Renew Maldives tourist visas in 48 hours with IMUGA digital updates

Faster extensions through the IMUGA portal

Maldives Immigration simplified tourist visa extensions through the IMUGA portal on April 23, with a target processing window of 48 hours. The change falls under the government's Maldives 2.0 digital-services push.

Passport details and accommodation records now auto-populate from existing government data. Applicants enter a passport number or upload the biodata page, then attach a passport-size photo taken within the last 12 months. Travelers whose passports have been renewed or whose records don't match, may still need to upload the biodata page manually.

Who benefits from the shorter wait

The streamlined flow applies to tourists already in the country on the visa-on-arrival system who want more time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the Maldives grants visas on arrival to all nationalities, subject to standard entry checks.

Remote workers, long-stay travelers and expats stand to gain the most, because the previous extension process leaned on manual document handling. Anyone who moves between resorts or guesthouses mid-trip can update accommodation details inside the same application.

Filing an extension

Extensions are filed only through the official IMUGA portal. Applicants need:

• A passport number or uploaded passport biodata page
• A passport-size photo from within the last 12 months
• Current accommodation details, editable if the traveler changes hotels

Maldives Immigration hasn't published a revised extension fee on the pages reviewed. Separately, all arriving travelers must still submit the Traveller Declaration through IMUGA within 96 hours of flight time.

Entry requirements for the initial tourist stay remain unchanged: a machine-readable passport with at least one month of validity, proof of return or onward travel and either accommodation confirmation or proof of funds. Maldives Immigration has been rolling out other IMUGA updates this year, including a revised Traveller Declaration flow that requires selecting the names of all travelers included on the form.

Read our full Maldives guide for the complete picture and check ongoing visa updates for related changes.