MaldivesBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required

MaldivesBritish Indian Ocean Territory

Do Maldives passport holders need a visa for British Indian Ocean Territory?

Visa required

Yes. Maldives passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to British Indian Ocean Territory.

A visa must be obtained in advance, typically from an embassy or consulate, before travel.

Source: en.wikipedia.org (checked September 4, 2026).

RequirementVisa required

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Visa-free access to British Indian Ocean Territory0 of 243 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders visiting Maldives: Visa on arrival.

British Indian Ocean Territory drives on the right, the opposite side to Maldives. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

Other visa-free destinations for Maldives passport holders

See all Maldives destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Maldives passport holders need a visa for British Indian Ocean Territory?

Yes. Maldives passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to British Indian Ocean Territory.

What currency is used in British Indian Ocean Territory?

United States dollar (USD).

Does British Indian Ocean Territory drive on the same side of the road as Maldives?

British Indian Ocean Territory drives on the right, the opposite side to Maldives. If you're renting a car, budget extra care at first, especially at junctions and roundabouts.

How many countries can enter British Indian Ocean Territory without a visa?

0 of the 243 nationalities this site tracks can enter British Indian Ocean Territory visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Maldives

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, and historically known as the Maldive Islands, is an archipelagic country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean, near the southeastern boundary of the Arabian Sea. The Maldives is located southwest of India and Sri Lanka, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

CapitalMale

RegionSouthern Asia

Population529.7K

Area300 km²

CurrencyMaldivian rufiyaa (1 USD ≈ 15.43 MVR)

LanguagesMaldivian

Calling code+960

Drives on theleft

TimezoneMaldives (UTC+5)

Nearest airportVelana International Airport (MLE), 3 km

Emergency number102 / 118 / 119

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$14,615 (2025)

Tourist arrivals555K (2020)

Travel guide

The Maldives are a chain of low-lying coral islands in the Indian Ocean with picture-perfect beaches, strikingly blue water, and luxury resorts. There are 200 inhabited islands and 165 islands with tourist resorts. Just under the surface of the beautiful blue ocean, there's a wealth of wildlife to see: over 2000 species of fish in all colours of the rainbow roam the clear waters around the islands.

Full source list on About.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.1°C	404mm	268h
February	28.4°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	258mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.2°C	122mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.7°C	209mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.4°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.2°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	87mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.7°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.3°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.