Maldives
MDVThe Maldives is a low-lying Indian Ocean archipelago of some 1,200 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls, with Malé as its capital. The economy is dominated by tourism and fishing; high-end resort islands account for the majority of GDP. The country levies no personal income tax, though a Goods and Services Tax applies to tourism and general commerce. Naturalisation requires 12 years of lawful residence and conversion to Islam; dual citizenship is not recognised. Foreign freehold land ownership is prohibited, though 99-year leasehold arrangements exist in designated resort zones. Rising sea levels pose an existential long-term threat to the archipelago.
Passport Rank
#61
Visa-Free
90
destinations
Country Details
- Capital
- Malé
- Currency
- MVR
- Languages
- Dhivehi
- Population
- 521,457
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 12 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical monsoon; hot and humid year-round with a dry northeast monsoon (Nov–Apr) and a wet southwest monsoon (May–Oct)
- English Proficiency Rank
- #58
Indices
Cost of Living
55
Safety
60
Healthcare
47
Quality of Life
108
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- No Income Tax
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 12 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malé | — | — | — | — | $30 |
| Hulhumalé | — | — | — | — | $25 |
| Addu City | — | — | — | — | $15 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Malé
Rainfall range: 40–235 mm/month · Daylight 11.7h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist Visa on Arrival (30 Days)
- Work Visa
- Dependent / Family Visa
- Investor Visa
- Student Visa
- Special Visa
- Diplomatic / Official Visa
- Residence Visa (Long-Term)
- Business Visa
- Authority
- Maldives Immigration
- Official Portal
- www.immigration.gov.mv
- Phone
- +960 301 1111
- info@immigration.gov.mv
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- Yes
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $1,000
- Processing
- ~24 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#85
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Tourist overcharging on speedboat transfers between atolls
- ⚠Fake tour operators selling non-existent resort packages
- ⚠Taxi fare inflation in Malé for new arrivals
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified 2026-06-15