Maldives introduce mandatory email verification when filling out the entry declaration

What has changed

As of November 9, 2026, the Maldives have made the mandatory Traveller Declaration submission procedure more complicated: when filling out the form on the IMUGA portal, travelers must now provide a valid email address and confirm it with a one-time code (OTP) sent to that address. Without completing this verification, it is impossible to continue filling out the declaration. The change was announced by the republic's immigration authority, as reported by Maldives Voice.

Who it affects and what remains unchanged

The new requirement applies to all foreign travelers. Parents or legal guardians filling out the declaration on behalf of infants and minors may use their own email address — a separate email for children is not required. Apart from that, the submission procedure itself has not changed: the declaration, as before, is submitted free of charge no later than 96 hours before arrival in the Maldives, and after successful submission the system generates a QR code, which travelers are advised to save for presentation to airline staff or border control officers. The updated interface also includes a feature for adding details of other members of a joint trip.

What it means for tourists in practice

For travelers planning a trip, there is one key practical change: access to email has become a mandatory condition for submitting the declaration, since the form cannot be completed without receiving and entering the OTP code. This should be taken into account, in particular, when filling out the document on the go or when using an email address that cannot be reliably accessed. There is no additional fee for the declaration — the service remains free of charge.