At a press conference held on March 29 at the President’s Office, the Special Committee of the Council of Ministers, established in response to tensions in the Middle East, provided an update on the current situation, highlighting the impact on air traffic and the tourism economy.
Authorities confirmed the gradual resumption of several routes that had been suspended in recent weeks. Emirates, Etihad, and flydubai are now operating two daily flights to the archipelago via reorganized air corridors. Qatar Airways is also set to resume daily service starting April 1, marking another step toward restoring regional connectivity.
The government also reported improving flight occupancy rates, signaling a gradual return in demand, while continuing efforts to identify alternative routes and secure essential travel flows in what remains an uncertain environment.
Against this backdrop of a still fragile recovery, authorities are also moving to ease conditions for travelers already in the country.
Maldives: faster, simpler visa extensions starting in April
Already available online, tourist visa extensions in the Maldives are about to become significantly easier.
Until now, travelers could apply for an extension through the official IMUGA immigration portal. However, the process could be relatively demanding, both in terms of required documentation and processing times. Beginning next month, authorities plan to take this a step further by streamlining the procedure considerably.
Maldives Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim announced that a simplified tourist visa extension service will be launched in April.
“Without the previous long deadline and many documents to be submitted, you can apply with just the photo of your visa through an online platform and pay the fee and get the visa extended in 48 hours,” the minister said.
This move is part of a broader effort to respond quickly to declining tourist arrivals. The minister noted that nearly 30% of visitors typically travel via Middle Eastern airlines, which have been heavily affected by the current geopolitical situation, making it all the more strategic to facilitate longer stays.
A visa-on-arrival system for most travelers
The Maldives maintains one of the most accessible entry policies in the world. The vast majority of international travelers are eligible for a free 30-day tourist visa issued on arrival, with no prior application required.
No electronic travel authorization is needed in advance. However, entry remains subject to several conditions:
- holding a machine-readable passport or travel document valid for at least one month (extended passports are not accepted);
- presenting a complete itinerary, including a confirmed return ticket and prepaid accommodation, or proof of sufficient funds, or a valid sponsorship approved by authorities;
- completing an online travel declaration via the IMUGA system within 96 hours prior to departure;
- meeting entry requirements for the next destination;
- presenting, if applicable, a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
This flexible framework, combined with the absence of pre-travel formalities, has long made the Maldives a particularly seamless destination for international travelers.
New visa options for remote workers and content creators
Beyond simplifying extensions, Maldivian authorities are also working on a more structural evolution of their tourism visa policy, with the goal of attracting visitors who can stay longer in the country.
Two new visa categories are currently under consideration: a remote work visa for digital nomads and a dedicated visa for content creators. These initiatives aim to attract travelers who are less dependent on seasonal air traffic and more likely to stay for several weeks, or even months.
This strategy comes as the country remains highly dependent on international tourism. Authorities acknowledged a roughly 21% drop in arrivals since the beginning of the month, a direct consequence of disruptions affecting major Middle Eastern air hubs, which are key transit points for travelers from Europe and Asia.
At the same time, the government is looking to diversify its tourism offering by developing new activities, such as technical diving, sport fishing, and the reintroduction of spearfishing after several decades of prohibition, in order to broaden the country’s appeal.
