Maldives entry requirements: entry rules for UK visitors - and what are Covid restrictions in the country?

The Maldives has eased its Covid entry rules for fully vaccinated tourists ahead of the Easter holidays.

The country is now allowing visitors who are double jabbed to enter without having to present a negative PCR test on arrival.

Vaccinated travellers who visit residential islands, as opposed to resort islands, are also no longer required to show a negative coronavirus test before departure from the Maldives.

The recently relaxed rules, which came into effect on 5 March, only apply to those who have had two vaccine doses, with those who are unvaccinated facing stricter entry rules.

If you are planning a getaway to the Maldives this year, here’s what you need to know about the entry requirements and the Covid restrictions in place in the country.

What are the entry requirements for the Maldives?

Travellers entering the Maldives as a tourist will be granted a 30-day visa on arrival and passports must be valid for a minimum of one month. However, if arriving by air, most airlines state that passports should have a minimum validity of six months from the date of entry into the country.

Tourists should also check if they need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.

All travellers must fill in a Traveller Health Declaration form 48 hours before departure to and return from the Maldives, as well as an Immigration Arrival Card when arriving.

As of 5 March, travellers who are fully vaccinated no longer need a PCR test for entry into the Maldives.

To be considered as fully vaccinated, 14 days must have passed since the completion of the vaccine doses.

Temperature checks and screening procedures will be in place on arrival and quarantine facilities have been set up to isolate any suspected Covid cases.

If you have coronavirus symptoms on arrival you will be subjected to a PCR test at your own cost, or at the cost of the tourist facility where you are booked to stay.

Those who are not fully vaccinated (except children under the age of one) must present a negative PCR test on arrival, which must be taken no more than 96 hours prior to departure.

What are the Covid rules in the Maldives?

Travellers who have had two doses of a Covid vaccine and have a negative PCR test result can travel internally to islands that are not under monitoring without having to quarantine.

If the positivity rate is between five and 10% on the island you are travelling from, you must observe a seven day quarantine at your destination island. If the positivity rate is higher than 10%, a 14 day quarantine must be observed.

Face masks are mandatory in the Maldives while travelling by air and sea.

Those who have not received two doses of a Covid vaccine can only travel to inhabited islands with guest houses if:

• 60% of the island population have completed two doses of a WHO-approved Covid vaccine
• 95% of all employees in the tourism sector of the island have completed two doses of a WHO-approved Covid vaccine
• 90% of the island population over the age of 60 has completed two doses of a WHO-approved Covid vaccine

Unvaccinated visitors that travel to islands that meet the above criteria must take a PCR test seven days after arrival.

As the Greater Male’ area does not meet the criteria above, only tourists who have completed two doses of a coronavirus vaccine can stay at hotels and guesthouses in the area.

Tourists can travel between islands and resorts that do not have Covid cases and are not subject to monitoring for coronavirus, but need prior approval for inter-island travel from [email protected].

If you stay at a tourist guesthouse (as opposed to a resort island) during your stay in the Maldives, you will need to take a PCR test 72 hours prior to your departure.

Social distancing measures are still in place in the Maldives.

Public and mass gatherings of up to 30 people are now allowed throughout the Greater Male’ region, including parties and rallies.

A distance of three feet must be maintained with others when going out, and use of face masks is mandatory on all inhabited islands when out in public.

Public spaces, such as parks or sports grounds, in the Greater Male’ area are open with three feet social distancing measures in place and mandatory use of face masks, except when exercising.

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