Area: 298 km²
Residents: 344,023 (as of 2014)
Population density: 1,154 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: Presidential system
State capital: Malé National
language: Dhivehi
Currency:
1 Rufiyaa = 100 Laari
Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 18.57 MVR
100 MVR = 5, 30 EUR
1 CHF = 16.84 MVR
100 MVR = 5.84 CHF
(rate from 25.02.2021)
Telephone area code: +960
Time zone: UTC + 5h
In 2019, 28 Germans officially emigrated to the Maldives and 19 returned to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 284 Germans officially emigrated to the Maldives and 284 moved back to Germany.
Not only is the Maldives a popular and exotic holiday destination, but it also has something to offer those who choose to live on one of the various islands in the Indian Ocean. You can read here what special features emigrants can expect and what precautions should be taken.
Interesting facts about the Maldives
According to allcitycodes, the Republic of Maldives, as the collection of islands is officially called, cannot be directly compared with other archipelagos. In contrast to the Balearic Islands, for example, which includes 148 other islands in addition to the three large islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca, the Maldives has a much smaller area overall.
Nevertheless, they include several atolls (a kind of ring-shaped coral reef), which in turn are made up of almost 1,200 individual islands. Of these, 220 are inhabited by locals. Tourists also have the opportunity to explore 87 other islands, some of which are very small. However, these can often only be reached with small boats.
The capital of the republic, which calls itself Malé, is located in the North Malé Atoll on an island that actually bears the same name. A little more than 123,000 people live here. This population is roughly comparable to smaller cities in Germany. In total, around 328,500 people live in the Maldives.
The official language is Dhivehi, which is related to an old Sinhalese language: Elu. However, emigrants need not be afraid. For example, in the business world, English is very common.
However, if you want to maintain closer contact with the locals, you should – as usual – acquire the local language. The new language skills can then perhaps be tested in advance on a vacation in the Maldives, before you jump straight into the preparations for the move overseas.
Changed travel regulations during and after the corona pandemic
Entry into the Maldives is possible for tourists with a booking confirmation in a resort for the entire duration of their stay. Visas are issued free of charge upon entry. Furthermore, travelers must present a negative PCR test result upon entry. The swab may have been taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure. Children under one year of age are exempt from the test. In addition, it is mandatory to submit an electronic entry declaration, which must be completed on the website of the Maldivian border authorities before departure.
Temperature measurements are taken upon entry. Travelers with COVID-19 symptoms must undergo a PCR test at the airport for a fee. In addition, random, free tests can be carried out.
People who tested positive spend the necessary quarantine, depending on their state of health in the resort or in a quarantine facility of the Maldivian government. The quarantine lasts at least three days for people without symptoms and 14 days for people with symptoms. The costs for treatment, quarantine and tests can be transferred from the resort to the guest in accordance with the applicable regulations. The Maldivian government recommends that travelers use the local Trace Ekee tracing app.
Source: Federal Foreign Office on July 24th, 2021
General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)
Tips for preparation
- If you want to stay in the Maldives for more than 30 days, you need a corresponding visa. If you are planning a vacation first, you will get a temporary visa that is valid for 30 days. It is issued directly in the Maldives.
- Vaccinations: The Federal Foreign Office recommends that adults refresh their vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (polio) in good time. It also makes sense to refresh your vaccination against measles, guts and rubella. It is also advised to get vaccinated against hepatitis A. For longer stays, as is logically the case with emigrants, vaccinations against hepatitis B and typhoid are also possible.
- Don’t underestimate the heat. You do not have to meet the diseases listed above, but with the tropical heat and high humidity that are common in the Maldives, almost all Europeans have to struggle at the beginning. The midday sun in particular should therefore be avoided at the beginning. It is also very good to ensure that you drink enough fluids.
