Maldives
Important
Mandatory: Consignee’s company registration number
Importing goods into the Maldives is subject to specific regulations and restrictions. Here are some key points to consider:
- Prohibited Items: Certain items are banned from importation, including narcotics, psychotropic substances, pornographic material, religious materials offensive to Islam, live pigs, idols for worship, and more1.
- Restricted Items: Some goods require a special permit for importation. This includes liquor and alcoholic products, pork and its by-products, chemicals, pets (with health certificates), firearms/explosives/weapons and ammunition, live plants and animals (with certificates), medicine (with prescriptions), tobacco products (with health warning labels), and communication equipment (requiring frequency approval)2.
- Registration: Importers must register with the Maldives Customs Service as per customs regulations3.
For a comprehensive list of prohibited and restricted items, as well as detailed information on import laws and regulations, you can visit the official Maldives Customs Service website1. It’s important to check the latest regulations before planning any importation to ensure compliance with the Maldivian laws.
Imports
- The importer must be a company which must have a valid code from Authorities
- Imported goods must be accompanied with an Bill of Lading / Air waybill, an Original Commercial Invoice, and a Packing List
Duties and Fees
- The customs valuation is based on CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) to Maldives
- Customs tariff applicable on imported goods depend on HS Codes
Required Documents
- Bill of Lading / Air waybill
- Original Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
Exports
Exporters need to include the following documents with their goods:
- Original Commercial Invoice
- For certain goods, export license is required.
Government Agencies
| Maldives Customs | www.customs.gov.mv |
| Communications Authority | www.cam.gov.mv |
Seaport
| Male’ Commercial Harbor |
Airport
| Male Velana International Airport |
Prohibited and Restricted
- All foodstuffs are prohibited including animal feed
- Monetary items including currency, fake money, and coins
- Publications that are offensive to religions, morals, human rights or aims to cause corruption and disorder
- Narcotics and drugs including heroin, opium, drugs raw material (powder, liquid), cannabis leaves, etc.
- Counterfeit goods covering all brands of clothes, machinery, shoes, electronics, watches etc.
- Fireworks*
- Ivory and ivory products*
- Furs*
- Jewelry, precious metals , stones, articles or antiques of exceptional high value*
- Bullion*
- Chemical waste and nuclear waste
- Hazardous as defined in IATA Regulations*
- Ammunitions*
- Human remains, including ashes*
- Animals, plants, All food items and perishable*