Maldives Immigration has established a comprehensive new regulation requiring airline operators to submit detailed passenger and flight data prior to the arrival and departure of all aircraft.
Formulated under the country’s Immigration Act, the new mandate is designed to bolster national border security and is scheduled to take effect on 30 October.
The primary objective of the regulation is to establish a proactive screening system, allowing Maldivian authorities to identify high-risk individuals—including known terrorists, members of organised crime syndicates, and individuals linked to dangerous international crimes—before they gain entry into the country. Beyond enhancing domestic security, the framework also ensures the Maldives complies with international civil aviation conventions.
The regulation applies universally to all flights arriving in or departing from the Maldives. Responsibility for compliance falls on aircraft owners, charterers, agents, captains, and any other parties responsible for flight operations, all of whom must transmit the required data to Maldives Immigration before takeoff.
Under the new guidelines, operators must provide exhaustive flight and traveler details. This includes flight schedules, arrival and departure times, and total passenger counts. Additionally, individual passenger profiles must be submitted, detailing full names, gender, nationality, passport numbers, seat allocations, baggage information, visa details, permanent addresses, and destination addresses.
To address privacy concerns, the regulation strictly mandates Maldives Immigration to maintain the absolute confidentiality of all shared traveler information.
Airlines and operators who fail to comply with these pre-arrival and pre-departure data requirements will face a fine of USD 129.47 per violation.