Maldives Arrival Card — Imuga declaration in English
Complete your Maldives arrival card (Imuga declaration) in English with our online form. Submit your application whenever you like: we file it within the 96-hour window before your flight.
Welcome to the Maldives
Before diving into the Maldives scenery, one formality is often forgotten in the excitement of preparing: the arrival card, officially called the Imuga declaration. It is mandatory for all travellers, including children and babies, and can only be completed within the 96 hours before your flight. Introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has remained mandatory ever since. Free on the official portal, it ends with a QR code to be shown at immigration at Malé airport. The departure declaration, which previously existed, is no longer required.
The 96-hour window
Why you can't complete Imuga long in advance
The main difficulty with the Imuga declaration is not the form itself but its timing: the authorities' system only accepts the declaration within the 96 hours before your flight.
A very short window: you cannot submit the declaration weeks in advance, as you would for a visa. It must be done no earlier than 4 days before the flight, often in the middle of last-minute preparations.
A frequent oversight: many travellers only discover the formality at check-in, or fill it in on their smartphone in the boarding queue, under the stress of an unreliable connection.
The ArrivalCards solution: submit your application now, whenever you like. We check your details and file your declaration at exactly the right time, within the 96-hour window.
Key takeaway
The Imuga declaration is submitted within 96 hours before the flight, not earlier. Submit your application in advance on ArrivalCards: we file it at the right time.
When to complete the Imuga declaration?
The form is only accepted within the 96 hours before your flight. On ArrivalCards, you submit your application whenever you like and we file it within that window.
Earliest
96 hours before the flight
Optimal
Between 72 and 24 hours before the flight
Latest
Before check-in for your flight to Malé
Who must complete the Imuga declaration?
The declaration applies to all foreign travellers arriving in the Maldives, whatever the purpose of their stay.
Tourists
Staying in a resort, hotel or guesthouse on a local island: the declaration is mandatory, in addition to the tourist visa issued free of charge on arrival.
Business travellers and transit passengers
Business travellers and passengers transiting through the Maldives must also complete the declaration before arrival.
Children and babies
Each traveller has their own declaration and their own QR code, including infants. A parent completes it using the child's passport.
Maldivian nationals
Since November 2023, Maldivian citizens returning home have been exempt from the Imuga declaration.
Documents for completing the Imuga declaration
Prepare these items for each traveller before you start.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after your date of departure from the Maldives
- Scan or clear photo of the passport identity page (recommended)
- Recent ID photo or selfie against a light, neutral background
- Outbound and return flight numbers and dates
- Exact name of your accommodation (resort, hotel or guesthouse)
- Valid email address to receive the QR code
Required Information Table
| INFORMATION TO PROVIDE | PERSONAL DATA |
|---|---|
| PASSPORT AND IDENTITY | Passport copy (optional), Surname, First name, Date of birth, Nationality, Passport number, Expiry date |
| PURPOSE AND PHOTO | Purpose of stay (tourism, business, visit…), ID photo or selfie against a neutral background |
| FLIGHTS | Arrival flight, Return flight, Arrival and departure dates |
| ACCOMMODATION | Property chosen from a predefined list (resort, hotel or guesthouse) |
| HEALTH AND CUSTOMS | Health questions, Countries recently visited, Customs declaration for luggage and personal effects |
Common Imuga declaration mistakes
The formality is simple, but a few pitfalls come up often among travellers.
Starting too early
The system rejects declarations submitted more than 96 hours before the flight. With overnight flights and stopovers in Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, count from the time of your flight.
Forgetting the declaration until the airport
Filling in the form in the boarding queue, without the exact name of your accommodation to hand, is a frequent source of stress and errors.
A single declaration for the whole family
A parent's declaration does not cover their children: each traveller, babies included, must have their own.
Keeping a QR code after a flight change
If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the QR code is no longer valid. A new declaration must be made with the new flight.
Confusing Imuga with a visa
The declaration is not a visa. The tourist visa is issued on arrival, on presentation of a return ticket and an accommodation booking.
After submission
Your Imuga QR code: how to keep it and when to redo it
Once the declaration is approved, you receive a confirmation by email containing your personal QR code, a traveller code and a token allowing you to amend the declaration.
Keep it available offline: save the QR code on your smartphone and take a screenshot in case of network problems on arrival, or print it to be safe.
One QR code per traveller: each member of the group, babies included, has their own declaration and their own QR code to show at immigration.
Delayed or cancelled flight: the QR code is no longer valid. You must submit a new declaration with the new flight details, again within the 96 hours before it.
Arriving in the Maldives with the Imuga declaration
At Velana International Airport in Malé, clearance is quick if your declaration is done.
- 1
Before departure
Check that you have received the QR code for each traveller and save it on your phone.
- 2
Immigration
Show your passport and your Imuga QR code. The 30-day tourist visa is issued to you free of charge at that point.
- 3
Baggage and customs
Collect your luggage and go through customs. Alcohol, pork products, narcotics and religious objects of worship are prohibited or subject to authorisation.
- 4
Transfer to your island
Reach your accommodation by boat, seaplane or domestic flight depending on the atoll, usually arranged by your resort or guesthouse.
Imuga declaration validity
The declaration and its QR code are tied to a specific flight and arrival date.
