Residence in the MaldivesOverview
For most of its history the Maldives offered foreign nationals little beyond tourist, work and business visas. That changed in November 2020, when the People's Majlis passed, and the President ratified, the second amendment to the Immigration Act (Law No. 1/2007). The amendment introduced a resident visa for foreign investors, generally referred to as the Corporate Resident Visa, available to those who have invested more than USD 250,000 in the Maldives or who keep the same amount in a fixed deposit with a Maldivian bank for five years. Shareholders and partners of companies registered and operating in the Maldives may obtain the visa for themselves and their families under the implementing rules.
Building on that framework, the Government announced in 2024 its intention to relaunch investor residence as a broader programme. In July 2025 it signed an agreement with an international advisory firm to design the scheme, and in November 2025 the Minister of Economic Development and Trade formally introduced it in London as the Maldives Pearl Residence. The programme is presented as the country's first residence-by-investment scheme, oriented towards real estate and other qualifying investments and aimed at long-term, high-net-worth residents.
The originally announced launch date of April 2026 passed without the programme opening. As at October 2026 the official programme website on the government domain states that the Pearl Residence is launching in the second half of 2026 and invites applicants, agents and developers to register interest. Investment thresholds, fees, validity, family rules and due diligence standards have not been published in an official instrument. Figures circulating in the market should therefore be treated as provisional until regulations or official guidelines are issued.
Investors should also be clear about what Maldivian residence does not provide. The Constitution limits citizenship to Muslims and contains no citizenship-by-investment provision, so residence does not lead to a passport through investment. The Maldives has also had a personal income tax regime since 2020, so tax planning should be based on individual advice rather than on general descriptions of the country as tax-free.
Key benefits
- A legal right of residence in an Indian Ocean jurisdiction with direct air links to the Gulf, South Asia and Europe
- An established statutory route (Corporate Resident Visa) available now, independent of the Pearl Residence launch
- A bank-deposit option that does not require operating a local business
- Family members of qualifying investors may be covered by the residence visa
- Early positioning for the Pearl Residence, which the Government describes as a permanent residence programme
- Opportunity to combine residence with hospitality and real estate investment in a tourism-led economy
Requirements
- Investment of more than USD 250,000 in the Maldives, or a USD 250,000 fixed deposit in a Maldivian bank maintained for five years (Corporate Resident Visa)
- Where the route is company-based, shareholding or partnership in a company registered and operating in the Maldives
- Lawful and documented source of funds and source of wealth
- Valid passport and clean criminal record, supported by police clearance certificates
- Medical documentation as required by Maldives Immigration
- Compliance with the implementing rules issued under the Immigration Act, which may be updated
- For the Pearl Residence: eligibility, minimum investment and due diligence criteria to be confirmed when official guidelines are published
Investment options
Maldives Pearl Residence (forthcoming)
Residence-by-investment programme introduced by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade in November 2025 and described as a permanent residence. Officially scheduled to launch in H2 2026; qualifying investments, thresholds and fees have not yet been published. Interest can be registered on the official programme site.
Corporate Resident Visa – investment route
USD 250,000
For foreign nationals who have invested more than USD 250,000 in the Maldives, typically through a registered and operating Maldivian company in which they are shareholders or partners.
Corporate Resident Visa – fixed deposit route
USD 250,000 for 5 years
For foreign nationals who maintain USD 250,000 in a fixed deposit account with a bank in the Maldives for five years, without the need to run a local business.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Eligibility and route review
We assess objectives, nationality, family composition and source of wealth, and confirm whether the existing Corporate Resident Visa or waiting for the Pearl Residence is the better fit.
- 2
Source-of-wealth file
We assemble a documented narrative of how the investment funds were earned, ready for bank onboarding and immigration review.
- 3
Structuring the investment
Depending on the route, we coordinate company registration and capitalisation, or the opening of the fixed deposit with a licensed Maldivian bank.
- 4
Application preparation
We prepare the immigration application and supporting documents, including police clearances, medical evidence and proof of the qualifying investment.
- 5
Submission and follow-up
The application is lodged with the competent authorities and we manage queries until a decision is issued.
- 6
Ongoing compliance
We monitor investment holding periods, company good standing and visa renewals, and track publication of the Pearl Residence rules for clients who wish to transition.
Typical documents
- Valid passport and passport-style photographs for each applicant
- Police clearance certificates from the country of nationality and residence
- Medical certificate as specified by Maldives Immigration
- Bank certificate confirming the fixed deposit, or audited evidence of the investment
- Company registration documents and shareholder register (company route)
- Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth evidence
- Marriage and birth certificates for family members, legalised and translated where required
- Completed application forms and proof of fee payment
How Legal Wealth helps
Legal Wealth works on a compliance-first basis: we do not encourage clients to commit capital to a programme whose rules have not been officially published. For the Maldives we provide a clear comparison of the current Corporate Resident Visa and the forthcoming Pearl Residence, prepare a robust source-of-wealth file, coordinate banking and corporate steps discreetly, and keep the family's residence aligned with its wider wealth, succession and tax planning. Enquiries are handled confidentially at info@legalwealthglobal.com.
Enquire with Legal WealthFrequently asked questions
Is the Maldives Pearl Residence open for applications?
Not as at October 2026. The official programme website states that it is launching in the second half of 2026 and currently accepts registrations of interest only. Investment thresholds and fees have not been officially published.
Can I obtain residence in the Maldives today through investment?
Yes. Since the November 2020 amendment to the Immigration Act, investors can apply for a resident visa by investing more than USD 250,000 in the Maldives or keeping USD 250,000 in a Maldivian bank fixed deposit for five years.
Does Maldivian residence lead to citizenship?
Not through investment. The Constitution requires citizens to be Muslim and there is no citizenship-by-investment provision. Naturalisation is a separate, residence-based process with its own conditions.
Can my family be included?
The 2020 amendment allows shareholders and partners of Maldivian companies to obtain the visa for themselves and their families under the applicable rules. Family rules for the Pearl Residence will be confirmed when it is launched.
Is the Maldives tax-free for residents?
No general assumption should be made. The Maldives introduced personal income tax in 2020, and the tax position of a resident depends on individual circumstances and income sources. We coordinate with tax advisers before any move.
Should I wait for the Pearl Residence?
It depends on timing and goals. If residence is needed now, the existing route is available. If the aim is permanent residence linked to real estate, it may be sensible to prepare documentation now and decide once the official terms are released.
Last reviewed: 2026-10. Requirements, fees and timelines change. Information is general, reviewed on the date shown, and is not legal or tax advice.
Sources
- Maldives Pearl Residence – official programme site
- President's Office – ratification of second amendment to the Immigration Act (25 November 2020)
- PSM/MMTV – Maldives to launch the Maldives Pearl Residence
- Adhadhu – Maldives Pearl Residence investment program announced
- Maldives Independent – status of the Pearl Residence (May 2026)
