The Maldives is where even the most jaded travellers go to escape the frenetic pace of daily life and discover an island hideaway with the best of everything. The sugar-fine sun-kissed beaches of this island paradise are nothing short of magical and there is no wonder that it is known as the world’s most romantic destination. The crystal-clear shallows of the Maldives are a big draw for water babies. Every possible luxury is lavished upon those who step ashore, making the Maldives the ultimate island experience.

The Maldives reopened its borders back in July 2020. However, the capital city of the island nation Malé remains an exception as it has been a source of the country’s majority of coronavirus cases. If you are planning an island getaway to the beautiful Maldives in the near future, here are a few things you need to know before packing up your bags because these are unprecedented times.

Who can go?

At present, the Maldives is open to travellers from across the world, as long as they are able to submit a proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than four days prior to the arrival. So if your PCR test is negative, let the resort life kick start!

However, the ones who are fully vaccinated will be subject to a quarantine period of four days while the non-vaccinated travellers would be required to quarantine for 14 days. Although there was a temporary ban for travellers from the South Asian countries due to the rapid spread of the virus, it was also lifted on 15 July, 2021.

What are the current restrictions in place?

You are required to present a certificate of a negative PCR test carried out within the 72 hours prior to departure, clearly showing the name as well as the address of the laboratory along with the date of the sample taken. The test certificate needs to be attached to the Traveller Health Declaration form, which must be submitted online within the 24 hours prior to arrival.  It is also recommended to download the national contact tracing app ‘TraceEkee’ and use during the stay.

The aforementioned restrictions were temporarily relaxed for fully vaccinated travellers a couple of months ago but have been reintroduced in order to ensure a safer travel experience. You are allowed to switch between resorts but if you spend over 48 hours in the city of Malé, taking another PCR is mandatory before moving elsewhere.  So try your best to stay away from this tightly-packed city.

What if you are not fully vaccinated?

Well…if you have not got both jabs, expect to face more restrictions. You will be able to travel only to inhabited islands with guesthouses if 60% of the island population have completed two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine or 95% of all employees in the tourism sector of the island have completed two doses of COVID-19 vaccine or 90% of the island population over the age of 60 has completed two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is mandatory for all non-vaccinated travellers to complete a 14-day quarantine period and get a PCR test done on the seventh day of the quarantine period.

What to expect at your resort?

Despite the growing uncertainties in many parts of the world, the Maldives is considered a safe holiday destination as the resorts are isolated and the movements are usually restricted. Having said that, each resort will have its own set of health and safety protocols such as temperature checks and requests to wear masks at public places within the resort. 

The bone-white sandy waters, swaying palms and linen-trousered charming hoteliers of the Maldives are waiting to welcome you to your island haven.

Get in touch with one of our passionate travel experts and start planning your dreamy getaway to the Maldives.

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