Guides to working in the Maldives
Work permits and visas, the rules for your home country, pay, government jobs and resort life. Every rule and fee links its official source, and each guide shows when its sources were last checked. Start with how to get a job in the Maldives.
Working in the Maldives
- Working in the MaldivesHow to get a job in the Maldives: resorts, government and permits (2026)Apply to a resort, state office or company directly. If you are foreign, the employer must get your quota and work permit and pay the fees. How it works.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
- Working in the MaldivesFake Maldives job offers: how to check the employer, the offer letter and the work permit (2026)A real Maldives job never costs you a visa, quota or permit fee: the employer pays. How to check the employer, offer and permit, and where to report.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
- Working in the MaldivesResort life in the Maldives: staff housing, meals, days off and island rules (2026)Most resort staff live on the island they work on, with housing and meals usually provided. What staff housing, days off, leave and island rules look like.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
- Working in the MaldivesWork in the Maldives from Bangladesh: jobs, permits and pay (2026)Bangladeshis are the largest foreign community in the Maldives. What you need in 2026: BMET clearance, a licensed agency, official fees and pay in taka.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
- Working in the MaldivesWork in the Maldives from India: jobs, permits and pay (2026)Yes, Indians can work in the Maldives without ECR clearance, and the employer pays the work permit. Agent fee limits, pay in rupees and where to get help.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
- Working in the MaldivesWork in the Maldives from Nepal: jobs, permits and pay (2026)Yes, Nepalis can work in the Maldives: 5,958 got labour permits for it in 2023/24. What DoFE needs before you fly, agent rules, pay in rupees and help.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
- Working in the MaldivesWork in the Maldives from Pakistan: jobs, permits and pay (2026)Pakistanis can work in the Maldives on an employer-sponsored permit. Protector registration, OEP licence checks, BEOE fees and pay in rupees for 2026.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
- Working in the MaldivesWork in the Maldives from Sri Lanka: jobs, permits and pay (2026)Yes, Sri Lankans can work in the Maldives, but you must register with the SLBFE first (Rs 22,027). Permits, licensed agents, pay in rupees and help.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 6 min read
- Working in the MaldivesWork in the Maldives from the Philippines: jobs, permits and pay (2026)Filipinos can work in the Maldives through a DMW-licensed agency. OFW Pass, placement fee limits, the direct-hire ban and pay in pesos for 2026.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Rules and paperwork
- Rules and paperworkMaldives Employment Act in plain English: leave, hours, overtime and notice (2026)30 days annual leave, 30 days sick leave, a 48-hour week and overtime at 1.25 times pay: the Maldives Employment Act in plain English, with 2026 changes.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
- Rules and paperworkMaldives income tax and pension on your salary (2026)No income tax on the first MVR 60,000 of monthly pay, then 5.5% to 15%. Maldivians also pay 7% of basic salary into the pension, matched by the employer.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
- Rules and paperworkMaldives work permit and work visa: fees, medical and permit check (2026)Your employer applies and pays: MVR 2,000 a year per quota slot and MVR 350 a month for the permit. The work e-visa, medical test and permit check.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 10 min read
Pay
- PayMaldives minimum wage 2026: hourly rates by employer sizeThe Maldives minimum wage is MVR 21.63 to 38.46 an hour by employer size, and MVR 7,000 a month in the public sector. It covers Maldivians, not foreigners.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
- PayService charge in the Maldives: who must collect it, how staff share it and when it is paid (2026)Yes, it is mandatory: tourism businesses must add at least 10% and share it equally among staff, keeping at most 1%. How it is split and when it is paid.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 7 min read
Careers
- CareersButler jobs in the Maldives: what the job is, the career path and pay (2026)Resort butlers look after a set of villas from arrival to departure. The titles resorts use, the career ladder, the languages they want, live jobs and pay.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
- CareersChef jobs in the Maldives: kitchen ladder, food safety and pay (2026)Resort kitchens hire from commis to executive chef. The ladder, the food safety and HACCP knowledge kitchens ask for, languages, live chef jobs and pay.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
- CareersDive instructor jobs in the Maldives: PADI and SSI levels, pay and permits (2026)Resort dive centres hire divemasters and instructors. What each PADI and SSI level lets you do, languages wanted, pay and the 2029 quota cut-off.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
- CareersFront office jobs in the Maldives: career path, languages and pay (2026)Front office runs from guest service agent to front office manager. Titles resorts use, the languages they want, live jobs, pay and the quota rules.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
- CareersHousekeeping jobs in the Maldives: room attendant to executive housekeeper (2026)Resort housekeeping runs from room attendant to executive housekeeper. The job, the ladder, skills resorts ask for, live jobs, pay and quota rules.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
- CareersMaldives CV format and interview questions: resorts, schools and the civil service (2026)Send a short English CV with your latest job and certificates first. What resorts and the civil service ask for, a CV outline and interview questions.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 9 min read
- CareersMaldives government jobs: Gazette vacancies, civil service ranks and pay (2026)Civil service jobs are posted on the Government Gazette and filled on points for qualifications, experience, tests and interview. Documents, ranks, pay.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 10 min read
- CareersSpa therapist jobs in the Maldives: CIDESCO, ITEC, career path and pay (2026)Resort spas hire trained, experienced therapists. What CIDESCO and ITEC qualifications are, the career ladder, the spa rules, languages and pay.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
- CareersWaiter and bartender jobs in the Maldives: career path, WSET and pay (2026)Resort food and beverage runs from waiter or bartender to F&B manager. The ladder, what resorts ask for, WSET levels, languages, live jobs and pay.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
For employers
- For employersGazette or job board: where to advertise a job in the Maldives (2026)Public bodies publish vacancies in the Government Gazette; private employers use job boards, plus the National Job Center before hiring abroad.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 4 min read
- For employersHiring foreign workers in the Maldives: quota, work permit and fees (2026)Quota MVR 2,000 a year, work permit MVR 350 a month, both paid by you. The steps, deadlines and reserved jobs under Regulation 2025/R-120.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
- For employersHow to write a job vacancy in the Maldives that people apply to (2026)State the title, island, pay, what you provide, how to apply and a closing date. A checklist, a template and the legal points for Maldives job adverts.Checked 7 Oct 2026 · 5 min read