The IMUGA Traveller Declaration is the one online step before a Maldives holiday. It is free, it takes about ten minutes per person, and it can only be filed in the 96 hours before you land.
This guide walks through it in order. For the full entry rules, see the Maldives visa on arrival guide or browse the entry and travel paperwork hub.
What is IMUGA and who must file it?
IMUGA is the Maldives Immigration online system. Its Traveller Declaration replaced the paper arrival card, and it collects your identity, travel, health and customs details before you arrive.
Every traveller files one, including children and infants. A family of four needs four declarations and four QR codes.
What to have ready before you start
Gather these first. Most errors happen when people fill the form from memory.
| Item | Where to find it | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Passport for each traveller | Photo page | Using an old passport number after renewal |
| Full name as printed | Passport, not your ticket | Dropping "bin" or "binti", or reordering names |
| Flight number and arrival date | E-ticket, e.g. AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines or Batik Air from KUL | Entering the departure date instead of the Male arrival date |
| Accommodation name | Resort, hotel or guesthouse confirmation | Using a nickname instead of the registered name |
| Contact details | Your own phone and email | Using a friend's email you cannot check |
Departure dates and arrival dates are the same day on all three nonstop KUL to Male flights. The flight takes about 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes and Male is 3 hours behind Malaysia.
Step by step on the official portal
- Open imuga.immigration.gov.mv/traveller directly in your browser. Type it yourself rather than clicking an ad.
- Choose the Traveller Declaration, then the arrival declaration.
- Enter personal details exactly as printed in the passport: full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth.
- Enter travel details: flight number, arrival date and the country you are flying from.
- Enter your accommodation in the Maldives, using the property's registered name.
- Answer the health and customs questions honestly. Alcohol and pork cannot be brought in, so leave duty-free bottles at KLIA.
- Review every field, then submit. Save the QR code that appears.
Repeat for each traveller. At no point should the official form ask for a payment card, because the declaration is free.
What to do with the QR code
Save each QR code as a screenshot on your phone so it works offline. Many travellers also print a copy for each person.
Airlines may ask to see it at check-in at KLIA, and Maldives Immigration checks it on arrival at Velana. Keep it with the passport it belongs to.
Common problems and quick fixes
- The form will not accept your date: you are probably more than 96 hours from landing. Wait and try again, using our IMUGA deadline reminder calculator.
- You flew in from another country first: the "country of departure" is where your flight to Male starts.
- You are staying at two properties: enter the first one, and keep both confirmations ready to show.
- Your phone dies: carry a printout.
A worked example for a couple flying from KLIA
Aina and Hakim fly AirAsia from KUL on a Saturday morning, landing in Male at about 09:50 local time. Their 96-hour window opens around 09:50 Maldives time on the Tuesday before, which is about 12:50 in Malaysia.
They file on Wednesday evening at home, one declaration each, with both passports open on the table. Each QR code is saved as a screenshot named with their first name and printed once.
On Saturday the check-in agent at KLIA glances at the codes, and the immigration officer at Velana scans them with their passports. Their resort booking and return e-ticket sit in the same phone folder in case the officer asks.
When to file, and what it costs
The best time is usually two to three days before departure. The IMUGA timing guide works through real KLIA departure times.
The form costs nothing. Read whether IMUGA is free and how to spot IMUGA scam websites before you search for the portal.
Who finds IMUGA trickiest
Families and groups take the longest, because every person needs a separate entry. Older travellers who rarely use online forms may prefer a younger relative to complete theirs with the passport at hand.
Honeymooners should check that the bride's name matches her passport, not the new married name she plans to use. Solo and budget travellers on local islands should enter the registered guesthouse name, not the island name alone.
Questions travellers ask
Can one parent fill in IMUGA for the whole family?
What if I make a mistake after submitting?
Do I need to print the QR code?
Is there a departure form when leaving the Maldives?
Sources and checks
Last reviewed:
- Maldives Immigration, IMUGA Traveller Declaration portal · imuga.immigration.gov.mv · Checked 12 October 2026
- Maldives Immigration, Tourist Visa · immigration.gov.mv · Checked 12 October 2026
- Visit Maldives corporate news, departure declaration removed · corporate.visitmaldives.com · Checked 11 October 2026
If you would like your flight numbers, arrival times and resort details laid out ready for IMUGA, send us your trip brief and we reply with a plan you can copy from.
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