eSIM for the Maldives

The traveller declaration and visa on arrival

Velana International Airport asks all travellers entering or leaving the Maldives, visitors included, to submit a Traveller Declaration on IMUGA, the official immigration portal, within 96 hours of their flight. UK government travel advice puts it as within 96 hours before your flight arrives. The portal explains that a .gov.mv address belongs to an official Maldivian government organisation, so go to it directly rather than through a search result.

The airport's guide says tourist visas are granted on arrival for all nationalities, with no pre-approval, and lists what you need: a passport with at least one month's validity, confirmed return tickets, and either a hotel booking or proof of sufficient funds. UK advice says British citizens entering as tourists get a 30-day visa on arrival.

Getting from the airport to your island

According to Visit Maldives, the official tourism board, resorts near the airport are reached by speedboat and those further afield by seaplane. Domestic flights serve the country's twelve domestic and international airports, and scheduled ferries run from Malé to most atolls.

That makes the transfer the part of the trip where you are most likely to need a message from your resort or transfer desk. We make no promise of a connection on a boat, a seaplane or any particular island, so keep a copy of your booking, transfer details and resort contacts on your phone before you leave home.

Visit Maldives also says that prepaid SIM cards from two mobile networks are on sale at the airport, for local and international calls and data. An eSIM is the alternative you set up in advance; the compatibility guide shows whether your phone supports one.

Resort islands and local islands

The Maldives offers two quite different kinds of stay. Visit Maldives asks visitors to dress modestly on inhabited islands and notes that alcohol is served at resorts but may not be brought into the country by individuals. On local islands, the green tax at small guesthouses and hotels is also lower than at resorts.

If you are staying on local islands and moving between them by ferry, timetables, guesthouse messages and maps are the things you will want on your phone. Whichever kind of stay you choose, ask your resort or guesthouse in advance how guests usually get online.

Which plans fit a Maldives trip

Local plans cover the Maldives and suit a stay at one resort or a hop between a few islands. Daily plans give you an allowance for each day, which suits a holiday where you send roughly the same number of messages and photos each day. No plan on this page covers another country as well, so a stopover on the way needs a plan of its own.