Airlines and other aircraft operators flying to and from the Maldives will face expanded requirements to provide passenger information to Maldives Immigration before departure under new regulations taking effect on October 30.
The framework will allow immigration authorities to screen passengers before an aircraft arrives in the Maldives or departs the country, strengthening existing Advance Passenger Information arrangements used at the border.
The requirements apply to aircraft entering and leaving the Maldives and place responsibility on operators and other relevant parties, including aircraft owners, charterers, agents and captains.
Before a journey begins, authorities must be provided with information about the aircraft and its passengers.
Required flight information includes aircraft details and scheduled departure and arrival times, while passenger records will include personal information and details from travel documents.
Visa information, permanent addresses and intended travel destinations are also among the information covered by the regulations.
The advance screening system is intended to give authorities an opportunity to identify potential security or immigration concerns before passengers cross the Maldivian border.
This includes screening for individuals associated with terrorist organisations and foreign nationals suspected of involvement in serious criminal offences.
The regulations also support the Maldives’ obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions and international aviation agreements.
Information obtained through the system may be shared by Maldives Immigration with the Maldives Customs Service where necessary.
In cases involving terrorism-related concerns, information can also be provided to the relevant intelligence authorities.
Agencies receiving passenger information are required to protect its confidentiality and handle it in accordance with the regulations.
Failure by responsible parties to comply with the requirements can result in an MVR 2,000 fine.
The Maldives already operates an Advance Passenger Information system for international aviation.
Civil Aviation Authority records show requirements for airlines operating international flights to provide advance passenger information have existed since at least 2005.
A separate aviation circular on Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data was issued in 2021 and applies to airlines operating international flights to and from the Maldives.
Under the existing aviation framework, information collected can include a flight’s identification, scheduled arrival and departure times, ports of departure and arrival, passenger and crew numbers, and identifying information for individual travellers.
Passenger and crew data covered by the existing system includes names, gender, date of birth, nationality and passport or other official travel document numbers.
The Maldives Immigration Act also requires every aircraft arriving in the country to provide immigration officers with complete passenger and crew lists. Aircraft captains are additionally required to facilitate interviews with passengers or crew members and inspections of aircraft when requested by immigration authorities.
The latest regulations therefore build on an established passenger information system while setting out a more comprehensive framework for advance screening and the handling of information.
The change comes as Maldives Immigration continues to digitise and streamline border procedures.
Foreign visitors currently submit an electronic Traveller Declaration through the IMUGA platform within 96 hours before arrival. The declaration is separate from information supplied by airlines and aircraft operators under the advance passenger screening framework.
Outbound passengers have not been required to submit the Traveller Declaration since August 2024, when Immigration removed the requirement as part of efforts to simplify departure procedures. Security and immigration screening remained in place despite the change.
The new aircraft operator requirements are scheduled to come into force on October 30.
