The Maldives grants 30-day visa-free entry to all nationalities on arrival at Velana International Airport. Travelers must present a passport valid for six months beyond arrival date, confirmed accommodation booking, proof of sufficient funds, and onward or return ticket. Extensions up to 90 days require application through the Maldives Immigration office in Malé with fees varying by duration. The official immigration website is immigration.gov.mv. Unvaccinated travelers face no COVID-19 entry restrictions as of 2024 though policies change without advance notice.
Currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa abbreviated MVR with exchange rates around 15.42 MVR to 1 USD as of mid-2024. Resorts and tourist facilities quote prices in US dollars and accept major credit cards. ATMs in Malé and larger inhabited islands dispense Rufiyaa. Banks open Sunday through Thursday typically 0800 to 1300 hours. US dollars in good condition exchange readily at banks, resorts, and authorized money changers. Bringing damaged or heavily worn dollar bills results in rejection at many establishments.
Mobile connectivity covers inhabited islands and major resort areas through Dhiraagu and Ooredoo networks. 4G coverage reaches most populated zones while remote atolls rely on 3G. SIM cards require passport registration at official shops in Malé or the airport arrivals terminal. Prepaid packages start around 200 MVR for 5GB data valid 30 days. WiFi functions reliably at resorts and guesthouses with speeds ranging from adequate for email to full streaming depending on the property's infrastructure investment.
Electrical outlets use 230V 50Hz with British-style three-pin rectangular plugs type D and G. Some older buildings retain type A flat two-pin sockets. Bringing a universal adapter handles all scenarios. Power cuts occur occasionally on inhabited islands lasting minutes to hours while resort islands run independent generator systems ensuring continuous supply.
Malé hosts the two primary medical facilities: Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital operated by the government and ADK Hospital as the main private institution. ADK Hospital provides 24-hour emergency services, surgical capabilities, and diagnostic imaging with some specialists available. Outer atolls contain smaller health centers staffed by general practitioners and nurses capable of treating common ailments and stabilizing emergencies before transfer to Malé. Medical evacuations to Malé or international facilities in Sri Lanka or India handle serious conditions beyond local capacity. Travel insurance covering air ambulance reaches costs exceeding 25000 USD for evacuation flights.
Pharmacies in Malé stock prescription and over-the-counter medications though specific brands vary and specialized drugs require advance ordering. Resort islands maintain basic medical supplies and may employ a resident nurse or visiting doctor depending on size. Travelers requiring specific medications should carry sufficient supplies plus copies of prescriptions showing generic names. Dental care exists in Malé at several private clinics with standards varying considerably.
Tap water in Malé and resort islands comes from desalination plants and technically meets drinking standards but most residents and tourists drink bottled water due to taste and occasional system maintenance issues. Each resort produces its own water. Inhabited islands sometimes face supply interruptions during equipment failures. Heat and humidity cause rapid dehydration requiring conscious fluid intake especially during boat trips between islands.
Velana International Airport on Hulhulé Island serves as the sole international gateway located 2 kilometers from Malé. Speedboat transfers cost 10 USD per person for the five-minute crossing to Malé city. The airport opened its new terminal in 2018 with expanded capacity. Domestic flights operate from the same airport through Maldivian airline and several smaller carriers reaching 16 regional airports across the atolls with flight times ranging from 20 minutes to northern atolls up to 90 minutes to Addu City in the south. Seaplanes transfer tourists directly to resort islands during daylight hours only with prices from 200 to 600 USD per person each way depending on distance.
Public ferries connect inhabited islands within atolls and between neighboring atolls operating on fixed schedules published by Maldives Transport and Contracting Company. Inter-atoll ferries run less frequently, sometimes only twice weekly on longer routes. Journey times vary from 30 minutes between close islands to 8 hours for distant crossings. Fares range from 20 to 100 MVR. Schedules change with weather and occasionally cancel during rough seas particularly during southwest monsoon months.
Speedboat charters between inhabited islands and nearby resorts cost approximately 25 to 50 USD per person for short trips or 300 to 800 USD for private boat hire depending on vessel size and distance. No bridges connect islands except the Sinamalé Bridge completed in 2018 linking Malé, Hulhulé airport island, and Hulhumalé at 1.39 kilometers making it the longest bridge structure in Maldives history. Most transportation involves water vessels.