengers for their own use when travelling to Maldives. These items include:
Clothes, jewellery, watches, pens, portable gadgets, toiletries, books, magazines, newspapers and zero Alcohol. Bringing in any type of alcohol is strictly forbidden. 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco & up to MVR 6,000 worth of other personal items.
(Click here for the official government customs website)
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​All travellers are required to go through immigration clearance upon arrival. Tourist visas are granted for all nationalities, free of charge, on arrival. Inbound passengers must satisfy the following basic entry requirements before they can be considered for entry into Republic of Maldives:
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• All arriving and departing passengers via airports and seaports are required to complete the Traveller Health Declaration form within 48 hours to the flight time. PCR result is not mandatory during arrival and departure. This applies to unvaccinated travellers as well. Travel-related quarantine is not required by any traveller. However, except the arriving tourists and Maldivians (residing in the Maldives) to the Maldives, other travellers are advised to do a PCR test between the 3rd and 5th day of arrival.

• A passport or Travel Document with Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) with a minimum of 1 month validity after your departure. 

• Proof of a Pre-Paid hotel booking/accommodation (Confirmed with payment on arrival are accepted in most cases but this is not guaranteed).

• Proof of Travel Insurance (TI) for the intended period of stay in the Maldives. If not covered in your own travel insurance policy, you can additionally purchase the Maldives Government approved Tourist COVID-19 Insurance policy from Allied’s website here. 

• Sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Maldives 

• Confirmed onward/return tickets to home country or a country of Resident (not applicable for valid Resident permit holders) 

• Entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas. 

• Completed Disembarkation/Embarkation Card approved by Maldives Immigration

• Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable  

• Other vaccinations: Unless you are flying from tropical Africa there are no required by law vaccinations for the Maldives for entry or exit. However for your own personal health it is strongly recommended that travellers be covered against the main food and water borne diseases (Hepatitis A and Typhoid) and Tetanus. Please check with your Foreign Office service to keep up to date with changes to vaccination requirements and or recommendations.

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The maximum number of days granted on arrival will be 30 days unless agreed by any bilateral means or Treaty. The 30 days is not for the passenger to claim, but lies at the discretion of the Immigration to grant any number of days less than or equal to 30.  The period of stay granted is shown on the endorsement given on the passport. Passengers are advised to check their passports for the arrival endorsement and take note of the number of days stay given. 
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All Passengers Entering on a Tourist visa are not permitted to engage in any form of business, occupation, profession or paid employment while in Maldives. It is a punishable offence to overstay in Maldives beyond the number of days given. A fine of MVR 15750 will be imposed as an overstayed fee. and denial of re-entry is common for your lifetime. Click here for the Maldives Immigration Website.
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Departing from Maldives

As of 13th March 2022, tourists who spend their holiday in tourist facilities in inhabited islands are NO LONGER required to do a PCR test when departing from respective inhabited islands. 

 

Important Note:
These are the regulations of the Maldives. If your airline, transit or final destination country require a PCR TEST, you must follow their requirements.
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All persons departing the Maldives must still complete the online IMUGA Health Declaration no more than 24 hours prior to departing the Maldives. The Online Health Declaration form can be found here: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create.
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In addition, during exit screening if any tourist is found to have fever or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, they must undergo PCR testing for COVID-19. It is important to note that unlike many other airports the security and ability to go back outside the terminal ends the moment you pass through the screening when entering the check in hall.​
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​Immigration & Customs
You & your luggage will be screened before entering the check in hall and once checked in, you and your carryon luggage will be screened for a second time prior to passing through immigration.
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When leaving the Maldives you should know it is an offence to depart with alcohol, tortoise shell and coral. Customs checks/baggage screening is very thorough so it is important you have all your receipts for items purchased during your stay, so as to avoid being inadvertently accused of attempting to leave with prohibited items or items which may incur export fees and so forth.​

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Transfers

​(IMPORTANT: DURING RELIGIOUS PERIODS SUCH AS RAMADAN, TRANSFER TIMES MAY VARY. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK THE LATEST TIMES WITH US, PRIOR TO BOARDING YOUR FLIGHT TO THE MALDIVES)

On arrival at Velana International Airport, you will take a 60 minute transfer by public speedboat which we will arrange for you and charge to your room at a rate of $70 return per person. The time of your speedboat transfer will depend on your flight arrival as there are two transfer a day, one n the morning and one in the afternoon and the same applies when returning to the airport. If desired we can of course arrange a private transfer, the price of which will be given upon request!

