How to move to live in the Maldives?

Living in the Maldives is not a tourist matter: a foreigner needs a work permit and a work visa, and the employer starts the process. Here is what the official Maldives Immigration page says, and what we cannot confirm.

Work permit and work visa

• Maldives Immigration says that newly arriving expatriates must hold a valid Entry Pass (Work Permit) issued by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology.
• The employer or its representative applies for the Work e-Visa through the Xpat Online System within 15 days of the employee’s arrival.
• Only an approved e-Visa is recognised as a valid work visa. Work visa stickers in passports are no longer valid after 23 November 2025.
• The Work e-Visa matches the validity of the Work Permit, and renewed work visas are issued for a maximum of one year.

Residence and citizenship

• The Constitution of the Maldives says that a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives (Article 9(d)). Citizenship is therefore not a realistic aim for most foreigners.
• We could not verify claims that a residence permit is available after three months, that dual citizenship is recognised, or that citizenship can be bought, so we do not repeat them.
• For any long stay, ask Maldives Immigration or an immigration lawyer, because the rules and the procedures change.

Practical advice

• Do not start work on a tourist stay. Work requires a permit and a visa arranged by the employer.
• Check the employer: the business must hold a quota for foreign workers, according to the application process.
• Do not pay anyone who promises a visa without an employer. Use the official portal and your employer’s confirmation.
• We do not publish salaries, rents or prices of living, because we have no verified figures.

Reviewed by the Relax Residence team in October 2026.