Your first 90 days in Maldives: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
There is no self-sponsored residence path: your status belongs to your employer, and leaving the job ends it immediately. Also plan for the dollar-access constraint before you commit — earning in rufiyaa and needing to remit dollars home has been genuinely difficult in recent years.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Have your employer or sponsor convert the work visa into a residence permit through Maldives Immigration's Xpat system, and complete the medical check
Within 15 days of arrival for the medical examination; the work permit must be approved before you travel
Nearly all long-stay status in the Maldives is employer-sponsored — there is no independent residence route for ordinary foreign nationals, and the corporate resident visa is tied to a registered business. Tourists get 30 days free on arrival.
Get your TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority
Employment income above the threshold and business activity require it; the Maldives introduced personal income tax in 2020 after decades without one.
Registered with MIRA, usually through the employer for salaried staff; the work permit number is the everyday identifier for immigration purposes.
Open a bank account
Bank of Maldives and MIB open accounts for work-permit holders on the permit and employer letter. The rufiyaa is pegged within a band to the US dollar and dollars circulate widely in the resort economy, but access to dollars at the official rate has been constrained — this is a real practical issue for anyone remitting money home.
Enrol in healthcare
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and ADK in Malé are the main facilities; the atolls have health centres only, and inter-atoll transfer by boat or seaplane is part of any serious medical event. The Aasandha scheme covers Maldivians rather than foreign residents, so employer or private insurance with evacuation cover to Sri Lanka or India is the standard arrangement.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence is not broadly recognised; residents obtain a Maldivian licence through Transport Authority testing. In practice most of the country has no roads to speak of — Malé and Hulhumalé are the exception, and motorbikes dominate there.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Maldives: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Maldives?
Have your employer or sponsor convert the work visa into a residence permit through Maldives Immigration's Xpat system, and complete the medical check — Within 15 days of arrival for the medical examination; the work permit must be approved before you travel. Nearly all long-stay status in the Maldives is employer-sponsored — there is no independent residence route for ordinary foreign nationals, and the corporate resident visa is tied to a registered business. Tourists get 30 days free on arrival. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority is Maldives's personal tax/ID number. Employment income above the threshold and business activity require it; the Maldives introduced personal income tax in 2020 after decades without one. Registered with MIRA, usually through the employer for salaried staff; the work permit number is the everyday identifier for immigration purposes.
Can I drive in Maldives on a US license?
A foreign licence is not broadly recognised; residents obtain a Maldivian licence through Transport Authority testing. In practice most of the country has no roads to speak of — Malé and Hulhumalé are the exception, and motorbikes dominate there. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Maldives?
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and ADK in Malé are the main facilities; the atolls have health centres only, and inter-atoll transfer by boat or seaplane is part of any serious medical event. The Aasandha scheme covers Maldivians rather than foreign residents, so employer or private insurance with evacuation cover to Sri Lanka or India is the standard arrangement. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Maldives's system treats foreign residents.