Maldives
Is a Work Permit Required in the Maldives?
In the Maldives, the requirement for a work permit for foreign nationals is influenced by several factors unique to the island nation. One of the primary reasons is to protect employment opportunities for Maldivian citizens. With a relatively small population and a high reliance on the tourism and fishing industries, the Maldivian government aims to ensure that its citizens have priority access to available jobs. By requiring work permits, the government can regulate the employment of foreign workers, ensuring they fill positions with a clear shortage of local expertise.
As of 2024/2025, the Maldives continues to strengthen its work permit system to support critical sectors like tourism, hospitality, and construction. Supporting the tourism industry is a vital reason for the work permit system in the Maldives. The tourism sector, being the backbone of the Maldivian economy, requires diverse skills and expertise, and the work permit system allows the government to attract skilled foreign professionals who contribute to maintaining high standards.
Ensuring compliance with labor laws and standards is a key aspect of the Maldives’ work permit system. The government uses this process to make sure that foreign workers are employed under conditions that adhere to Maldivian labor regulations. This includes guaranteeing fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to social security benefits. Recent updates in 2024/2025 focus on enforcing stricter labor protections to prevent the exploitation of foreign workers.
About the Maldives Job Market
The Maldives is most famous for its tourism and thus offers many employment opportunities in the hospitality industry. The tourism industry accounts for 28% of the GDP and more than 60% of forex receipts. The other principal contributors to its economy are fishing and shipping.
Let us look at key information about the Maldivian job market.
Number of Expats:
178,156
Expats Job Websites:
Popular Industries for Expats:
Hospitality, F&B, Sales Marketing, Teaching, Banking, Shipping, and Construction.
Types of Maldives Work Visa Available
To hire foreign employees in the Maldives, you need an Employment Approval (EA) from the Permits and Foreign Employment Division (PFED) of Maldives Immigration. The EA is a written statement that grants permission for foreigners to work in the Maldives. The Maldives grants a 30-day tourist visa to visitors of all nationalities, but it does not validate the right to work in the country. The online work permit Maldives is made available under two categories:
- Work Visa: This is the Maldives work visa that allows a foreigner to stay here for employment purposes. The individual should possess a valid work permit issued by the Ministry of Economic Development.
- Business Visa: This visa is issued to a foreign national for business or work approved by a Government authority. The person’s purpose of visit, along with a letter from an overseas enterprise stating the individual’s competency, is required. This multiple-entry visa is valid for up to 90 days.
Requirements for a Maldives Work Visa by Employers
Maldives Immigration grants the Maldives Work Visa based on Employment Approval issued by PPED. An employer needs to apply for the EA for their employee. The process consists of 3 stages: Online Preliminary Check, Verification, and Approval. Know the categories under which this EA is issued:
- Commercial Category: EA is requested by companies to employ foreigners for commercial purposes. It includes both professional and non-professional occupations. Most companies hiring foreign employees fall under this category.
- Government Category: This EA is requested by government authorities or government-shared companies. Applying for this category requires a Quota.
- Domestic Category: This EA is requested by individuals for the purpose of domestic work. It comes under the non-professional category occupations like domestic servant/househelp, attendant, driver, etc.
Check the list of other documents required for a Maldives work visa:
- Employee’s passport Biodata (valid for more than one year)
- Passport size photo
- Letter of appointment stating all details of employer, employee and the employment
- Relevant educational/professional certifications of the employee
- Payment of Maldives work visa fee
Requirements for a Maldives Work Visa by Employees
An employee must obtain their work permit within 15 days from their arrival date into the country. This pre-period time is to seek the appropriate Employment Approval that grants official permission to work in the Maldives. The following documents are required to apply for an online work permit Maldives:
A machine-readable zone (MRZ) Passport Bio-data page copy (Valid for one year)
- A valid Employment Approval not exceeding 90 days from date of arrival
- Disembarkation/Embarkation Card approved by Maldives Immigration
- A medical report issued from a Hospital/Clinic authorized by a relevant government authority
- Yellow Fever Vaccine Certificate (If applicable)
- Passport
- Passport size photo
For EA under the domestic category, additional documents like medical and police reports acquired from the home country, a letter from the owner of the residence, recognized medical certificates, and a driver’s license copy are required.
Work Permit Maldives Application Process
An employer begins the process of a Maldives work visa by applying for their employee’s EA.
- Fill the work visa application form Maldives for your employee online via https://workpermit.egov.mv
- Submit all the required documents mentioned above for the EA.
- Once approved, provide a copy of the Employment Approval.
- Pay the Maldives work visa fees
- Submit the application within 15 days of the employee’s arrival
- Submit the medical health report
- Work visa submission receipt
Cost of Maldives Work Visa
Maldives visa on arrival for all tourists is free of cost. However, a Maldives work visa fee has to be paid by the employer for their foreign employee. This fee has to be paid for a minimum of 3 months from the date of submission of the application.
Maldives work permit visa cost: $3.25* (MVR 50)
Maldives business visa cost: $48.5* (MVR 750)
*The Maldives government websites have mentioned the prices in Maldivian Rufiyaa. However, these prices can vary depending on the fluctuating currency rates.
Timeframe for Maldives Work Visa Application
Since the Maldives provides a visa on arrival for all visitors, processing takes a few hours. But the Maldives work visa processing time depends on getting the EA. The processing is done within 48 hours of submission of the Maldives work visa application form. Therefore, the work visa process will take three working days, and the applicant is informed when the passport is ready for collection.
How Does Multiplier Help With Work Permit?
Multiplier is a Global EOR Solution with experience in providing and managing an HR suite. With local entities in over 150 countries, our team of experts can handle the process of onboarding and managing employees for global business organizations.
Instead of relying on a Maldives work permit agent, you can request a work permit via our SaaS-based solution. Our experienced team will offer a one-stop solution in this process by taƒmulking care of all documentation. Thus, you will always be kept in the loop at every step of development in acquiring the work permit.
