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Before diving into the Maldives, there is one formality travellers often forget amid the excitement of planning: the arrival card, officially called the Imuga declaration (Traveller Declaration). It is mandatory for every traveller, children and babies included, and can only be submitted within the 96 hours before your flight. Free on the official portal, it ends with a QR code to show at immigration. To avoid depending on this very short window, you can hand the process over to Visamundi today: we submit your declaration at the right time.

01 · Key facts

The Imuga declaration, a mandatory formality to enter the Maldives

100% online

The declaration is completed online, from a computer or a smartphone, with no visit to an embassy.

Free

There is no government fee for the Imuga declaration, whatever your nationality.

96 h before the flight

The form can only be submitted within the 4 days before your flight: you cannot do it weeks in advance.

Example of an Imuga declaration confirmation with QR code
Example of an Imuga confirmation received by email (QR code hidden).

The Imuga declaration is the online arrival form of the Maldives immigration authorities. It collects your passport, flight and accommodation details, along with a health section and a customs declaration.

Once the declaration is approved, you receive a confirmation with a personal QR code by email. Immigration officers scan this QR code when you land at Malé airport.

Imuga does not replace the visa: it is a separate formality, on top of the tourist visa issued free of charge on arrival.

Official name
Imuga — Traveller Declaration
Type of document
Electronic arrival card (travel declaration)
Government fee
None
Who must apply
Everyone, children and babies included
Submission window
Within 96 hours before the flight
Document issued
Confirmation QR code sent by email

02 · Eligibility

Who needs to complete the Imuga declaration?

The rule set by the Maldives authorities is simple: every single traveller is concerned. Holiday, business trip or simple transit, the declaration is required whatever the purpose of your stay.

The obligation is individual. Each member of the group needs their own declaration and their own QR code, including children and babies. If you travel as a family, plan a separate declaration for each person.

Good to know
Introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Imuga declaration asked passengers for their travel history and flight details. The form remained mandatory after health restrictions were lifted. Only Maldivian citizens have been exempt since November 2023, following complaints that the formality was pointless for returning to their own country.

As for the visa, the Maldives welcome travellers of all nationalities with a free tourist visa issued on arrival, valid for a 30-day stay. It is granted on presentation of a valid passport, a return or onward ticket and a confirmed accommodation booking (or sufficient funds). The Imuga declaration comes on top of this visa: it does not replace it.

03 · The process

Completing the Imuga declaration step by step

  1. 1
    Passport

    At the start, you can upload a copy of your passport to pre-fill the form, or skip this step and enter your details manually.

    Visamundi handles it· €29 incl. VAT
  2. 2
    Purpose of stay

    State why you are visiting the Maldives: tourism, business, visiting friends or relatives…

  3. 3
    Identity photo

    Add a recent photo of the traveller. A selfie works if it meets passport-photo criteria: light, plain background, face forward and uncovered, neutral expression.

  4. 4
    Flights

    Enter the details of your arrival and return flights: keep your booking at hand.

  5. 5
    Accommodation

    Pick your property from a predefined list: resort, hotel or guesthouse. You therefore need the exact name of where you are staying.

  6. 6
    Health and customs

    The form ends with a health section, the list of countries recently visited and a customs declaration about your luggage and personal belongings.

A 96-hour window only
The authorities' system only accepts the declaration within the 96 hours before your flight, i.e. 4 days at most before departure. It cannot be submitted earlier. To avoid missing it, or filling in the form in the boarding queue, you can place your request with Visamundi whenever you like: our experts submit it at exactly the right time.

04 · Required documents

Documents to prepare

The list is short, but having these items at hand will save you precious time when filling in the declaration.

For each traveller
  • Passport valid for at least 6 monthsThe details on the identity page, and ideally a clear scan or photo of that page to upload. The 6 months are counted from the date you leave the Maldives.
  • Digital identity photoA recent photo or a selfie on a light, plain background, face forward and fully visible.
  • Outbound and return flight detailsFlight numbers and dates, as shown on your booking.
  • Name of your accommodationOverwater resort, hotel or local guesthouse: the property is selected from the list in the form.

05 · The QR code

After submission: your QR code

Once your details are checked and submitted, the confirmation of your declaration is sent to you by email. It contains your QR code, a traveller code and a token that lets you edit the declaration if needed.

Save the QR code on your smartphone and take a screenshot in case of network issues, or print it to be safe. You will show it to immigration officers when you land.

Delayed or cancelled flight
If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the QR code you obtained is no longer valid. You must submit a new declaration with your updated flight details, again within the 96 hours before the new flight.

06 · Before you go

Final points to check

The Maldives enforce strict customs rules. Narcotics, pornography, religious idols and publications contrary to Islam are prohibited. Alcohol and pork products require authorisation: do not pack them. Personal medication is allowed with its prescription.

Key takeaways on the Imuga declaration

The Imuga declaration is mandatory for all travellers, babies included, and free on the official portal. Its only difficulty is timing: it is submitted within the 96 hours before the flight, not earlier, and must be redone if the flight changes. Prepare your passport, photo, flights and accommodation name, and keep your QR code available offline.

Once this formality is done, it is time to pack. The archipelago and its 26 atolls promise a true escape: snorkelling among manta rays and sea turtles, crystal-clear lagoons at 29 °C all year round, or simply the calm of a white-sand beach.

Safety

Travel advisories for Maldives

The vigilance level recommended by five foreign ministries, on a shared scale.

Average level

2Increased caution

Terrorism and swimming-related risks.

  • US Department of StateAdvice dated October 7, 2025

    Increased caution · Maldives - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

    Read the advice

  • Global Affairs CanadaAdvice dated September 24, 2026

    Increased caution · Maldives — Exercise a high degree of caution

    Read the advice

  • German Federal Foreign OfficeAdvice dated July 7, 2026

    Normal precautions · Maldives: Travel and Safety Information

    Read the advice

  • UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Advice dated August 12, 2026

    Normal precautions · Maldives travel advice

    Read the advice

  • France DiplomatieAdvice dated September 15, 2026

    Increased caution · Maldives: Travel Advice

    Read the advice

Levels published by the ministries cited, reproduced unchanged. Visamundi is a private agency with no ties to these administrations.

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