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Malé & Airport to Rasdhoo'

Malé Departure Terminal: Jetty No. 6, Male’ (In front of Bank of Ceylon) via Airport Harbour
Departure Day: Saturday to Thursday

Morning Speedboat 10:25am (Airport Harbour 10:30am)

Afternoon Speedboat 15:55pm (Airport Harbour 16:00)

Departure Day: Friday

Morning Speedboat 09:25am (Airport Harbour 09:30am)

Afternoon Speedboat 15:55pm (Airport Harbour 16:00pm)

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Rasdhoo to Malé & Airport

Rasdhoo Departure Terminal: Rasdhoo Harbour/Port
Departure Day: Saturday to Thursday

Morning Speedboat 07:25am

Afternoon Speedboat 13:25pm

Departure Day: Friday

Morning Speedboat 07:25am

Afternoon Speedboat 14:25pm

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Useful Information

 

Allied Insurance company in association with the Ministry of Tourism, has launched a COVID-19 insurance policy focusing on tourists who visit Maldives.
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In a collaborated press conference the insurance plan was launched by the Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom.
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The COVID-19 Insurance policy namely as Allied Inbound consists of two options that covers medical charges, isolation facility charges, emergency medical transportation charges and interment charges which may follow a positive diagnosis for COVID-19 of a tourist during their stay in Maldives. This plan only includes isolation centres designated by HPA. A willing tourist should apply for this plan prior to entering the country. This plan is now available for tourists on Allied’s website. More details about this plan will also be available on their website here and the toll free hotline 1600.
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Irrespective of their age, any visitor who is not a citizen or does not hold a valid resident visa of Maldives will be eligible for this plan. The plan comes in two options; Allied Inbound from $25 and Allied Inbound Plus from $35. You can purchase these policies directly here: https://myallied.mv/type/inbound-allied/new
 
Electricity & Water Supply
The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in the Maldives, if the voltage in your country is in between 220 - 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). All our rooms are fitted with universal sockets but as always it's recommended you bring an outlet adaptor. Loss of power is infrequent and surges are rare. Having said this it's always a good idea to have a surge protector, either built in to your adaptor or a stand alone device.
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We provide complimentary bottled drinking water. All our rooms only have showers. Sea water is pumped from an underground well into a plant for desalination & rainwater collected from public roofs & tanks is piped into the plant for filtration and disinfection, then piped throughout the island.

 

Money
The local currency in the Maldives is called Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), however you will find businesses pricing in US Dollar (USD).
 
There is a bank and ATM on the island but you should still make sure you avail yourself of the the ATM's or exchange services to acquire local or USD currency at the airport. In an emergency we offer card charging currency exchange services. So don't panic if you run low on hard cash. Many of the local shops and leisure providers on the island do not accept cards. Be advised, when paying in USD you may find yourself being given change in MVR rather than USD.
 
We accept both credit and debit cards. Pre-Paid cards are not accepted. As mentioned above, many of the businesses on the island only accept cash. Even so, you will find you can pay via your card for many leisure activities through our property. An average meal, (Starter, Main, Drinks) will cost you approximately no more than $15.00 per person and drinks from the shop will normally cost between $3.00 & $5.00

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Mobile & WiFi Service
The island has a very good mobile network coverage and we have WiFi. We provide free WiFi to our guests and while not always guaranteed, most of the connections are usable in your room in addition to the public areas.
 
Like most visitors you will probably be concerned about the cost of using your mobile as you will inevitably want to research things to do, contact people and overload Facebook & Instagram. Remember to check your roaming service is enabled/disabled, review your operators terms & conditions and check if they have a partnership to even allow you to use your current service while travelling. Roaming can be extremely expensive.
 
The Airport has mobile service operator stores where you can purchase/collect a local sim. Prices start from 491 MVR for 17GB of data. There is also an Ooredoo self service 24hr machine where you purchase a sim or recharge without having to enter their store. If you unfortunately do not have time to purchase a sim at the airport, we also sell the prepaid Ooredoo sims for $30 & $50 depending on the data/SMS/call package you desire.