Expatriates on short term visit allowed entrance, will require special permit

Health Protection Agency (HPA) has established that foreign nationals on short term visits of less than 14 days for work pertaining to essential services will be allowed entrance to Maldives, but will require special permission from the agency.

HPA announced the decision via a revision to its procedure for travel between islands to provide essential services during the coronavirus outbreak on Tuesday afternoon.

The agency has stated that travellers arriving for short term work-based visits of less than 14 days are required to obtain special permission from HPA, and that the request for permission has to be made by the relevant/liaised local agency.

Maldives came out of its three-month-long isolation and reopened its borders for international travel on April 15.

International tourists are required to go directly from the airport to the resort they made their reservation in, and are not permitted to travel to other resorts at this point. Meanwhile, locals who arrive in Maldives from overseas and, foreign nationals who arrive on work visa, and their dependents are required to undergo mandatory 14 day quarantine.

Those who leave the greater Male’ region – the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in Maldives – are subject to mandatory quarantine, other than those essential service providers who obtain special permission from HPA.

Essential service providers who have special are allowed to travel from the capital to other islands for no more than five days without undergoing mandatory quarantine.

Essential service providers are required to carry their approval during travel, wear masks, and maintain social distancing.

They are also required to refrain from visiting people on the islands, going to restaurants or other public places, or to go anywhere other than their place of stay or work, except in case of an emergency.