The Government of India has decided to grant visa free travel for Maldivians travelling to India, starting from October 15.
The High Commission of India in the Maldives revealed Maldivians travelling to India for medical, business and tourism purposes will not be required to obtain a visa prior to travel, starting from October 15. The high commission stated the Maldives will be the first beneficiary of visa free travel to India since the COVID-19 restrictions were imposed by India in March 2020. The high commission also noted this restores the bilateral visa free agreement signed between the two countries in December 2018.
The decision to grant visa free travel to India provides a relief to the many Maldivians travelling to India for medical purposes. A large queue currently waits outside the Indian high commission everyday seeking visas to travel to India.
Under the visa free travel agreement signed in 2018, Maldivians travelling to India for business, tourism and medical purposes are granted a 90-day visa. If an emergency medical situation arises while on a tourist visa, the visa can be changed to a medical visa without having to return to the Maldives. The agreement also facilitates the provision of multiple-entry student visa and long term medical visas for patients undergoing longer treatment.