Coronavirus in the Maldives: everything about the situation and rules of entry

Contents:

1. Coronavirus situation in the Maldives in general

2. Visiting the Maldives: current rules

2.1 What kind of health document is needed to enter the Maldives?
2.2 Who is allowed to arrive in the Maldives
2.3 Tourism in the Maldives during the pandemic
2.4 Non-touristic visits to the Maldives
2.5 Health declaration
2.6 Hotel booking and visa
2.7 During the flight
2.8 At the airport
2.9 Which airlines fly to the Maldives in 2021
2.10 Tourist escort from arrival till departure
2.11 Coronavirus testing hut for tourists departing on liveaboards
2.12 Guesthouses resume work
2.13 What to do in case of apparent coronavirus symptoms?

3. How to spend a vacation in the Maldives

3.1 Quarantine restrictions at the restaurants, cafes, hotels, spa and other venues
3.2 Services at the venues
3.3 Visiting touristic sites
3.4 New rules of visiting touristic sites by locals

4. Hotels open in the Maldives at the moment

5. Launch of Maldives' first Covid-19 travel insurance

Coronavirus situation in the Maldives in general

Compared to many countries, the Maldives are one of the safest and most prosperous regions in the world. There is a low mortality rate and a high level of safety for tourists. The authorities were quick to respond to danger, and as early as March 7, 2020, the Maldives reported the first identified case of COVID-19. A health care emergency has been declared in the country since March 12.

The Maldivian government imposed restrictions on visiting the country by tourists from states where disease cases have been detected in time. This fact, well-timed isolation of the sick ones, treatment and extensive contact tracking prevented an upsurge of the infection. Cases requiring admission to the hospital proved to be not critical to the islands' medicine. The mortality rate of COVID-19 in the Maldives has remained at a very low level since the beginning of the epidemic.

More than 1,300 samples are currently being tested daily (as of November 17/18, 2020), including the results of those leaving the country.

As of November 11, 2020, the Maldives has 3 COVID-19 hospitals in the greater Male region with 263 beds and 5 more COVID-19 hospitals nationwide with 183 beds. 178 of them are vacant, respectively.

Asad Photo Maldives

Maldives receives Safe Travels Stamp from World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)

15 September 2020, the measures the Maldives has taken to safeguard the health and safety of tourists in line with the WTTC's global safe travel protocols have been appreciated by the World Travel and Tourism Council with the Safe Travels Stamp.

The purpose of this stamp is to provide confidence in travelers and restore consumer confidence in Travel and Tourism, as well as to ensure travelers of enhanced standards of hygiene are in place and ensure that they can experience safe travel again. The Safe Travels Stamp has also been approved by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and over 200 travel companies.

Maldives became the world's leading travel destination in 2020

At the end of 2020, the Maldives received a "Travel Oscar" - World's Leading Destination from the World Travel Awards, which has been held annually since 1993. Thus, the Maldives has been voted the best travel destination in the world. This is the first time the islands have received such an award, not least thanks to their COVID-19 program and applicable safety measures. The Maldives competed with leading tourism destinations: Mauritius, Spain, UAE, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and 17 other countries.

Visiting the Maldives: current rules

From September 10, 2020 all tourists entering the Maldives, must present a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 on arrival.

What kind of health document is needed to enter the Maldives?

To ensure the safety of tourists, the Health Protection Agency of Maldives (HPA) has introduced a mandatory requirement for all tourists and other travelers entering the Maldives for short-term stay to present a negative PCR test for Covid-19. Children below one year old are exempt from the requirement of a COVID-19 test.

The health document can be executed on different forms of different countries and medical laboratories and must contain information:

• confirmation of a negative PCR test for Covid-19 in English;
• the said PCR test must be conducted within a maximum of 96 hours (four days) prior to departure to the Maldives.*
• the document must clearly indicate the name and address of the laboratory, the test result, and the date and time when the sample was taken;
• everyone arriving and departing from the Maldives must submit an online health declaration within 24 hours of arrival and departure to/from the Maldives - to complete the form, follow the link.

