How to move to live in the Maldives?
Moving to the Maldives, this picture-perfect place, and living a carefree island life – it seems like a really cool idea. But is it really that great in reality? Should you consider the Indian Ocean archipelago as a permanent residence and what might you need to move to?
Obtaining a visa, residence permit and citizenship
The agreement between the Republic of Maldives and the Russian Federation gives the right to citizens of our country to stay on the islands for 30 days without a visa. For tourists, this means that Russia has a visa-free regime for short-term entry with the Maldives and Russians do not need a visa to the Maldives. But we are considering options for staying here for a long time, so this fact does not bother us much.
One of the ways to stay in the Maldives for a long time is EMPLOYMENT. For this, a foreign citizen needs official permission from the organization in which he plans to work.
It is important to note that a tourist visa excludes the possibility of employment. To legally apply, you need to collect a package of documents, extend your visa, and also undergo a mandatory medical examination.
- A foreign citizen can obtain a residence permit after 3 months of continuous stay on the islands. This is a short period and very lenient conditions for obtaining a residence permit, unlike in Europe.
- And it is possible to officially register citizenship only 3 years after registration of a residence permit. By the way, dual citizenship is recognized in the Maldives, so there is no need to renounce Russian citizenship. This is another plus in the Maldives’ piggy bank, as a “backup airport” for Russian citizens.
One of the options for obtaining a residence permit is to marry a native of the Republic of Maldives. However, it should be noted that foreign spouses of Maldivian citizens do not receive citizenship automatically. That is, simply getting married or finding a spouse cannot be an option for starting a peaceful life in the Maldives.
You can apply for permanent residence in the Maldives with the help of a guarantor: this can be either an employer who has citizenship or a native resident of the islands. According to local rules, this procedure is very complicated and slow.
Another option is that a foreigner can obtain citizenship through naturalization (a legal process of acquiring citizenship based on voluntary desire, usually with the condition of knowledge of the language, availability of housing, etc.). However, such a decision is made exclusively by the president of the republic upon a written application of a person wishing to become a citizen of the Maldives. No guarantees + the need to collect a pile of documents and certificates. But you can simply buy citizenship without any unnecessary complications.
Work in Maldives
Foreigners can work on the islands as guides, windsurfing and diving instructors, travel agency specialists, and bartenders. As a seasonal option, there are many offers for fruit picking (agricultural industry). This is very convenient, as it creates a variable approach to shaping the life of any tourist with a minimum set of skills and no specialized profession.
- To apply for the desired position, you need experience in one field or another and fluency in foreign languages (at least English).
- One of the most important requirements for foreign citizens who want to work in the Maldives is a respectful attitude towards the religion of the state. Let us recall that this is Islam, which dictates certain rules of conduct. But it is worth noting that very soft rules of Islam operate in the Maldives, so you will not have to change any of your own religious views or somehow strictly control your behavior.
Suitable work can be found with the help of local agencies that recruit personnel and help with the preparation of all necessary documents.
If a foreign citizen is in the territory of the state, he will need to temporarily leave it. The employer, in turn, must, after issuing a permit, notify the Immigration Department of the arrival of the hired worker (two days in advance). After this, the arriving worker must apply for a resident visa and this must be done within a week after the permit is issued.
And after all the procedures have been completed, a contract is concluded between the employer and the employee, which sets out detailed terms of cooperation and guarantees. The employer often provides the employee with housing, food, uniform, guarantees a fixed salary and prepares all the accompanying documentation. That is, the attitude towards the workforce from foreign countries, in particular from the Russian Federation, is very good. Most often, no one will force you to work in inhuman conditions and your overall stay on the archipelago will be quite comfortable for you.
Where do the locals live?
The local population lives on local islands and this is the complete opposite of the resort islands. There is all the usual infrastructure here – shops, schools, catering establishments, banks, farms, etc. The most densely populated of the local islands is Male, the capital of the Maldives. In fact, it occupies 4 islands, one of which is home to the Velana International Airport. In general, Male can be considered a non-tourist island, so if you want to work as a guide or get any other profession in the tourist niche, it is better to go either to the resort islands or to smaller local islands.
Having your own plot of land in Male is a great luxury for residents of the local islands. The owners of such plots build up the land with apartment buildings, renting out apartments to visitors.
On the islands, in addition to tourist hotels, there are equipped hostels where the service personnel live. Work shifts usually last from 2 to 6 weeks. A convenient place to live if you do not want to stay on the islands for a very long time and have come to earn money in the short term.
How much does it cost to live on the islands?
Living in the Maldives as a local is expensive. The average wage for a regular hired worker is around $600-700, and long-term rental housing costs range from $600-1500 (depending on the size of the premises and the number of rooms). Therefore, many foreign workers prefer to rent apartments or houses on a shared basis.
Since the islands do not have well-established domestic production, many food products and other goods are imported. Because of this, the cost of goods is high, and the range is limited. By the way, this is quite strange, because the islands have almost all the conditions for establishing fruit growing. Residents of the Maldives are trying to do this, but cannot cope with the volumes.
Communication between the islands
Residents of Male have to travel to other islands of the archipelago by ferry or seaplane:
- The cost of a ferry ride to the nearest islands is from $2 to $10.
- A seaplane ride to the distant islands is from $250 to $700.
- Ticket prices for speedboats are from $30 to $100, depending on how busy they are.
Reviews from those who moved – pros and cons of living in the Maldives
- Among the advantages, they usually mention pleasant climate conditions and a large selection of vacancies for foreigners who speak English.
- However, Russians who have moved to the Maldives note the high cost of housing and food, so spending on food and rent significantly exceeds similar expenses in Russia.
Therefore, it is most often recommended to consider the Maldives as an option for a “paradise” holiday, and to move only if you have a very profitable job offer and have found a convenient accommodation option in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to the Maldives
The flight time from Moscow to the Maldives is approximately 9-10 hours by direct flight.
To fly to the Maldives cheaply, book tickets and hotels in advance, choose a trip during the low season (May-October), consider inexpensive guesthouses on local islands and look for promotions on air tickets and tour packages.
To have a cheap holiday in the Maldives, choose local islands with budget guesthouses, travel in the low season, book tickets and accommodation in advance, and look for deals with meals included.