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The Maldives from Qatar: free visa on arrival and the IMUGA declaration
Qatar residents of almost every nationality get a free 30-day visa on arrival in the Maldives. You need a confirmed booking, a return ticket and the free IMUGA traveller declaration filled in within 96 hours before you land.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Visa
- Free on arrival, up to 30 days
- Before you fly
- IMUGA declaration, free, within 96 hours of arrival
- Passport
- At least 1 month valid on arrival (Maldives rule)
- Must show
- Paid, confirmed booking at a registered place and a return ticket
The Maldives is one of the easiest holidays from Doha: a direct flight of a few hours and no visa to apply for in advance. Every visitor gets a free tourist visa on arrival for up to 30 days, as long as the paperwork is in order when you land. The order of things is simple: check your passport and Qatar ID dates, book a registered place to stay and a return ticket, plan how you will reach your island, then fill in the free IMUGA form in the last four days before arrival. This guide covers each step, what it costs in taxes, and the local rules that catch people out. It does not rank resorts or airlines; it explains the process.
Before you start
- Passport with a machine-readable zone, valid at least 1 month after you arrive (6 months is safer for airlines and onward trips), and not extended by hand
- Qatar ID (QID) valid for the whole trip and your return, checked in Metrash
- Prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered resort, hotel, guesthouse or safari boat for every night
- Return (or onward) ticket out of the Maldives
- A way to show you can pay for your stay: bank card, some US dollars in cash
- Arrival flight number and date, and your accommodation name and address, for the IMUGA form
- Your transfer plan from Velana airport to the island (seaplane, speedboat or domestic flight), confirmed with your accommodation
- Prescriptions or doctor's letters for any medicines you carry
Step by step
Check your passport and Qatar ID dates
The Maldives asks for a passport with a machine-readable zone that is valid for at least 1 month after you arrive. Passports whose validity was extended by a stamp or handwriting are refused, so renew those first. Airlines and any country you fly on to may want 6 months, so 6 months is the safe target. Just as important, your Qatar ID must still be valid when you fly back to Doha; check the expiry in Metrash and renew before you go if it is close. Children need their own passports and QIDs.
Read guide: Renew your Qatar ID →Confirm you get the free visa on arrival
The Maldives gives a free tourist visa on arrival to visitors of every nationality except holders of Israeli passports, who have been barred since April 2025. You do not apply in advance and there is no fee. Your Qatar residency is not what gets you in; your own passport is, so Qatar residents follow the same rules as any tourist. The immigration officer decides how many days you get, up to 30, so make sure your booked nights match your ticket.
Book a registered place to stay and a return ticket
At immigration you must show a complete itinerary: a confirmed return or onward ticket and a prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered resort, hotel, guesthouse or liveaboard boat. A booking with a friend or an unregistered room is not enough. If you are mixing places (for example a night in Hulhumalé, then a resort), have every booking printed or saved offline. Choosing a resort or guesthouse is up to you; check that the property is listed as registered before you pay.
Pick a flight from Doha
Qatar Airways flies direct between Hamad International Airport and Velana International Airport (Malé); the flight takes roughly 4 to 5 hours. The route was paused in early 2026 during regional airspace disruption and restarted on 8 April 2026 with fewer weekly flights, so check the current schedule before booking. Other airlines connect through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Colombo and Indian cities. If you fly via another country, check whether you need a visa or transit permit there.
Read guide: Transit and layovers at Hamad International Airport: can you leave the airport? →Plan your transfer to the island
Most resorts are on their own islands, so you need a transfer from the airport. Islands near Malé are reached by speedboat; farther atolls by seaplane or a domestic flight plus a boat. Seaplanes fly only in daylight, so a late-evening arrival may mean a night near the airport first. Resorts usually arrange and charge for the transfer, so book it with your room and give them your flight number. Budget guesthouses on local islands are often reached by public ferry or shared speedboat at much lower cost.
Fill in the IMUGA declaration within 96 hours
Every foreign visitor must complete the IMUGA traveller declaration online at imuga.immigration.gov.mv. You can only submit it in the 96 hours (4 days) before your arrival; earlier attempts are not accepted. You enter your passport details, arrival flight, accommodation and a short health declaration, and you get a QR code. The form is free, and official Maldives government sites end in .gov.mv; ignore sites and ads that charge a fee. Fill one in for every traveller, including children.
Save the QR code and documents offline
Download or screenshot each IMUGA QR code and keep it with your passport, return ticket and hotel booking. Wi-Fi at the airport may be slow and roaming can fail, so do not rely on opening emails at the counter. A printed copy is a good backup. Airlines may also ask to see the bookings at check-in in Doha.
Leave Doha through the e-gates
Adult Qatar residents can usually use the e-gates at Hamad International Airport with their QID. Check in early, as the Malé flight is popular in holidays such as Eid and the winter break. Do not buy alcohol at Doha duty free for this trip: alcohol cannot be brought into the Maldives and will be taken at customs.
