List of Important Things to Know about Maldives travel during Covid-19 – Travel safe

Covid in the Maldives hindered the tourism sector largely, as the first case was detected in March 2020 in the archipelago. With the discovery of the first case, there was a swift and strict lockdown in place which lasted for three months but kept the virus under some sort of control. In July of 2020, the Maldives opened its borders to tourists with the exception that they cannot visit the capital city of Male which was off-limits. Up until recently, travellers from South Asia were banned from entering the Maldives but this rule has since changed and the nation announced that it's reopening its borders to visitors from South Asia from the 15th of July, 2021.

You first need to double-check about your visa requirements, as certain nationalities do not require a visa to enter the Maldives. All travelers must provide a negative PCR test taken within the last 96 hours before leaving for the Maldives. Along with this, you need to also fill in a traveler health declaration form 24 hours before departure. Once you arrive at the Maldives, you need to install the 'Trace Ekee'Covid tracing app on arrival, fill an Immigration Arrival Card and pass all the required temperature checks. Keep in mind to adhere to the social distancing measures in place, even when you're at OZEN Life Maadhoo or any of the other luxury Maldives resorts.

Depending on your country of departure, the airlines travelling to the Maldives will differ. You may need to also call and check beforehand if the airlines you have picked have their own rules, as some do have them in place. Nevertheless, it is best to always carry a spare mask and have all your documents in check to prove you are virus-free.

Packing during a pandemic is very different from how things were pre covid. For instance, you will have to carry a hand sanitizer and an extra mask or two with you as you travel and carry more with you in your luggage. As much as wearing masks for a prolonged amount of time gets quite tedious, it is for everyone's safety and is a requirement so make sure you pick a comfortable mask!

Tourists holidaying in the Maldives are allowed to split stays between hotels, however, you are not allowed to stay longer than 48 hours in the Greater Male area. If you do so, you must take another PCR test before moving elsewhere. All UK tourists must undergo a 10-day quarantine, including transiting passengers. Fully vaccinated tourists are not required to submit a negative PCR test on arrival, as long as they present proof that their second dose of a vaccine is recognized by WHO and was administered two weeks before travel.