Indians are Still Welcome in the Maldives Without Restrictions in These Places!

Tuesday 27th of April 2021

With the recent downhill events in India alarming the world, Maldives too had to take several measures for the wellbeing of the nation against travellers arriving from India.

An official statement was released on April 25, 2021 restricting the movement of tourists arriving from India in inhabited islands. Starting today, they are prohibited from staying in tourist accommodation located on such islands. Indian tourists who are already checked into hotels and guesthouses will be allowed to stay at the facilities until the completion of their booking duration.

However, the restrictions do not apply to the one-resort-one-island resort facilities, safaris, and liveaboards in the Maldives. Tourists arriving from India as per scheduled flights are still welcome to vacation on tourist vessels and resorts. No change is expected in terms of local transport from the Airport to the Resorts.

With added precautions, the following safety measures imposed, effective today, are to be strictly observed to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of the local population and travelers alike.

1. Travelers arriving in the Maldives from India, including those who have completed the prescribed dose(s) of vaccination, must hold a Negative Covid PCR Test conducted not more than 96 hours of the scheduled departure from the first port of embarkation en-route Maldives from India. This also applies to Transit passengers exceeding a 24-hour duration. Prior to exit, all travelers must undertake a PCR test for COVID-19 maximum 72 hours prior to departure from Maldives.

2. Citizens of the Maldives and Maldivian Work-Permit holders from India are to present a negative Covid PCR Test taken within 24 hours prior to arrival to the Maldives. They must complete a mandatory 10-day self-quarantine period followed by a release PCR Test at the end of the quarantine which must be negative for the release to come in effect. Children below one-year-old are exempted from the aforementioned requirement.

3. Travelers arriving from India, including transit passengers with more than 24-hour transit durations, are prohibited from checking in to guesthouses and hotels in inhabited islands. However, the restriction does not apply to guesthouses and hotels that are located in secluded areas of the Inhabited Islands.

Since India is the biggest source market to the Maldives post the pandemic, the measures were taken with heavy hearts but the country expects to ease these temporary measures in the near future depending on how the pandemic situation in India unfolds. Maldives looks forward to welcoming all travelers from India to spend their holidays in the safe haven soon.