Duration
Valid for the declared arrival only
Entries
One declaration per entry into the Maldives
Extension
Cannot be extended: a new declaration if your flight changes or for a new trip
Maldives arrival card information
What is the Imuga declaration?
Imuga is the online arrival form of the Maldives immigration services (Traveller Declaration). It brings together your passport details, your photo, your flights, your accommodation, a health section and a customs declaration. It can only be submitted within the 96 hours before your flight and results in a confirmation with a QR code, sent by email, to be shown at immigration.
Which nationalities are concerned?
All foreign travellers entering the Maldives must complete the Imuga declaration, whatever the purpose of their stay, including those in transit. A separate declaration is required for each traveller, including children and babies. Only Maldivian nationals are exempt.
Which points of entry are concerned?
The Imuga declaration applies on arrival in the Maldives, first and foremost at Velana International Airport in Malé (MLE), through which almost all international travellers pass before reaching their island by seaplane, boat or domestic flight.
Places to visit in the Maldives
Maldives
Ari Atoll, west of Malé, is renowned for encounters with whale sharks and manta rays. Its turquoise lagoons and coral drop-offs make it one of the best diving spots in the Indian Ocean.
Hanifaru Bay, in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, attracts dozens of manta rays every season that come to feed on plankton, a spectacle unique in the world.
Malé, the capital, can be explored on foot in a day: the fish market, the coral-stone Friday Mosque, Sultan Park and lively streets contrast with the calm of the resort islands.
Maafushi and the local islands of Kaafu Atoll offer another side of the country: affordable guesthouses, public beaches, snorkelling trips and a glimpse of everyday Maldivian life.
The sandbanks and lagoons that emerge in the middle of the ocean are perfect for picnics, snorkelling among sea turtles and, at night, watching bioluminescent plankton on some beaches.
Document Timeline
History and evolution of the document.
During the pandemic
The Maldives introduces a mandatory online travel declaration: travel history, flight information and health questions.
During the pandemic
The Maldives introduces a mandatory online travel declaration: travel history, flight information and health questions.
After the health crisis
Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, but the declaration remains mandatory for travellers, under the name Imuga.
After the health crisis
Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, but the declaration remains mandatory for travellers, under the name Imuga.
November 2023
Maldivian nationals are exempted from the declaration, deemed unnecessary for returning to their own country.
November 2023
Maldivian nationals are exempted from the declaration, deemed unnecessary for returning to their own country.
August 2024
End of the departure declaration: only the arrival declaration is still required of travellers.
August 2024
End of the departure declaration: only the arrival declaration is still required of travellers.
Today
The Imuga declaration is mandatory for all foreign travellers and must be submitted within 96 hours before the flight to obtain the QR code shown on arrival.
Today
The Imuga declaration is mandatory for all foreign travellers and must be submitted within 96 hours before the flight to obtain the QR code shown on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions — Maldives
What is the Imuga declaration?
Imuga is the Maldives online arrival card (Traveller Declaration), managed by the Maldives immigration services. It brings together your passport, flight and accommodation details, along with a health section and a customs declaration.
Is the Imuga declaration mandatory?
Yes, all foreign travellers going to the Maldives must complete it, whatever the purpose of their stay, including those in transit. Only Maldivian nationals are exempt.
When should I complete the Imuga declaration?
The form can only be submitted within the 96 hours before your flight, i.e. no more than 4 days before departure. On ArrivalCards, you can submit your application in advance: we file it at the right time.
Is a declaration needed for each child?
Yes. The requirement is individual: each member of the family, including babies, must have their own declaration and their own QR code.
Does the Imuga declaration replace a visa?
No. Imuga is an arrival form, not a visa. The tourist visa is issued free of charge on arrival for a 30-day stay, on presentation of a valid passport, a return ticket and a confirmed accommodation booking.
Do I need to complete a declaration when leaving the Maldives?
No. The departure declaration has been abolished: only the Imuga arrival declaration is required.
How much does the Imuga declaration cost?
The Imuga declaration is free on the official portal of the Maldivian authorities. On ArrivalCards, the service fee is €29 incl. VAT per arrival card issued, excluding any consular fees. This fee includes the guided English-language form, verification of your details, submission within the 96-hour window and support from our team.
What happens if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
The QR code obtained is no longer valid. A new declaration must be submitted with the new flight details, again within the 96 hours before it.
What photo do I need to provide?
A recent ID photo of the traveller. A selfie is fine if it meets passport photo criteria: light, neutral background, face shown from the front and clearly visible, neutral expression.
Is the form available in my language?
The official Maldives portal is available in English only. ArrivalCards provides a translated and simplified form in 9 languages, including English.
A reliable and secure service.
Processing Time
Your arrival card is typically processed within 24 hours. We recommend applying at least 3 days before your travel date.
Requirements
Valid passport with at least 6 months validity, recent passport photo, travel itinerary, and accommodation details.
Fees
The service fee is €29 incl. tax per arrival card issued, excluding any consular fees. This covers form translation, application verification, and customer support.
How It Works
Simple, fast, and stress-free.
Fill in the online form
Complete our secure form with your personal information and travel details
Receive your arrival card by email
We process your application and send your electronic arrival card directly to your inbox
Present your card upon arrival
Upon arrival, simply present your electronic card to immigration authorities
Sources
- Maldives Immigration — Imuga traveller declaration
- France Diplomatie — Maldives, entrée / séjour
Information checked in October 2026