How to renew your visa in Maldives
So you have visited the Maldives and totally fallen in love with the place. You should have listened when people told you it is nothing short of paradise and booked a longer trip. If you are already in the Maldives and are looking to extend your initial thirty days whilst on the islands, there is an option that will enable you to extend it to another extra sixty days. While the process takes a while, having an idea of what everything entails is always a good thing.
1. Things You Will Need
You will need an application form which can be accessed online and then downloaded. You will also need a passport-sized photograph of yourself and the people who will be travelling with you. There is a $50 fee per visa but you will have to check with your local high commission or embassy about the latest prices. Expatriate insurance also costs about $30. You will have to bring copies of your passports, business licenses and proof of sponsorship if such a thing is available. Don’t forget your tickets and invoices for the luxury resort in Maldives you will be staying at. For more information, you should visit the Maldivian immigration website.
2. The General Timeline
You will have to go through a three-day timeline where on the first day you submit your paperwork, on day 2 you pay the visa extension fee which you will have to check the latest prices on the website. And on the third day, you can waltz out with your newly stamped passport.
3. The Process
A weekend in Male is not the same as a weekend everywhere else. Unless you are on a resort the likes of The Nautilus Maldives. Immigration offices will be closed on weekends so remember that before you book a boat back to the main island. The offices open at 8 am but they will only have space for 75 tickets a day so once the tickets are gone you won’t get to go in and get your work done. Make sure you get there early so you don’t have to wait in the queue too long.
When you get to the immigration office you shouldn’t head into the main building but the one right across the street. Ask someone where the Work Permit Office is. It will be on the 3rd floor of a yellow building opposite the Immigration Office. Once there walk up to the desk and ask the attendant for a ticket for your visa renewal.
4. Paperwork You Should Have on You
Before you travel to the main island to renew your visa, you need to do the following things. First of all, there will be an IM23 form that you will need to fill. Include the information about your villa or resort and ask them to fill the “sponsor” section for you. Also, ask them to provide you with an invoice and a copy of their business license. If you don’t already have a passport size photo on you you can always visit the Kodak Express which is right next to the Immigration Office in Male. Give it about 5 to 10 minutes to get your picture. You also need expatriate insurance which you can get at an insurance corporation that is conveniently located close to the Immigration Office. You will have to pay about $30 for the form and they will give you a stamped copy to bring to the visa office. Make sure you have a way to show proof of your bank account which should hold about $100 to $50 a day. Hand over all your forms to the immigration office and they will ask you to come back to Male in 2 days to sign a receipt.
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