Maldives
Maldives · MLE
How to get from Velana airport to your resort, and the visa, money and Traveller Declaration rules on arrival.
Quick answer
All nationalities get a free 30-day visa on arrival at Velana Airport with a passport valid one month, an onward ticket and either US$100 plus US$50 a day or a confirmed booking. Submit the Traveller Declaration on IMUGA within 96 hours before you fly. Resorts near Malé use speedboats; farther ones use seaplanes, usually booked with the room.
Speedboats, seaplanes and the island you choose
- Speedboat transfers to resorts near the airport
- Seaplane transfers to resorts and islands further afield
- Scheduled ferries from Malé to most atolls
Plan a visit to Maldives
- Velana International Airport is the main international gateway. Confirm which airport appears on your itinerary and where the onward transfer departs.
- Domestic flights and scheduled ferries connect the atolls, and some resorts use speedboats or seaplanes. Ask your accommodation which applies.
- Do not assume an island transfer is included in an air ticket or resort rate; check what is included before you pay.
From Velana to the island
Resorts around the airport are reached by speedboat, and resorts and islands further afield by seaplane. From Malé you can also fly to any of the twelve domestic and international airports, with several daily flights, and scheduled ferries serve most atolls.
Resort transfers are usually arranged when you book your accommodation. Official pages give no durations or fares, so ask your resort for the transfer type, the time and the price before you book flights.
Visit Maldives: connectivityResort island, local island or the airport city
Visit Maldives lists four kinds of stay: resorts, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboards. A resort has an island to itself under the one-island-one-resort rule, and the resort arranges the transfer when you book. Guesthouses sit on inhabited islands, mostly in the Greater Malé region, with more modest amenities and the same excursions, snorkelling and diving. Hulhumalé and Malé are the city option next to the airport.
- Resort islands: speedboat if the resort is near the airport, seaplane or domestic flight if it is further out. Green Tax is US$12 per person per night at resorts and hotels. Official pages give no transfer hours, so if you land in the evening ask the resort whether you will need a night near the airport first.
- Guesthouses on local islands: you share the island with the community, so dress is more modest than at a resort, and alcohol and pork are not served. Green Tax is US$6 per person per night at guesthouses. Speedboats leave from the airport jetty and Malé, and timings change with the sea.
- Hulhumalé and Malé: the public airport ferry to Malé runs every 15 minutes from 05:30 to midnight for MVR 15, taxis cross the bridge to Hulhumalé around the clock, and RTL buses link the airport, Hulhumalé and Malé. Useful for a late arrival or an early flight.
- Whatever you choose, confirm the transfer type, time and price with the property before you book flights.
What you need on arrival
Requirements on arrival (Maldives mission, page dated 9 November 2025):
- A free visa on arrival of up to 30 days, issued to all nationalities.
- A machine-readable passport valid for at least one month.
- A valid ticket to continue your journey out of the Maldives.
- Enough money for your stay (US$100 plus US$50 a day), or a confirmed reservation at a tourist resort or hotel.
- A Traveller Declaration, submitted electronically through IMUGA within 96 hours before you travel.
Maldives questions
What is the main international gateway to the Maldives?
Velana International Airport. Your onward transfer depends on the island and accommodation.
Do I need a visa for the Maldives?
A free visa of up to 30 days is issued on arrival to all nationalities. You need a passport valid for at least one month and a ticket out of the country.
What is the Traveller Declaration?
A form submitted electronically through IMUGA within 96 hours before you travel.
How do I get from the airport to my resort?
Speedboat for resorts near the airport, seaplane for those further away. Transfers are usually arranged when you book your accommodation, so confirm timing and included costs before booking.
How much money must I show on arrival?
US$100 plus US$50 per day of stay, or a confirmed reservation at a tourist resort or hotel.
Sources and official links for Maldives
Last checked: 14 Oct 2026
Checked by Anas Ismail on 14 October 2026. We check entry rules, fares and opening details against the official pages listed in the sources, and note the date we checked them.