Maldives Visa For Indian Citizens

News About Maldives Visa For Indian Citizens

• Visa exemption for Maldivians travelling to India

  The Indian government has agreed to resume visa exemption for Maldivians from 15 October 2021. The 2018 visa exemption agreement between India and Maldives was discontinued temporarily due to the corona virus situation. However, the suspension has been removed by the Indian government. As per the agreement, Maldivians travelling to India, no longer require a visa permit. The move has come as an effort to gear up long-closed Indian tourist industry.

  15 October 2021

• New visa agreement between India, Maldives came into effect on Monday

  The new visa agreement between India and Maldives came into effect on Monday.  The agreement between both the countries provide a liberal visa policy for Maldivian citizens who seek medical treatment in the country as well as look for education and business opportunities. 

  As per the new agreement, Maldivian tourists and businessmen will be able to stay in the country for a period of 90 days without needing a visa. Apart from that, citizens of Maldives who are in the country on a tourist visa can stay back for treatment in case they suffer from sudden medical issues. The main motive behind the new agreement is to boost people-to-people ties between both the nations. 

  It needs to be mentioned here that the new agreement was reached during the visit of Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India in December last year. The agreement has come to force after all necessary formalities have been completed. 

  11 March 2019

• Ex-post facto approval given by Union Cabinet for facilitation of visa arrangements with the Maldives

  The Visa facilitation agreement signed between India and Maldives during the visit of Maldivian President to India last month was given ex-facto approval by the Union cabinet recently. The agreement was signed with the aim of deepening people-to-people exchanges between both the nations. With the Union cabinet providing its approval on the agreement, it would be easier for Indian and Maldivian nationals to visit each other’s countries going forward.  

  As per the agreement, nationals of both countries can travel to each other’s countries visa-free for a period of 90 days. The reason for travel could be tourism, medical treatment, education as well as business or employment. An official statement states that the agreement also provides for easy conversion of visa-free entry to medical visa and visas for dependents of students and individuals pursuing employment in the countries.  

  22 January 2019

• Reports emerge that over 2,000 Indians in the Maldives have lost jobs or were denied work visa in the last three months

  As per reports, in the last three months over 2000 Indian workers were denied work visa or have either lost their jobs in the Maldives. Data received from the Immigration Department highlight that as many as 300 Indian workers were denied work visa even after they were hired by a Singapore-based company that is working in the country. Given the development, the Indian government is keeping a close eye on the matter and has instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and other agencies to collect the exact data. The data asked to be collected include preparing a breakup of those who lost their jobs or were denied work visa, of those who returned home after losing their jobs etc. It needs to be mentioned that as per reports, the Maldivian government has instructed the Immigration department to put on hold fresh work permits for Indian citizens and as also asked the Indian government to take back the two helicopters gifted to the Maldivian government.

  The Immigration Department of the country has however refuted the reports. Mohammad Anwar, the Immigration Controller has stated that Maldives Immigration officers carry out their duties with full dedication and do not discriminate with anyone. He added that the authority will continue to grant work permits and visas to Indian citizens in accordance with the country's regulations.

  26 June 2018

• Indian nationals now finding it difficult to obtain work permits in Maldives

  Due to the recent between Indian and Maldives government, Indian nationals are now finding it difficult to obtain work permits in Maldives. This is largely seen by experts as a result of burgeoning relationship between Maldives and China. China is very keenly interested in Maldives to strengthen its position in the Indian Ocean. Also the newly elected president of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen has been described to be autocratic, even jailing political enemies.

  The jobs for which Indian nationals had applied and waited for a long time are now being given to nationals of other countries. Advertisements listed for people searching for jobs in Maldives are also listing people holding Indian passports as ineligible due to the denying of work permit to Indian citizens. The Indian Embassy situated in Male, capital city of Maldives is also rendered helpless and has asked the Indian citizens stuck in Maldives without work permit to figure out their situation on their own.

  When Indian Foreign Ministry was asked about the plight of Indian citizens in Maldives, it assured that it was doing everything in its power to rectify the situation and talks are ongoing with the Maldives government to ease the situation.

  19 June 2018