Maldives

Scope

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism operates a cruising-permit scheme for foreign tourist vessels, under regulations including Regulation R-2 of 2024 and its amendments. Confirm with the Ministry whether the permit covers a particular non-commercial private sailing yacht or small recreational craft, based on its use and category. Tourism permits are separate from customs, immigration and port-entry formalities; obtaining one does not complete the others.

Ports of entry and departure

Section 22 of the Maldives Immigration Act 2007 requires foreign vessels to enter and leave through authorized seaports, except in emergencies or force majeure; section 37 defines authorized ports. The Ministry of Tourism's foreign tourist vessel rules also require entry and departure through official ports. No complete official list of private-yacht clearance ports was found. Do not assume that a general marina or tourist port is an authorized port of entry. Before departure, confirm designated ports and yacht-clearance capability with Immigration, Customs and the Ministry of Tourism.

Pre-arrival notification

OneGov's foreign-vessel cruising-permit information requires applications at least five days before expected arrival. This deadline applies only to vessels required to obtain that permit; first confirm whether it covers the vessel with the Ministry of Tourism. The Immigration Department's tourist visa page also requires foreign travellers to submit a Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before arrival, but the process for yacht crew arriving by sea is not separately described. Confirm permits, crew information and submission channels with the Ministry of Tourism, Immigration and an agent in advance.

Crew and passenger entry

The Immigration Act requires foreign vessels to complete immigration inspection before crew or passengers may go ashore. Authorities may request crew/passenger lists, identity documents and vessel papers. Landing visas and Traveller Declarations described on the tourist visa page are general traveller information and should not automatically be assumed to apply to all yacht crew or guests aboard. Confirm visa, list, document and shore-leave requirements for every person with immigration at the intended port.

Vessel customs

The Ministry of Tourism administers foreign tourist vessel cruising permits; customs clearance on entry is a separate process. A cruising permit does not replace a customs declaration. OneGov says applications in this permit category must be made at least five days before arrival. Foreign vessels must also use authorized seaports and complete immigration inspection. Public information does not confirm whether every non-commercial private yacht falls within the foreign tourist vessel permit category, nor establish its temporary-import period, guarantee or uniform document list. Confirm separately with the Ministry of Tourism, Customs and Immigration according to the vessel's use.

Quarantine and biosecurity

A 2025 Ministry of Agriculture notice requires advance phytosanitary import permits for regulated plants and plant products and declaration to plant-protection inspectors at designated entry points. The official live-animal import application includes sea/vessel information, indicating that animal imports require permits under the rules; however, procedures for pets aboard private yachts and food stores remain to be confirmed. Immigration and health authorities also have health requirements related to yellow-fever travel history. Before arrival, confirm inspection location, certificates and handling of onboard items with the Ministry of Agriculture, port health and Customs.

The Maldives Civil Aviation Authority notice lists alcoholic beverages, pork and pork products, dogs and dangerous animals, CITES-controlled species, weapons and ammunition, spearguns, explosives and specified chemicals as items that passengers or crew may not bring in without permission. Narcotics and psychotropic drugs, e-cigarettes and related products, pornographic material, idols for worship, live pigs and materials contrary to Islamic tenets are listed as prohibited. This notice applies to international air passengers and crew; it is not a complete rule for goods aboard private yachts.

Foreign yachts must appoint a local vessel agent authorized by Maldives Customs before arrival and declare onboard goods and ship's stores to the agent and Customs. Confirm individually how Customs treats alcohol, pork products, medicines, weapons, drones, radio equipment, plants/animals and their products, according to use, whether they remain aboard, quantity and permit requirements. Do not infer that an item may be carried or kept aboard from passenger-baggage rules alone.

Non-official shipping guidance: BOSS's Malé vessel guide says alcohol or pork products in bonded stores aboard may be sealed by Customs on arrival. This information comes from a vessel-services provider and is not a confirmed official yacht-specific requirement. Ask the appointed agent to confirm declarations, sealing and departure handling for the vessel with Customs.

Verification status: To be confirmed. Passenger restricted-item categories and the general requirement for foreign tourist vessels to appoint an authorized agent were checked; application to items aboard private yachts remains to be confirmed with Customs.

Port procedures

If the vessel falls within the foreign tourist vessel permit category, it must enter/depart through an official port, follow the Ministry of Tourism's regulations and arrange a local agent and permit application as required. OneGov guidance says to apply at least five days in advance. Complete immigration inspection before crew or passengers go ashore; customs entry clearance is separate. Public information does not provide a complete yacht-port list, office hours, VHF channels or uniform sequence of formalities. Before sailing, have the agent confirm arrangements for this call with the Ministry of Tourism, Immigration, Customs and port health.

No uniform departure fee schedule applying to all private yachts was found. Current Maldives foreign-yacht rules provide a separate cruising-permit fee. The official Ministry of Tourism form says foreign vessels under 100 GRT may cruise and anchor for the first 90 days without paying that permit fee; a foreign vessel classified as a yacht and over 100 GRT pays USD 1,000 for a cruising permit. A stay beyond 90 days, an extension or carrying passengers other than crew may result in other fees and permits based on tonnage, stay or the number of crew/passengers. These are cruising/passenger-permit fees, not a uniform departure charge. Before departure, have the agent confirm applicable charges and payment requirements with the Ministry of Tourism, MIRA and Customs.