*lf the passenger makes a transit during the journey, the initial PCR test will be valid if the transit does not exceed 24 hours. lf a passenger makes a transit exceeding 24 hours, the passenger must take a repeat PCR test within 96 hours prior to embarkation at the port of transit.

About Covid-19 vaccinations in the Maldives

Travelers to the Maldives (including tourists) who 2 weeks before the trip have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination or the prescribed dose(s)of a vaccine that has been approved by the World Health Organization, Emergency Use Listing (EUL) or the Maldives Food and Drug Authority, or any other competent authority of the respective countries, still require to provide a negative PCR test for Covid-19 to enter the Maldives.

The sample for the specified PCR test must be taken no more than 96 hours before the scheduled departure time from the first port of embarkation en route to the Maldives. This requirement does not apply to children under one year old.

Who is allowed to arrive in the Maldives

Entrance is allowed to residents of any country* without restrictions, in line with the current visa regime rules. However those who enter the Maldives, must present a negative PCR test for Covid-19.

*From May 9, 2021 until further notice, some restrictions are imposed on arrivals from South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka): check-in at guest houses and hotels of the inhabited islands of arriving tourists from these countries will be suspended (with the exception of hotels and guest houses in secluded areas of the inhabited islands). Also, the entry of holders of work permits in the Maldives from the South Asian countries mentioned above has been temporarily suspended.

Tourism in the Maldives during the pandemic

Tourists must observe existing rules and regulations on restrictions on inter-island routes, which prohibit traveling between different vacation destinations - islands, resorts, cities almost completely. There are exceptions - more on them below.

In case a tourist has returned to his country of residence and was identified as COVID-19 positive within 14 days after the departure, he must inform the traveling agency he used. It will provide possibilities to effectively combat the spread of disease.

Asad Photo Maldives

Non-touristic visits to the Maldives

For travelers visiting the country on business or any other reason besides tourism, the requirements will be more strict. In such case, the obligatory online-registration for home quarantine is required to be done in advance through.

If you cannot pass an online-registration, than you can fill in appropriate documents in the local public health office. Travelers arriving for a short-term non-touristic visit (less than 14 days) shall obtain a special permission. A request for permission must be made by the local placement agency.

Starting 6 May 2021, persons arriving in the Maldives from other countries, with the exception of tourists, must comply with a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Health declaration

If you are planning a touristic visit, then a health declaration will be required before the departure from the home country. Such declaration must be filled in and sent through the Maldivian immigration online-portal. It must be submitted within 24 hours before the departure.

Tourists, who have had close contacts with COVID-19 suspected or confirmed patients within the recent 14 days or have symptoms such as high temperature, cough, sore throat, labored breathing shall not travel to the Maldives.

Hotel booking and visa

Confirmed hotel booking registered at traveling agency is required before arrival to the Maldives. It is also necessary for obtaining a visa.

All traveling establishments before re-opening for tourists are obliged to pass repetitive control. A tourist may spend a vacation in the Maldives at one resort only. It is required to minimize infection risks during transferring.

Resting at several resorts at once and moving between them is allowed. This authorization is valid for resorts that meet all mandatory requirements as recommended by HPA.

Split stay in the Maldives (from December 13, 2020)

Split stay gives you the opportunity to stay at multiple hotels/resorts/hostels during one trip to the Maldives. This makes it possible to see several places at once, try different hotels and vacation spots.

Split stay requirements:

1. Tourists who are initially staying at a tourist guesthouse or hotel in the Greater Male area as part of a split stay should undergo a PCR test for COVID-19 (even though a PCR test was made prior to arrival) if the duration stay in the Greater Male area is over 48 hours. Tourists can travel to a resort, safari or tourist guesthouse island if the result of this PCR test is negative.
2. Tourists who initially stay at a tourist resort, safari or tourist guest house island are not required to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test prior to traveling to a guest house or hotel in the Greater Male area.

