Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Maldives
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Severe drug penalties
Importing or possessing drugs carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty.
Alcohol restrictions
Possession, consumption, or being intoxicated outside of resorts and liveaboards is taken seriously by police.
Same-sex relations
Same-sex relations are illegal and carry the risk of lengthy prison sentences and fines.
Religious restrictions
Blasphemy, criticism of Islam, and proselytizing by non-Muslims are illegal. This includes public possession or distribution of non-Muslim religious materials like the Bible.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Dengue
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The Maldives grants a free 30-day visa on arrival to citizens of all countries, excluding those who are visa-exempt. However, entry is denied to Israeli passports.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Maldives cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities. Terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaida and Daesh, have called on their supporters to carry out terrorist attacks in response to the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The conflict could also motivate individuals to carry out attacks, including in Maldives. The Maldivian authorities have disrupted a number of terrorist attack plans since 2017 and have made several arrests relating to attack planning, recruitment of terrorist fighters and spreading extremist ideology. However, a risk from terrorism remains. Examples of attacks in the last 5 years include: in 2025, a terrorist plot was foiled. Suspects are awaiting trial. in 2022, a politician was attacked with a knife and injured in the Hulhumalé area of Malé in 2021, a high-profile politician and a number of bystanders were injured by the detonation of an improvised explosive device ( IED ) in central Malé in 2020, an arson attack on a police speedboat in Laamu Gan in 2020, knife attacks that injured 3 foreigners in Hulhumalé which were claimed by Daesh supporters
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex relations are illegal and if you are convicted, you could get a fine or a lengthy prison sentence. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Dial toll-free number 1478 or (+960) 9790070 to contact the tourist police at anytime for information or assistance.
- •Most visitors to the Maldives stay in “resort hotels” where crime levels are relatively low.
- •The sea around the Maldives can have strong tidal currents and a number of tourists drown every year. You should always take local advice before entering the sea.
- •Maldives has very strong anti-drugs laws.
- •Same-sex relations are illegal and convicted offenders could face lengthy prison sentences and fines.
- •Cases of sexual harassment are not rare in Maldives. Solo female should be vigilant.
Staying healthy
- •Health facilities are established in each inhabited island with island level primary health centres, followed by a higher level of health facilities and speciality care hospitals at the atol…
- •There are no serious problems with diseases in the Maldives.
- •Most of the problems come from diving or sun-related injuries.
- •Lots of the resorts have their own doctor or nurse and most are within easy reach of the decompression chambers.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
D / G / J / K / L · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory in the Maldives as a 10% service charge is added to everything, although it is not certain that the money is passed on to the staff.
Cash vs. Card
The local currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa, denoted by the symbol "Rf" or "MRF" (ISO code: MVR). It is divided into 100 laari. However by law, resorts price services in US dollars and require payment in hard currency (or credit card). Most hotels have a shop but this is limited to diving and holiday essentials (sun cream, sarongs, disposable cameras, etc.) Some excursions from resorts will take y
Show the receipts (9 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09