Read guide: Using the e-gates at Hamad International Airport →Pass immigration and customs at Velana
At Velana airport, show your passport, IMUGA QR code, return ticket and booking. The officer stamps your visa on arrival. Customs bans alcohol, pork and pork products, idols for worship and religious material for spreading another faith, and all e-cigarettes and vapes. Since 1 November 2025, anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 may not buy or use tobacco in the Maldives, and that applies to tourists too.
Read guide: Bringing medicines into Qatar: controlled drugs and the MOPH e-permit →Handle money, taxes and a SIM
Resorts price in US dollars and take cards; local islands use the Maldivian rufiyaa, and US dollars are widely accepted. Tourist bills carry a 17% tourism tax (TGST) and a green tax per guest per night: USD 12 at resorts, hotels and safari boats, USD 6 at guesthouses, with children under 2 exempt. Check whether your booking price already includes them. For data, you can buy a local SIM at the airport or use a roaming pack or travel eSIM from home.
Read guide: Mobile plans in Qatar: prepaid, postpaid and eSIM →Respect local island rules
Local islands are inhabited Muslim communities with conservative rules. Alcohol is not sold there, swimwear is for designated tourist beaches only, and modest clothing is expected in villages. Resort islands are separate and more relaxed. If your trip falls in Ramadan, local cafés may close in daytime.
Read guide: Laws and etiquette every Qatar resident should know →Fly home and re-enter Qatar
Return to Velana in good time, allowing for the boat or seaplane transfer. The Maldives charges a departure fee to departing foreign passengers (USD 50 in economy). Check whether your ticket includes it. On arrival in Doha, use the e-gates or passport control with your valid QID, and stay within Qatar's customs allowances for anything you bought.
Read guide: Qatar customs allowances: what you can bring in duty-free →
What it costs
| Tourist visa on arrival | Free |
| IMUGA traveller declaration | Free |
| Green tax at a resort, hotel or safari boat (per guest, per night; under-2s exempt) | USD 12 (about QAR 44) |
| Green tax at a guesthouse (per guest, per night) | USD 6 (about QAR 22) |
| Tourism GST on tourist services | 17% of the bill |
| Departure fee, economy class (foreign passengers) | USD 50 (about QAR 182) |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Filling in IMUGA too early: it only opens 96 hours before arrival, so set a reminder
- Paying a look-alike website for IMUGA or a 'Maldives visa'; both are free and the official site ends in .gov.mv
- Booking a room that is not at a registered tourist property, or arriving without a return ticket
- Landing late at night with a seaplane resort booked, then having no room for the night because seaplanes fly in daylight only
- Bringing duty-free alcohol, pork snacks or a vape; they will be taken at customs and vapes can bring a fine
- Forgetting the QID expiry date and coming back to Doha with an expired residency
- Travelling on a passport that was extended by hand or stamp
Questions people ask
Do Qatar residents need a visa for the Maldives?
No advance visa is needed. Everyone except Israeli passport holders gets a free visa on arrival of up to 30 days. Your nationality's passport counts, not your Qatar residency, but the rules are the same for nearly everyone.
When should I fill in the IMUGA form?
Within the 96 hours (4 days) before your flight lands in Malé. It is not accepted earlier. Do it at home in Doha the day before you fly so you have the QR code ready.
A website wants money for IMUGA. Is that real?
No. The IMUGA declaration is free on the official portal, imuga.immigration.gov.mv. Sites that charge are agents or scams. Official Maldives government sites end in .gov.mv.
How long must my passport be valid?
The Maldives asks for at least 1 month of validity after arrival. Airlines and any country you travel on to may ask for more, so aim for 6 months. Passports extended by hand or stamp are not accepted.
Can I stay in a cheap guesthouse on a local island?
Yes. Guesthouses on local islands are a common budget option and qualify for the visa as long as they are registered and your booking is confirmed and prepaid. The green tax there is lower (USD 6 a night). Alcohol is not available on local islands and beach dress rules apply.
Can I take duty-free alcohol from Doha?
No. Alcohol is banned from import into the Maldives and will be taken at customs. Resorts and licensed tourist boats serve alcohol on site.
Can I extend my 30 days?
Yes, up to 90 days in total from arrival, but you must apply to Maldives Immigration before the first visa expires. Extensions are at the officers' discretion, so apply early and keep your booking and return ticket ready.
I am going for work meetings. Is the visa on arrival enough?
No. The tourist visa does not allow any paid or unpaid work or business engagements. Ask your host company to arrange the right business visa before you travel; people found working on a tourist visa can be fined or deported.
Official sources
- Maldives High Commission (UK): visa and passport information ↗
- GOV.UK: Maldives entry requirements ↗
- PSM News: green tax rates (USD 12 and USD 6) ↗
- PSM News: Qatar Airways resumes Malé flights from 8 April 2026 ↗
- Gulf Daily News: Maldives bans smoking for anyone born after January 2007 ↗
- The Peninsula: Maldives bans Israeli passport holders ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.