Transit accommodation in guest houses or hotels in the Greater Male area (from December 13, 2020)

• Departing tourists who require PCR testing prior to departure as an immigration requirement of the destination country or airline, must obtain a negative PCR test prior to leaving the resort, safari, or tourist guesthouse island. If they need to transit at a guest house or hotel in the Greater Male area before leaving the Maldives, they must submit a negative PCR result at the time of check-in at the guest house or hotel.
• Tourists who are vacationing in the tourist island resorts and transit staying at a guest house or hotel in the Greater Male area prior to leaving the Maldives, must submit a negative PCR result upon check-in at the guest house or hotel.
• Arriving tourists who need to transit in the Greater Male area before traveling to resorts, safaris or islands with tourist guesthouses will not need PCR testing if their transit time in the Greater Male area is less than 48 hours.
• Tourists, who are in transit in the Greater Male, can leave the guest house or hotel during their stay. They can take part in outdoor activities, shop or dine in restaurants, but they must wear masks, maintain physical distance, and follow other recommended public health measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Staying in the Greater Male area (from December 13, 2020)

Tourists who are going to vacation in the Greater Male area must undergo a PCR test for COVID-19 before leaving the Maldives if their stay in the Greater Male area exceeds 48 hours. A sample for testing must be received no later than 72 hours before departure from the Maldives. The result of this PCR test must be negative for them to travel. The guest house or hotel must ensure that the traveler has received the PCR results prior to departure.

Starting on 27 January 2021, persons traveling from the Greater Male area to other inhabited islands must comply with a mandatory 10-day quarantine.

About the situation in the Greater Male area

From 27 January 2021:

1. All events, parties and gatherings in the Greater Male area are to be halted.
2. In the Greater Male area, a curfew is imposed from 24:00 to 4:00.

Short trips to resorts, safaris and island tourist guesthouses from hotels in the Greater Male area (from December 13, 2020)

Tourists staying at hotels and guesthouses in the Greater Male area can take a safari for short trips such as dinner. These safaris must obtain a one-day visit permit from the Ministry of Transport. These safaris are only permitted as part of the one-day visit procedure and are not eligible to host tourists for regular stays. These safaris must ensure that COVID-19 prevention measures such as wearing masks, physical distancing and hand hygiene are followed by tourists as well as crew members. Tourists are not allowed to visit resorts and islands with guest houses, except in cases of split stay.

During the flight

While being onboard tourists are obliged to follow airline company rules. The standard rule states that the crew must be informed about passengers with apparent viral disease symptoms:

• High temperature
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Labored breathing

At the airport

At the arrival terminal passengers are required to follow the rules and guidelines and also carry out the following order of actions:

• Put the protecting masks on when entering the airport
• Provide social distance
• Conduct hands sanitization when entering the terminal
• Pass temperature screening - non-contact temperature measuring
• Install “TraceEkee” social contact tracking app if possible

Which airlines fly to the Maldives

As of November-December 2020, the following airlines operate flights to the Maldives:

1. BRITISH AIRWAYS
2. EDELWEISS
3. LUFTHANSA
4. AUSTRIAN AIRLINES
5. TURKISH AIRLINES
6. QATAR AIRWAYS
7. FLY DUBAI
8. EMIRATES
9. ETIHAD AIRWAYS
10. GOAIR
11. INDIGO
12. AIR INDIA
13. SRILANKAN AIRLINES
14. AEROFLOT
15. SPICEJET
16. AZUR AIR UKRIANE
17. NORDWIND
18. AZUR AIR RUSSIA
19. AIR SEYCHELLES
20. ALITALIA
21. AIR FRANCE
22. UKRAINE INT'L AIRLINES
23. NEOS SPA
24. GULF AIR
25. ROSSIYA AIRLINE

Tourist escort from arrival till departure

A hotel or a resort accompanies tourists from the moment of arrival until the moment of departure at the airport. In such a case, if the departure time or date is delayed, the hotel must provide a dwelling and make sure the tourist has successfully left the country.

If the tourist was not able to leave on the planned day for reasons not attributable to him, for example, flying restrictions, the touristic venue must provide dwelling or organize stay for him until the departure date.

For transit tourists transferring to another transport such as a plane or a ship in the Maldives, it is strongly prohibited to visit any other place but his hotel room before the departure.

