Traveling Info

Visa

To enter Maldives no pre-arrival visa is required. A thirty day free visa is issued on arrival for all Nationalities

Medical information

Inflammation of the outer or the middle ear is very common, since the temperature of the ocean of 30 degrees invites you to stay for hours. To prevent injuries from marine animals or corals, you should only go snorkeling, swimming or diving with water shoes.

For further up-to-date medical information, please visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Practical Information

Difference to Central European Time

Telephone

The area code of Maldives is 00960.

The general emergency number in Maldives is 119.

Money

The currency of the Maldives is called the Rufiyah, which is linked to the dollar at around 12.75 Rufiyah to the dollar. However, most resorts and many local islands will accept the USdollar (bring small denominations such as $1, $5 and $10) as payment. Most larger resorts also take Euros, pounds sterling, yen and other major currencies - so check with your resort before converting money into local currency because it is usually not necessary. If you try to pay your room bill at large resorts in Rufiyah, the resort is likely to convert it back to dollars, so you effectively lose out twice on the exchange rate.

Banks are located in Male and some of the larger inhabited islands. You won't find banks or ATM machines at resorts or smaller local islands. Small shops on local islands are unlikely to be able to accept credit card payment for goods, so make sure you have enough cash to cover your shopping needs before you leave your resort. Do be aware that change for items purchased on local islands will be given in Rufiya. Some resort islands will cash travellers' cheques for dollars, but will charge you a hefty commission.

Holidays

For up-to-date national holidays, please visit Maldives Holiday Calendar.