Maldives Work Permit — Employer-Sponsored (1–3 year contract)for 🇳🇱 Dutch citizens travelling to 🇲🇻 Maldives
Dutch citizens are required to obtain a Maldives Work Permit — Employer-Sponsored (1–3 year contract) before travelling to Maldives. You must submit a formal application at the Maldives embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre in your country. Apply well in advance of your planned travel date.
Apply Now — Official Portal ↗📋Required Documents5
- ✓Valid passport (valid 6+ months) and photographs
- ✓Medical examination certificate from an approved centre
- ✓Work visa application following an employment approval / quota issued to the employer
- ✓Work permit (Xpat) fee payment confirmation
- ✓Employment contract with a Maldivian employer
ℹ️What to Expect
To apply for a Maldives Work Permit — Employer-Sponsored (1–3 year contract), book an appointment at the nearest Maldives embassy or visa application centre in your country. Submit the required documents in person or via a designated courier service. Processing takes approximately 30 days. The government fee is USD 50.00. Plan well ahead of your intended travel date to allow time for processing and any additional document requests from the consulate. Always verify current requirements at the official government portal before booking travel.
📎Supporting Documents (may strengthen your application)
- ○Proof of qualifications relevant to the role (if applicable)
🌐Why Dutch passport holders need a visa for Maldives
Dutch citizens require a visa to enter Maldives based on the current immigration requirements set by Maldives's government. Dutch passport holders must apply through the Maldives embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre before travelling. Requirements are subject to change, so always verify at the official government portal.
⚠️Common Reasons Maldives Work Permit — Employer-Sponsored (1–3 year contract) Applications Are Refused6
- !No valid Employment Approval (EA) or quota — the work visa is granted only on an EA the employer obtains (through the Expatriate / Xpat system) under an allocated foreign-worker quota; without an approved EA and quota the application is refused.
- !Labour-market priority for Maldivians — the Ministry of Economic Development prioritises Maldivian citizens and can refuse the EA or work permit where it judges a Maldivian can fill the role.
- !Incomplete or incorrect documents — submissions in the wrong language, information gaps in the forms, or a photograph that does not meet the standard are common rejection causes.
- !An adverse medical report — the mandatory health screening; a disqualifying medical result can lead to rejection even after an initial approval.
- !Unpaid fees — failure by the employer to pay the work-permit / quota fee by the deadline results in rejection.
- !An applicant adverse record — fraudulent or unverifiable credentials, a criminal record, or a prior overstay / immigration violation.
Refusal grounds are at the discretion of the deciding officer and can change. This list is informational — always verify current requirements at the official government portal.
Requirements last reviewed: June 2026 · Source: official government portal