Maldives duty-free allowance
Your duty-free allowance is what you can bring into the Maldiveswithout paying import duty or tax. Anything above it must be declared at customs and is taxed. The figures below were checked on 2026-08-01 against the official customs source, linked on the card.
Alcohol
Prohibited
confiscated on arrival, even duty-free
Full rule
PROHIBITED - importation of liquor and alcoholic products without prior approval is banned (Law No. 4/1975, Import Prohibition Act); duty-free alcohol bought on the flight or en route is confiscated on arrival. Alcohol is served at licensed tourist resorts/hotels instead
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 25 cigars or 250 g tobacco · 18+
Full rule
200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 250 g of tobacco products per tourist 18+; excess is retained by Customs up to 30 days and can be collected at the Velana International Airport departure counter when leaving
Goods & gifts
MVR 10,000
beyond ordinary personal effects
Full rule
Personal-use items (clothes, jewellery, watches, gadgets, toiletries, books) duty-free, plus MVR 10,000 worth of other personal items; goods valued MVR 10,001+ must be declared and duty paid. Returning residents/students get time-abroad allowances (MVR 9,000 / 11,500 / 14,000)
Cash · declare from
USD 10,000+
arrival and departure
Full rule
USD 10,000+ equivalent in any currency must be declared on arrival and departure (AML Act 10/2014); online declaration at customs.gov.mv/CashDeclaration
Depends on: 18+ for tobacco; returning-resident tiers by time abroad (6-12 months MVR 9,000, 1-3 years MVR 11,500, 3+ years MVR 14,000)
Good to know
Alcohol AND pork/pork by-products are import-prohibited for travelers (Islamic law based Import Prohibition Act) - do not buy duty-free alcohol en route, it is confiscated at the airport (held items can be reclaimed on departure). Also banned: pornography, idols for worship, materials offensive to Islam, dogs. customs.gov.mv blocks WebFetch (403) but serves curl with a browser UA
From Maldives's official customs guidance, checked 2026-08-01 ·verify at the source · Guidance, not law — allowances change and the customs officer has the final say. Verify before you fly.
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Find a travelerMaldives duty-free allowance: common questions
How much alcohol can I bring into the Maldives duty-free?
PROHIBITED - importation of liquor and alcoholic products without prior approval is banned (Law No. 4/1975, Import Prohibition Act); duty-free alcohol bought on the flight or en route is confiscated on arrival. Alcohol is served at licensed tourist resorts/hotels instead
How much tobacco can I bring into the Maldives duty-free?
200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 250 g of tobacco products per tourist 18+; excess is retained by Customs up to 30 days and can be collected at the Velana International Airport departure counter when leaving
What is the duty-free goods allowance for the Maldives?
Personal-use items (clothes, jewellery, watches, gadgets, toiletries, books) duty-free, plus MVR 10,000 worth of other personal items; goods valued MVR 10,001+ must be declared and duty paid. Returning residents/students get time-abroad allowances (MVR 9,000 / 11,500 / 14,000)
How much cash can I bring into the Maldives without declaring it?
USD 10,000+ equivalent in any currency must be declared on arrival and departure (AML Act 10/2014); online declaration at customs.gov.mv/CashDeclaration
Are there conditions on the Maldives' duty-free allowance?
18+ for tobacco; returning-resident tiers by time abroad (6-12 months MVR 9,000, 1-3 years MVR 11,500, 3+ years MVR 14,000)
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