Maldives•AsiaWork Visa (Resident Visa)
At a Glance
Processing Time
3 days
Application Fee
50 MVR
Stay Duration
Up to 5 years
Renewable
Varies
Job Offer
Not Required
Dependents
Allowed
PR Pathway
No
This visa does not offer a direct route to permanent residency.Remote Work
Not Required
Overview
Employment visa for foreign nationals with valid Employment Approval from Ministry of Human Resources. Required for all expatriates working in Maldives. Tied to employment contract.
The Work Visa is the primary employment visa for foreign nationals working in the Maldives. All employment is subject to obtaining an Employment Approval (EA) from the Ministry of Economic Development. The visa is valid as long as the EA is valid and the employee remains employed by the sponsoring company.
Annual Visa Allocation
65,000 visas per year
The annual cap is determined by the Minister responsible for employment policy. For 2024, the quota was set at 65,000 for combined employment-related residence permits, a decrease from 81,000 in 2023. Historical data indicates approximately 50% utilization of the previous year's quota.
No lottery system
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Requirements
Documentation
Applicant Documents
Valid passport
Original passport valid for employment period
Passport photo
Recent biometric photograph
Medical certificate
From approved hospital/clinic showing health clearance
Health insurance
Valid health insurance coverage during stay
Criminal record certificate
Police clearance from country of origin
OptionalSponsor Documents
Employment Approval (EA)
Valid Employment Approval from Ministry of Economic Development
Employment contract
Signed employment agreement
Company registration documents
Business registration and company details
Letter of employment
Formal offer and employment details
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Advantages
- Allows full-time employment
- Extendable through employer
- Family dependents can be sponsored
- Professional category employment approved
Considerations
- Employer-dependent status
- Requires Employment Approval before entry
- Tied to employment contract
- Work permit must be obtained within 15 days
- Limited to 3-month validity of EA
Application Process
Employer obtains Employment Approval
Employer applies for EA from Ministry of Economic Development via workpermit.egov.mv
Employee receives EA
Employment Approval document issued to employee (valid for 90 days from issue)
Enter Maldives
Employee travels to Maldives with copy of EA and declares it in Embarkation form
Employer applies for Work Visa
Employer submits Work Visa application within 15 days of employee arrival via IMUGA or Xpat Online System
Medical examination
Employee completes medical check-up from approved hospital/clinic if required
Visa issuance
Work Visa stamped in passport within 3 days of application
Application Forms
Employment Approval Application
Work Visa Application (via Xpat)
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