To enter the Maldives no pre-arrival visa is required. A thirty-day free visa is issued on arrival for all Nationalities; provided: Should possess a valid passport with Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) -(standard ICAO Annex 9, chapter 3.10. 1) and should have at least 6 months validity.
A fee of INR 3350 (or MVR 750) is to be paid in case of an extension of visa for a total duration of 90 days.
The admissions office at your college may have already asked you to fill out applications and paperwork and send documents such as transcripts and test scores, but you're not off the hook yet.
Now you have to make sure that you have all of the (additional) travel documents required for studying abroad. Gather these six documents before traveling, and check-in with your school and your country's embassy to ensure you have everything you need.
Passport
You should apply as early as possible early for your passport, as it may take up to 10 weeks to receive the final document in the mail.
Check with the country you will be studying in and see their passport requirements. Some may ask that you have a passport for at least six months after your trip is complete.
Student Visa
Each country’s visa has a different application, but you must get one if you want to study abroad. You will work with the embassy of the country you want to study in to find details on what their requirements are.
Be prepared to apply at least two months in advance (do not wait to apply once abroad) and have proof of a residence abroad, intent to depart from the country upon completion of your studies, proof of financial support, a passport, and an acceptance letter to your college.
Proof of Vaccinations
Be sure to check the vaccination requirements of the country you're studying in. Some countries, especially countries in Africa and Asia, require students to have an international certificate of vaccinations before they depart for their studies abroad, which can be found at the local Department of Health and some doctors' offices.
Even if you're not studying in a country that requires this, it may be helpful to have in case you decide to travel to one during your studies.
Some colleges may also require certain vaccinations, so make sure you check with your school too and obtain proof that you have received the vaccinations your country of study and college has required.
Proof of Age Card
Your country's identification card may not be accepted in your country of study. Proof of age card can help identify you in your country of study and serve as age proof when you want to visit a club or purchase alcohol.
Check with the Maldives immigration office to be sure if there is an exception in your case, particularly for their identification options and the application process.
Letter from Your Doctor
Some countries will not let you enter with medications. Make sure that you get a letter from your doctor for the medications you are bringing, and check the laws in your country of study to make sure you are safely bringing your medications with you abroad.
Copies of Travel Documents
Make two photocopies of all your travel documents in case of an emergency. Leave one copy with a trusted person at home and carry the other with you away from your other documents. That way, in case you lose your documents or get them stolen from you, you won’t have to go through the hassle of regaining them in a foreign country.
The process to study abroad can seem like a lot, but planning can save you from traveling stress when you are ready to begin your studies abroad.
- Application Form.
- Passport.
- Passport Size photo.
- Valid work visa / Employment Approval (Copy)
- Marriage certificate.
- If Children (Birth Certificate)
- Health Insurance.
- Medical Report.
There is a possibility for you to be denied entry into the Maldives. Any person arriving in the Maldives may be refused entry, if the Immigration officer during questioning or interviewing the passenger has reasonable grounds (not necessarily solid proof) that the person is carrying fraudulent travel documents. Other reasons that may lead to the denied entry include:
- Suspects the apparent intention of the possible disruption of harmony and unlawful activities.
- Has strong anti-semantic religious or political views.
Caution: The right to refuse an entry lies at the discretion of the Immigration and not as a right to claim entry.
Once in the Maldives, you can also be deported from the country for one reason or the other. Any person staying in the Maldives could be extradited from the Maldives immediately if the person concerned is:
- Found working on a Tourist Visa
- Found participating in any unlawful activity or even the intention to participate or initiate an unlawful activity
- Suspected of disrupting the religious or political harmony
- Reported to have become a public nuisance
- Found with expired stay permit
- Found with expired Work Permit
The removal could be translated as deportation from the Maldives until such time, the Immigration seems fit.
University documents:
- Conditional acceptance letter
- Unconditional acceptance letter
- All Payment receipts
Medical documents:
- Medical report (if applicable)
- Yellow fever card(compulsory for some countries)
Other documents:
- Printed flight itinerary
- 12 passport photocopies
Please kindly make sure to have the originals and 6 (certified/notarized) photocopies of each enlisted document.
With the above-listed documents, you should be ready to travel.. Travel safe and good luck- RocApply team!
