An agreement is about to be signed between the Maldivian State and the European Union concerning the visa-free movement of Maldivian citizens within the Schengen area. As the economic situation in the Maldives is considered stable and prosperous, Europe sees no risk of immigration and will grant this facility in a few weeks' time. Maldivians will thus be able to stay in any European country for up to 90 days with just their passport.
Maldives joins Indian Ocean visa-free club
Only three Indian Ocean countries currently benefit from this facility: 🇸🇨Seychelles, 🇲🇺Mauritius and 🇰🇲Comoros. With this agreement, the Maldives will become the fourth country in the region to allow its citizens to travel visa-free within the Schengen area.
The power of the Maldivian passport strengthened
This agreement also reinforces the power of the Maldivian passport on the international stage. According to the annual rankings of the consulting firm Henley & PartnersMauritius has a powerful passport, ranking 31st in the world. By joining the Schengen area, the Maldivian passport is gaining in importance and attractiveness for its holders.
Health precautions for Maldivian travellers
Despite the facilitation of travel between Maldives and Europe, it is important to remember that travelers should take certain health precautions before departure. Maldivians are advised to consult their GP or an International Vaccination Center well in advance of their departure date, to allow for booster vaccinations and specific health recommendations.
Visa-free travel: a growing global trend?
The agreement between the Maldives and the European Union is part of a growing trend in travel facilitation worldwide. More and more countries are seeking to facilitate visa-free access to their territories in order to boost tourism and cultural and economic exchanges. This can be seen, for example, in the easing of visa formalities, or in the establishment of bilateral and multilateral agreements on the movement of people.
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