Maldives FAQ for Indian travellers (2026)
Quick, practical answers to the most-asked questions Indian travellers ask us about visas, flights, costs, food and etiquette — written by the team that books these trips every week.
Updated September 2026Practical answers, no fluff
The questions below cover what Indian travellers most often ask before booking — start with visa & IMUGA if you're a first-timer. For specific costs and package examples, see cost and packages.
Can't find what you need? Send us a WhatsApp — we usually respond within a few hours, IST-friendly.
Visa, IMUGA & entry
Yes. Indian passport holders receive a free 30-day visa on arrival at Velana International Airport. A paid extension up to 90 days is possible by applying at Maldives Immigration in Malé.
IMUGA is the official Maldives Traveller Declaration, filed at imuga.immigration.gov.mv. Every passenger — including infants and children — needs their own declaration, submitted within 96 hours before arrival. The form is free; ignore any third-party site charging fees for it.
The Maldives official rule is at least 1 month validity beyond departure. Many airlines, however, require 6 months. To avoid check-in rejections, renew your passport well in advance.
Confirmed return ticket, IMUGA acknowledgment, prepaid booking at a registered resort or guesthouse, passport valid for travel, plus your onward transfer voucher. Children need their own declarations too.
Yes. Every passenger including infants files their own IMUGA. It takes minutes per person per family — don't try to skip it.
Flights, transfers & SIM
Kochi / Trivandrum: 1.5–2 hr. Bengaluru: 2–2.5 hr. Mumbai: 2.5–3.5 hr. Chennai: 3–3.5 hr. Delhi: 4–4.5 hr. One-stop for Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Kolkata via Bengaluru or Mumbai.
Maldives is 30 minutes behind India. India is UTC+5:30 and Maldives is UTC+5:00 — so if it's 10:00 in Delhi, it's 09:30 in Malé.
Seaplanes generally stop operating after about 16:00 due to daylight rules. If your flight arrives late or after that, you'll overnight in Malé or Hulhumalé and transfer the next morning.
Indian roaming packages are pricey and patchy. Buy a Dhiraagu or Ooredoo SIM at the airport for around MVR 100 with data. We can arrange this in your package if needed.
Costs, packages & money
What's a realistic 5-night package price?
Budget land-only ₹50–70k for two. Mid-range with beach villa + flights ₹1.2–2L. Honeymoon luxury with overwater villa + seaplane ₹3–5L+. See cost for the calculator.
How much cash should I bring?
Most resort bills go on card. USD 200–500 cash for tips, souvenirs, snacks, and local-island cafes. Carry clean, undamaged bills.
Is the Indian rupee accepted?
Mostly no. Resorts price in USD and convert to MVR (Rufiyaa) at 15.42 per USD. Local-island cafes sometimes accept USD cleanly; bring small notes.
How much are taxes on a Maldives package?
T-GST ~16% + service charge ~10% + Green Tax USD 3–6 pp/night are folded into most landed prices. Always ask for the all-inclusive landed price.
Food, dress & religion
Is alcohol served?
Only at licensed resort islands (their own island license). All local islands are dry — even bringing duty-free alcohol onto a local island is a customs issue. Use resort bars.
What about Indian vegetarian / Jain food?
Most mid and upper range resorts run Indian counters, dosa, paneer and chutneys. Atmosphere Kanifushi runs a fully vegetarian "Just Veg" restaurant — a strong draw for Indian families. Email dietary needs at booking for Jain / no onion-garlic.
How modest should I dress?
Outside the designated "bikini beach" on local islands, shoulders and knees covered. Modest dress in capital Malé is more strict. Bring a light kaftan or shirt + shorts for evenings.
Are vapes / e-cigarettes allowed?
Restricted — bringing them carries confiscation risk. Most travellers skip them altogether on a Maldives trip, or use them only inside a resort's private space.
Best time to visit & weather
November to April is the dry season — calm water, maximum sun, peak rates. Indian festive vacations (Diwali, Christmas, school breaks) drive the bookings.
May to October is the South West monsoon. Showers are short, sunny breaks common, and this is the wildlife season — mantas at Hanifaru, whale sharks at South Ari, significantly lower rates.
Late November (Diwali), mid-December to early January (Christmas / New Year), and late April / early May (summer break) book up earliest. November and January are calendar-perfect with manageable rates.
No. Rain typically comes in short bursts — mostly late afternoon. Most days have 4–6 hours of strong sun. Visibility drops on plankton-rich days but that is exactly when mantas and whale sharks show up.
Still have a question?
The team behind Maldives.co.in handles hundreds of Indian families and couples every season. If you don't see your question above, send it on WhatsApp and we'll usually reply within a few hours (IST-friendly).