Coronavirus testing hut for tourists departing on liveaboards

Not far from the popular Hulhumale’ Safari Jetty area COVID-19 test sampling booth is set. It is the initiative of the National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the Housing Development Cooperation (HDC), the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Maldives Police Services (MPS).

Samples are taken on a complementary pre-order basis. The expenses for testing are covered by the National Boating Association.

Guesthouses resume work

The guest houses will resume their work from 15 October 2020. However, before you book a place to stay at the guesthouse, it is worth finding out if the guest house has work approvals from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health, HPA and the Emergency Operations Center (HEOC). If there is such an agreement, which guesthouses can report on their own, then booking a place for rest is safe.

Guest houses, which will be approved, fulfill the requirements to ensure comprehensive security for tourists and staff.

What to do in case of apparent coronavirus symptoms?

In case you observe apparent symptoms of acute viral illness such as cough, hard breathing, running nose, sore throat, high temperature, you should pass a COVID-19 test. It is a PCR-test, which is then sent to the laboratory. Before passing the test every tourist is on quarantine.

If the coronavirus is confirmed by PCR testing, the tourist must undergo a 14-day quarantine at the resort at his own expense. Check to see if your insurance covers these costs.

Important! Passengers who have been in close contact with a coronavirus patient will not be allowed to board for departure from the Maldives. They will need to go through a 14-day quarantine and take a PCR test for coronavirus. Tourists will bear the costs of testing and accommodation.

How to spend a vacation in the Maldives

A “Guideline for restarting tourism” is now in place on the islands. It provides detailed information on the peculiarities of tourism in the Maldives during coronavirus restrictions. The most important guidelines are written below.

Quarantine restrictions at the restaurants, cafes, hotels, spa and other venues

The same rules as in the most of European countries are applied here as well.

Services at the venues

When visiting restaurants and cafes you should thoroughly wash hands or use sanitizing liquid at the entrance. Self-service is not allowed. The staff is obliged to follow all the safety measures such as:

• The distance between tables must be not less than 1 meter.
• A printed menu is not recommended for use.
• Every venue should provide natural or artificial ventilation.
• The venue owners are obliged to guarantee observation of all the restrictions and rules, which were officially approved and released on August 2.
• The staff may require the full observation of social distance and other safety rules.

Visiting touristic sites

Gyms and fitness centers can be visited without restrictions but only after prior booking. The distance observation and enough free space are obligatory.

Spas and saunas may limit the number of visitors and conduct frequent disinfection.

Pools and water parks do not require a special booking. Although, there are certain restrictions here as well. The pools apply social distancing rules, so there might be queues and delays in entering. Before pool usage taking a shower is necessary.

Beaches. No personal protection means are required, but sunbeds must be placed observing the social distance. Local authorities recommend avoiding beach activities until the end of quarantine. Lidded litter bins must be in place.

New rules of visiting touristic sites by locals

By contrast with other countries tourists at the Maldives have certain unique favors. Unconventional measures are taken here to minimize risks. Maldivian authorities have made a special order fully prohibiting local citizens of visiting infrastructure created for tourists. Such restrictions are in place from August, 2 and will be active until full quarantine recall.

Launch of Maldives' first Covid-19 travel insurance

Covid-19 travel insurance has been introduced in the Maldives since October 2020. The Ministry of Tourism, together with Allied Insurance, developed an insurance policy that covers the costs of Covid-19 medical treatment, including costs of isolation, transportation to a medical facility.

You can purchase one of two packages: Allied Inbound and Allied Inbound Plus. The insurance can be taken out for 7 days or more. You must purchase it before flying to the Maldives.

Asad Photo Maldives

Hotels open in the Maldives at the moment

In total 149 resorts are getting ready for welcoming tourists in the Maldives, 3 yacht marinas and tourist resorts, 6 tourist hotels in Greater Male area, 137 tourist vessels, 58 guest houses in Greater Male area, 349 guest houses excluding Greater Male area, and 7 transit hotels.

As of 20 April 2021, already 149 resorts are ready for visiting according to the Ministry of Tourism of Maldives. Below, you can find a list of resorts in the Maldives where you can already book a room. We are following the news and will constantly update the information.