Sri LankaMaldives: Visa on arrival

Sri LankaMaldives

Do Sri Lanka passport holders need a visa for Maldives?

Visa on arrival

A visa is not required in advance. Sri Lanka passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Maldives.

A visa is issued at the border on arrival, usually for a fee, with no advance application.

Source: immigration.gov.mv (checked July 18, 2026).

RequirementVisa on arrival

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-19

Distance765 km, straight line (~1h 24m nonstop)

Visa-free access to Maldives241 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Maldives passport holders visiting Sri Lanka: eTA.

Other visa-free destinations for Sri Lanka passport holders

See all Sri Lanka destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Sri Lanka passport holders need a visa for Maldives?

A visa is not required in advance. Sri Lanka passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Maldives.

How far is Maldives from Sri Lanka?

About 765 km in a straight line, roughly ~1h 24m nonstop by air.

What currency is used in Maldives?

Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR).

What is the emergency number in Maldives?

102 / 118 / 119.

What time zone is Maldives in?

Maldives (UTC+5).

What is the nearest airport to Male?

Velana International Airport (MLE), about 3 km away.

How many countries can enter Maldives without a visa?

241 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Maldives 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 Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, and is separated from India by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka shares a maritime border with the Maldives to the southwest and India to the northwest, and lies across the Bay of Bengal from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the northeast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India to the east. Its executive and judicial capital is Colombo, which is also its largest city and the political, financial and cultural centre of the country; neighboring Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital. Sri Lanka's population is 22 million. About 74% of the population are Sinhalese, who speak the Sinhala language, and about 15% are Tamils who speak the Tamil language. Other long-established ethnic groups include the Moors, Indian Tamils, Burghers, Malays, Chinese, and Vedda.

CapitalColombo

RegionSouthern Asia

Population21.8M

Area65,610 km²

CurrencySri Lankan rupee (1 USD ≈ 330.89 LKR)

LanguagesSinhala, Tamil

Calling code+94

Drives on theleft

TimezoneColombo (UTC+5:30)

Nearest airportColombo Ratmalana International Airport (RML), 12 km

Emergency number110 / 119

UNESCO sites9

Income levelUpper middle income

GDP per capita$5,002 (2025)

Tourist arrivals540K (2020)

Climate in Colombo

Warmest March, coolest December, driest January, sunniest March. Best time to visit: January, February, March, April, August, October, December.

Monthly climate normals for Colombo, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	30.6°C	23.1°C	20mm	351h
February	32.2°C	24°C	24mm	337h
March	31.6°C	24.7°C	49mm	357h
April	31.3°C	24.8°C	153mm	331h
May	29.9°C	25.8°C	287mm	254h
June	29.2°C	25.9°C	264mm	293h
July	28.7°C	25.2°C	252mm	250h
August	28.7°C	25.3°C	209mm	303h
September	27.9°C	24.6°C	387mm	209h
October	28.7°C	25°C	109mm	328h
November	29.3°C	23.8°C	374mm	250h
December	28.8°C	23°C	152mm	267h

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

Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. It is known for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Sri Lanka's cultural landscape includes the Sinhalese and the Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Anuradhapura
Atamasthana
Central Highlands of Sri Lanka
Dambulla cave temple
Kandy
Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications
Polonnaruwa
Sigiriya
Sinharaja Forest Reserve

Full source list on About.

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.