Maldives Parliament Passes Resolution for Pre-Approved Tourist Visa

The Maldives Parliament has passed a resolution to improve the tourist visa acquisition process. The motion, spearheaded by Mahchangoalhi South MP Ahmed Haitham, proposes the implementation of pre-approved visas upon arrival and introducing electronic authorisation services for tourists.

Under the proposed resolution, tourists visiting the Maldives would be eligible for a free 30-day visa upon application. This initiative seeks to address the current challenges tourists encounter when obtaining visas upon arrival, such as lengthy waiting times and bureaucratic hurdles, which have occasionally led to tourists being compelled to return without visas.

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The resolution passed with 29 members in favour unanimously and only two members voting against it. 

Over the past five years, a notable 9,940 individuals have been deported due to visa-related matters, a statistic that the resolution aims to rectify. By implementing a pre-approval system, the resolution seeks to mitigate these challenges and enhance the overall tourist experience.

The proposed reforms align with the government’s ambitious target of attracting two million tourists this year; the Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists last year.