Summary
- We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution on Male Island at this time due to unresolved political tensions and risk of further unrest and violence. We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions elsewhere in the Maldives, including tourist and resort islands.
- Since February 2012, there have been regular political protests in Male, some of which have turned violent. Political tensions remain unresolved and further violent clashes could occur. Extra care should be taken when moving around Male after dark.
- You should avoid public gatherings and protests, particularly in Male, as they may turn violent.
- Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in the Maldives. The Australian High Commission in Sri Lanka provides consular assistance to Australians in the Maldives.
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Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- register your travel and contact details, so we can contact you in an emergency
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
Entry and exit
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration of the Republic of Maldives for the most up to date information, well in advance of travel.
A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into the country for those arriving from infected areas.
Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.
Safety and security
Terrorism
Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers .
Australians in the Republic of Maldives should pay close attention to their personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
A bomb explosion in Male in September 2007 injured twelve foreign tourists.
Civil unrest/political tension
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution on Male Island at this time due to unresolved political tensions and risk of further unrest and violence. We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions elsewhere in the Maldives, including tourist and resort islands.
Since February 2012, there have been regular political protests in Male, some of which have turned violent. The political environment remains uncertain and further violent clashes could occur. Extra care should be taken when moving around Male after dark.
You should avoid public gatherings and protests, particularly in Male, as they may turn violent.
Crime
Drug-related crime is known to occur in Male.
Petty crime can occur, including theft of goods left on the beach or in hotel rooms.
Money and valuables
Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money in the Maldives, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Consult with your bank to find out the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work in the Maldives. Cash is expected outside of the resorts.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority .
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.
Local travel
Maldivian authorities generally restrict travel by foreigners beyond the capital island Male and resort islands. Travel between islands is by boat or seaplane.
The safety standards you might expect of transport and tour operators, including adventure activities such as diving, may not be of the same level as in Australia. Sufficient safety equipment may not be provided and recommended maintenance standards and safety precautions may not be observed.
There are few roads and vehicles in the Maldives. For more information on road safety see also our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety .
Airline safety
Please refer to our travel bulletin for information about Aviation Safety and Security.
Laws
When you are in the Maldives, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter .
Penalties for drug offences, including possession, are severe and include mandatory prison sentences served in local jails. Possession of small quantities of illegal drugs (including 'soft' drugs) can be considered trafficking and can be punishable by life imprisonment.
Homosexual acts are illegal in the Maldives.
Penalties for serious crime, such as murder, include the death penalty.
It is illegal to import alcohol into the Maldives and consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly confined to resort islands.
Permission is generally required to visit non-resort islands. Permits for travel to non-resort islands can be obtained from the Ministry of Atoll Development. Requests for permits need to be supported by a local resident of the island to be visited.
Public observance of any religion other than Islam is prohibited and importation of non-Islamic religious material is illegal. In the past, foreigners have been expelled for allegedly engaging in religious preaching.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism, child pornography, and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and child pornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties ofup to 25 years? imprisonment for Australians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.
Local customs
There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in some parts of the Maldives. You should dress conservatively while in the capital Male or visiting non-resort islands and take care not to offend.
Public displays of affection are likely to cause offence in parts of the Maldives other than tourist resorts.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims.
Information for dual nationals
The Maldives does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Maldivian dual nationals who are arrested or detained. We strongly recommend you travel on your Australian passport at all times.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information for dual nationals.
Health
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Hospital and medical facilities, including rescue and emergency services, are limited. The two hospitals in the capital, Male, offer general medical and limited specialist facilities. Many isolated resort islands are several hours travelling time from hospital facilities. In the event of an emergency, a medical evacuation to a location with suitable facilities may be required. Medical evacuation costs are considerable.
There are five decompression chambers in the Maldives. It may take several hours to reach facilities in an emergency.
The mosquito-borne illnesses dengue fever and chikungunya fever occur in the Maldives. We recommend that you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including using insect repellent at all times, wearing long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and ensure your accommodation is mosquito proof.
Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis and rabies) are a risk with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
Where to get help
Australia does not have an Embassy or Consulate in the Republic of Maldives. You can obtain consular assistance from the nearest Australian High Commission which is in Sri Lanka:
Australian High Commission
21 Gregory's Road
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Telephone: +94 11 246 3200
Facsimile: +94 11 268 6453
E-mail:
austcom@sltnet.lk
or
consular.colombo@dfat.gov.au
Website:
www.srilanka.embassy.gov.au
If you are travelling to the Maldives, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate . The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the High Commission you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
Additional information
Natural disasters, severe weather and climate
The monsoon season is from mid-May to November when strong winds, rough seas and torrential rain can occur. You can find information on severe weather conditions at the Humanitarian Early Warning Service website.
All oceanic regions of the world can experience tsunamis, but in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, there is a more frequent occurrence of large, destructive tsunamis because of the many large earthquakes along major tectonic plate boundaries and ocean trenches. See the Tsunami Awareness brochure .
If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
Wildlife
Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
For parents
For general information and tips on travelling with children see our page about travelling with children brochure.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities in the Maldives we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. Our travelling with children page has ideas on how to select childcare providers.
