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COVID-19 Information – Maldives
Last updated: September 2, 2020
Country-Specific Information:
- Maldives Ministry of Health is reporting increasing cases of COVID-19 and the country remains in a state of emergency. Maldives has confirmed community transmission of COVID-19 within its borders.
- Please visit their immigration website for future updates and instructions for entry: https://immigration.gov.mv/.
- Cases have been identified throughout the country with the majority in Male. However, COVID-19 cases have been reported on multiple islands. Islands with confirmed COVID-19 patients have been placed under travel lockdown, with arrivals and departures to those islands prohibited.
- The government is taking active steps to prevent further spreading, including travel restrictions, voluntary isolation, and mandatory quarantines.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter?
- Maldives opened some resort islands for tourism on July 15, 2020. The Maldives Ministry of Tourism website has guidelines for visiting Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic. A detailed explanation of the process for tourists can be found on the Ministry of Tourism website.
- According to Maldives Health Protection Agency, effective September 10, all tourists will be required to present a negative PCR certificate upon arrival.
- Maldives will provide a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival
- Traveler Health Declaration (THD) must be filled in and submitted by all travelers travelling to and from Maldives, within 24 hours prior to their travel. You may submit the form electronically via http://imuga.immigration.gov.mv.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? Yes.
- There is a curfew in place for Male city, Hulhulmale, Villimale, Thilafushi, and Gulhifalhu from 10:00 p.m. until 05:00 a.m.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? Yes.
- Islands with confirmed COVID-19 patients have been placed under travel lockdown, with arrivals and departures to those islands prohibited.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.
- Tourists are allowed entry without quarantine upon arrival.
- Travelers who test positive for COVID-19 will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
- The Maldives Ministry of Health has established a website, COVID-19 Local Updates, to track the status of the disease and provide updates. Families of individuals who are currently in quarantine and isolation facilities may contact the following hotlines to get updates on their status: +960-722-3541 and +960-729-0223. These hotlines are staffed from 9am to 11pm Maldives time and have English speakers.
COVID-19 Testing:
- Travelers with symptoms of COVID-19 will be subjected to a PCR test upon arrival. Additionally, local health authorities will conduct random testing at the airport.
- COVID-19 testing is available for travelers who require it for their onward journey.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
Consular Operations:
- Due to travel restrictions, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka is extremely limited in providing services to American citizens in Maldives. Sri Lanka is closed to visiting foreigners until further notice.
Local Resources:
- Travelers are encouraged to review information available at:
- COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
- American citizens with questions on entry requirements to the United States may visit the Department of Homeland Security COVID-19 website.
- Maldives Ministry of Health has published a COVID-19 Local Updates webpage as well as the Maldives Health Protection Agency.
- The World Health Organization Maldives page provides some additional information about COVID-19
- For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)
- You are encouraged to visit state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Please also visit the website of the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate to see information on entry restrictions, foreign quarantine policies, and urgent health information provided by local governments.
Travelers are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. The Department uses these Alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc. In an emergency, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or call the following numbers: 1(888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions.
