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Maldives

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
247
Top destination, 2023
Japan
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
375
UK visas issued, 2025
202
NationalityMVISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<MVMALDIVES<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
MV7<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of the Maldives need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from the Maldives move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Japan128
  2. New Zealand27
  3. Hungary25
  4. United States20
  5. Australia10
  6. Germany9
  7. Switzerland6
  8. Netherlands5
  9. Norway3
  10. Sweden3
  11. Denmark2
  12. Belgium2
  13. Finland2
  14. Italy2
  15. Slovenia1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

124247200020032006200920122015201820212023
1242472000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200035
200160
200297
200383
200498
200581
2006124
2007168
2008132
2009164
2010171
2011121
2012154
2013171
2014182
2015194
2016192
2017188
2018203
2019244
202079
202192
2022170
2023247
Share going to the top destination
51.8%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in the Maldives who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Sri Lanka1,424
  2. Australia712
  3. India574
  4. Seychelles38
  5. Denmark14
  6. Norway4
  7. Slovenia3
  8. Slovakia1
  9. Lithuania1
  10. Liechtenstein1
  11. Costa Rica1

Living abroad by year

1,3872,77319901995200020052010201520202024
1,3872,77319902000201020202024
Data table
19901,685
19951,092
2000824
20051,432
20102,624
20152,694
20202,703
20242,773
Living abroad, 2024
2,773
Change since 2000
+236.5%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
51.4%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of the Maldives by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2134
  2. A2119
  3. G268
  4. J110
  5. G49
  6. F17
  7. G15
  8. L25
  9. A15
  10. A33

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

268536201720182019202020212022202320242025
26853620172019202120232025
Data table
2017182
2018273
2019352
2020166
2021135
2022325
2023536
2024488
2025375
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR12
Immigrant visas, FY2025
2
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in the Maldives who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of the Maldives with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

20402015201620172019202220232024
20402015201720222024
Data table
201510
201610
201710
201910
202210
202340
202420
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens20
Green cards, FY2024 (born in the Maldives)
20
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in the Maldives)
0
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
750
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of the Maldives (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in the Maldives (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study179
  2. Work17
  3. Family3
  4. Other3

Visas issued by year

115229201020122014201620182020202220242025
115229201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010100
2011102
201283
2013121
2014131
2015119
2016109
2017131
2018148
2019151
2020104
2021141
2022177
2023196
2024229
2025202
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
340
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of the Maldives, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

6112005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182020–212022–232024–252025–26
6112005–062009–102013–142017–182022–232025–26
Data table
2005–063
2006–078
2007–087
2008–092
2009–101
2010–111
2011–122
2012–132
2013–142
2014–153
2015–164
2016–174
2017–181
2018–193
2020–212
2021–222
2022–2311
2023–245
2024–2511
2025–265
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills5
Granted, 2025–26
5
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of the Maldives living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

48952012201420162018202220242025
48952012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201241
201346
201442
201549
201652
201748
201853
201953
202276
202395
202488
202589
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident26
  2. Student24
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National12
  4. Dependent6
  5. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services6
  6. Intra-company Transferee5
  7. Skilled Labor3
  8. Professor2
  9. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident2
  10. Trainee1
Residents, December 2025
89
In work-related statuses
17
Share in work-related statuses
19.1%
Students
24
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of the Maldives in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education67
  2. Family28
  3. Other reasons12
  4. Work6
First permits by country
  1. Hungary28
  2. Spain24
  3. Germany11
  4. Czechia8
  5. Switzerland7
  6. Malta6
  7. Ireland5
  8. Poland4
  9. Lithuania3
  10. Netherlands3
  11. Portugal3
  12. Italy2
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities6
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
6
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
11
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
108
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
502
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
19
Changed status into work, 2025
7
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of the Maldives in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025200101
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025101
Austria202523-1
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in the Maldives

Countries with an embassy or consulate in the Maldives, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Japan1——
Palestine1——
Saudi Arabia1——
United Arab Emirates1——
Countries
5
Missions
5
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by the Maldives, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

482000200320062009201220152018202120242025
48200020052010201520202025
Data table
20002
20012
20022
20032
20043
20052
20063
20078
20086
20095
20103
20113
20123
20133
20143
20154
20164
20174
20184
20194
20205
20215
20225
20235
20246
20256
Remittances received, 2025
US$6 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.08%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more