The answer to the question of whether you need a Maldives visa changed in 2026. Previously the Maldives gave citizens of Azerbaijan a free 30-day visa at the airport. Since 29 April 2026, however, a bilateral visa-free regime between Azerbaijan and the Maldives has been in force and you can stay up to 90 days on an ordinary passport. Which is to say that for a honeymoon or a long holiday there is no visa question at all.
But the Maldives does have one compulsory requirement: within 96 hours before the flight an online declaration called Imuga must be filled in. In this article we explain the terms of the visa-free regime, the Imuga form, the role the choice of resort plays at the border and the options for flying from Baku to Malé.
Do you need a Maldives visa?
No. The agreement on the mutual abolition of the visa requirement for holders of ordinary passports between Azerbaijan and the Maldives has been in force since April 2026. In the list of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan the Maldives is marked with 90 days. This is for tourism; to work and to study a separate permit is needed.
| Is a visa required? | No, since April 2026 |
| How long can you stay? | Up to 90 days |
| Before the flight | The Imuga online declaration, within 96 hours, free of charge |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months |
| Required at the border | A confirmed resort booking and a return ticket |
| Direct flight | Seasonal; mainly via Doha, Dubai or Istanbul |
Imuga: the form required instead of a Maldives visa
Every passenger arriving in and leaving the Maldives must fill in a traveller declaration on the Imuga portal 96 hours before the flight. You are asked for your passport, flight details, the resort you will be staying at and health information, and at the end a QR code arrives. The form is free and is filled in on the official Imuga portal of the Maldives Immigration Service; intermediary sites charge money for it. On departure the same form is filled in again.
What do they ask at the border?
The passport must be valid for at least 6 months. At Malé airport a confirmed resort or hotel booking, a return ticket and the Imuga QR code are checked. A resort booking is not a formality in the Maldives: because moving freely between the islands is not possible, immigration wants to know where you will be staying. Without a booking a problem arises on entry. Insurance is not required, but it is essential for diving and water sports.
Read next: Do you need a Dubai visa? 90 days visa-free, the passport requirement and the ways to a cheap flight
How do you fly from Baku to the Maldives?
Baku–Malé direct flights are seasonal and change every year; the most stable route is with Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates and flydubai via Dubai and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, and the whole journey takes 8–11 hours. Baku–Maldives ticket prices are at their highest in December-March and at Novruz and at their lowest from May to October. From Malé airport you cross to the resort by speedboat or seaplane; this transfer is arranged by the resort and you should check when booking whether it is included in the price.
The Maldives is the most chosen honeymoon destination from Azerbaijan, and in Maldives tour packages the flight, the resort and the transfer come together; the choice of resort is the main factor deciding the budget, and the guest houses on the local islands are many times cheaper than the resorts.
Things to know before the trip
- Season. November-April is the dry season and the most expensive time; May-October is rainy, but the rain is short-lived and the prices are lower.
- Money. The rufiyaa, but at the resorts everything is paid in dollars and by card. On the local islands you may need cash rufiyaa.
- Local islands. The Maldives is a Muslim country; on the resort islands there are no restrictions, while on the local islands beachwear is only possible on the designated «bikini beaches» and there is no alcohol.
- Tax. The resorts charge a daily environmental levy called the «green tax», and it is added to the bill.
Frequently asked questions about the Maldives visa
Does the old 30-day rule still apply?
Since April 2026 the 90-day visa-free regime applies to citizens of Azerbaijan. The old 30-day visa-on-arrival rule no longer concerns us.
Are extra documents needed for children?
The child must have their own passport and the Imuga form is filled in separately for the child as well. For a child travelling with one parent, the other parent’s notarised consent may be required when leaving Azerbaijan.
Can you go on to Sri Lanka without a Maldives visa?
The Maldives is visa-free, and Sri Lanka admits citizens of Azerbaijan with an online ETA. The Malé–Colombo flight is 1.5 hours and combining the two countries is a popular route.
In closing
A Maldives visa is not required and you can stay 90 days; the two things to remember are the Imuga form and a confirmed resort booking. The Viza.az team helps with choosing the flight and the resort, filling in the Imuga form and planning honeymoon trips.
You can read more about the Maldives as a destination or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. Entry rules can change, so check the official sources once more before your trip.
