By The Escape desk · Last verified 7 October 2026
Singaporeans need no visa in advance for the Maldives: a free tourist visa is issued on arrival to visitors who meet the conditions. Maldives Immigration lists them as a passport with a machine-readable zone and at least one month’s validity, a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered resort, hotel or guesthouse, a confirmed return ticket and enough funds for the stay. Before you fly, every foreigner must submit the IMUGA Traveller Declaration online within 96 hours before arrival, free of charge, one per person including children, and another within 96 hours before departure. From the airport, your resort arranges the transfer by seaplane, domestic flight or speedboat, and charges for it separately.
The water really is that colour. Here is how to get from Changi to the jetty without a single surprise at the counter.
Quick facts
- Visa: tourist visa on arrival, free, for those meeting the conditions.
- IMUGA: mandatory Traveller Declaration, free, on the official IMUGA portal.
- Window: within 96 hours before arrival, and within 96 hours before departure.
- One each: every traveller, including children, submits individually.
- Arrival airport: Velana International Airport, next to Malé.
- Alcohol: do not bring any; it is not permitted through customs.
IMUGA, step by step
- Wait until you are within 96 hours of landing.
- Open the official IMUGA portal at imuga.immigration.gov.mv.
- Choose the Traveller Declaration for arrival.
- Enter passport details, flight, and your resort or guesthouse booking.
- Answer the customs and health questions.
- Submit and save the QR code for each person, children included.
- Within 96 hours before you leave, submit the departure declaration the same way. Many resorts remind guests, but it is your job.
Maldives Immigration states the declaration is submitted at no charge. A website asking for payment is not the official IMUGA portal.
Resort transfers: seaplane, flight or speedboat
Most resorts sit on their own island, so the final leg is booked through the resort, which meets you in the arrivals hall at Velana. The method depends on how far the resort is from Malé.
| Transfer | Typical use | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | Resorts in the atolls nearest Malé | Usually the cheapest and runs after dark |
| Seaplane | Resorts further out | Scenic but flies in daylight only; tight baggage limits |
| Domestic flight plus speedboat | Distant atolls | Flight to a regional airport, then a boat to the island |
Transfer prices are set by each resort and are often quoted per person, return, before tax. Ask for the transfer price in writing when you book, because for a short stay it can rival the room rate. If your flight lands late in the evening and your resort is seaplane-only, expect to spend a night near the airport.
Taxes on the bill: green tax and departure charges
Two Maldivian charges explain why the final bill is higher than the headline rate. As reported when the changes took effect, these are the rates for foreign visitors; confirm with your resort or airline, as they can change.
| Charge | Rate | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Green tax, most resorts and hotels | US$12 per person per night (from 1 January 2025) | Added to your accommodation bill |
| Green tax, guesthouses and hotels under 50 rooms | US$6 per person per night | Added to your accommodation bill |
| Departure tax, foreign economy passenger | US$50 (from 1 December 2024) | Included in your air ticket |
| Airport development fee, economy | US$50 | Included in your air ticket |
A worked example
Hui Min and Ravi land at Velana on Saturday 6 February 2027 and fly home on Thursday 11 February: five nights at a resort with more than 50 rooms.
- Arrival IMUGA: the 96-hour window opens on Tuesday 2 February. They each submit on Thursday 4 February.
- Departure IMUGA: the window opens on Sunday 7 February. They each submit on Tuesday 9 February from the resort.
- Green tax: 2 people × 5 nights × US$12 = US$120, added to the resort bill.
- Transfer: their flight lands mid-afternoon, leaving daylight for the seaplane the resort booked.
- Passports: both have well over a month’s validity, and their return ticket and prepaid booking are saved offline.
The WahLiao Verdict
The Maldives is easy on paperwork and hard on wallets, so focus your attention on the transfer. Ask for the transfer price before you book the room, choose a flight that lands in daylight if your resort is seaplane-only, and submit IMUGA twice: once three days before landing and once two days before leaving. Leave the duty-free wine at Changi.
Questions people ask
Does IMUGA cost anything?
No. Maldives Immigration says the Traveller Declaration is submitted at no charge on the official portal.
Do children need their own IMUGA?
Yes. Each traveller, including children, needs an individual submission.
Can I arrive without a hotel booking?
Not for a tourist visa. Immigration requires a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered facility.
Can I take a seaplane at night?
No. Seaplanes fly in daylight, so late arrivals usually stay overnight near Malé or switch to a speedboat if the resort is close enough.
Sources: Maldives Immigration, tourist visa conditions and Traveller Declaration; Maldives Immigration, official IMUGA portal; The Points Guy, reporting on departure tax and green tax changes; KPMG, summary of the 2024 tourism tax and airport fee amendments. The Escape explains; it does not advise.
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