How to get a job in the Maldives: resorts, government and permits (2026)

You get a job in the Maldives by applying directly to an employer: a resort, a state office or a private company. If you are not Maldivian, the employer must also get a quota and a work permit for you, and the employer pays the government fees.

1,599 vacancies are open in the Maldives on CareersMV as of 7 Oct 2026: 1,096 at 123 resorts and 398 in government and the public sector.

Where the jobs are

Most vacancies are at resorts. Resorts employed 55,874 people at the end of 2022, and 59% of them were foreign (Maldives Bureau of Statistics).

Food and beverage service was the largest area of resort work in that survey, at 33% of staff. Accommodation services came next at 23%, then administration at 15%.

The state is the other large employer. The civil service had 31,878 employees on 30 June 2026 (Civil Service Commission). It covers ministries, state schools, hospitals, health centres and council offices.

• Health: hospitals and health centres advertise their posts on the Government Gazette. The Ministry of Health also recruits foreign nurses and doctors through registered agencies, using English "demand letters" (example, 18 August 2026).
• Education: state schools advertise teacher and support posts on the Gazette themselves. See the government jobs guide for teacher pay and licences.
• Construction and trades: building firms, utilities and maintenance contractors hire engineers, technicians, site supervisors and labourers.
• Everything else: banks, airlines, shops, guesthouses, transport companies and offices.

Jobs foreigners cannot take

Some jobs are closed to foreign workers, and more will close by December 2030. Regulation 2025/R-120, in force since 14 December 2025, lists them in Schedule 2, article 26 (regulation, Ministry summary).

When a deadline passes, quotas already issued for that job are cancelled and no new ones are issued. Babysitters were on the first list but were removed by the first amendment on 17 December 2025. The Ministry can change the list, depending on how many Maldivians are available for the work (article 26(b)).

How hiring works for Maldivians

Maldivians need no permit: you apply to the employer and, if selected, sign a written employment contract. The Employment Act requires a written contract that states your pay, pay day, leave and how the job can end (section 13). The employment law guide covers hours, leave and notice.

For a civil service post you fill in the Civil Service Commission's application form and attach set documents. The government jobs guide lists them and explains how points are scored.

How hiring works for foreigners

The employer does almost all of the work, and pays for it. Under Regulation 2025/R-120, the employer must register the worksite, obtain a quota and obtain your work permit before you come (article 13).

The advertising rule is in Schedule 2, article 18. The second amendment of 1 April 2026 restated the quota fee and exempted micro, small and medium businesses on up to 20 quotas. The work permit fee is in article 36. Article 77 says the employer pays the fees charged under the regulation.

Two visa rules catch people out. You cannot switch from a tourist visa to a work permit inside the Maldives (Schedule 4, article 10). From 15 September 2026, people who arrive on a business visa or special visa cannot get a work permit in the country either (Xpat notice).

Your employer, not you, applies for the work visa, and work visa stickers stopped being valid after 23 November 2025 (Maldives Immigration). The work permit and work visa guide covers each step, the documents and the deadlines.

Where vacancies are published

Public jobs are published on the Government Gazette; private jobs are spread across employers' own sites, job boards and agencies.

• Government Gazette. State offices post their vacancies at gazette.gov.mv/iulaan, under the category "vazeefaage furusathu" (job opportunity). Each notice (iulaan) has a reference number and a deadline. Most are in Dhivehi; CareersMV shows them in English at /jobs/government.
• State-owned companies also post vacancies on the Gazette, some of them in English.
• Resort career pages. Resorts and hotel groups list openings on their own websites, and many also post on social media and professional networking sites.
• Job boards and job blogs. These republish vacancies from employers and from the Gazette. Before you send documents, find the employer's own advert or contact details.
• Recruitment agencies. An agency can represent an employer on the Xpat system only with a Category A or B licence (Regulation 2025/R-120, article 8). By law it may not take any fee from you (Employment Act, section 70).

On CareersMV, /jobs lists every open vacancy, /resorts groups resort jobs by resort, and /radar sends you alerts for new matches.

How to apply to a resort

You apply to a resort with an English CV, sent to the email address or form in its advert. Expect to give the position you want, your recent experience and your contact details; some resorts also ask for references or a photo.

Shortlisted candidates usually have a phone or video interview with the department head and human resources. Chefs, bartenders, spa therapists and technicians may also be asked for a practical test.

If you are foreign and get an offer, the employer will ask for the documents it needs for your work permit. Under Schedule 4, article 11 of Regulation 2025/R-120 these are:

1. 01A colour copy of your passport data page, plus old passport details if your passport has changed.
2. 02A passport-size digital colour photo.
3. 03Your signed letter of appointment.
4. 04Your certificates, accredited by the Maldives Qualifications Authority, if the job needs a qualification.
5. 05Your professional licence, if the job needs one.
6. 06A work permit medical from a provider registered with the Ministry.
7. 07A police report from your home country, less than 6 months old.
8. 08Proof of the vaccinations the Ministry of Health requires.

The CV and interview guide has a CV outline and common resort interview questions by department.

Pay and what a resort offer usually includes

Resorts rarely publish pay in their adverts, so most advertised pay in the Maldives comes from government posts. CareersMV shows what listings do state at /insights/salaries.

A resort package is usually a basic salary plus a monthly share of service charge. Every tourist resort must add at least 10% service charge and pass it to staff, minus at most 1% (Employment Act, section 52). The amount varies by resort and by month; the service charge guide explains the rules.

Resort adverts that list benefits commonly mention staff accommodation, meals, medical insurance, annual leave and air tickets. Check which of these your letter of appointment actually promises.

Some points are set by law rather than by the resort:

• The employer must arrange accommodation for foreign staff for as long as they work there (Regulation 2025/R-120, article 60).
• Your letter of appointment must state your basic salary in US dollars and in rufiyaa (Schedule 9).
• Since late September 2026, salaries of foreign staff must be paid into a bank account in their own name (third amendment, 2026/R-69).
• The minimum wage applies only to Maldivians, at hourly rates that depend on the size of the employer (Minimum Wage Order).

Staying safe

A genuine Maldivian employer never needs you to pay for a quota, work permit, visa or deposit. You can check a work permit with its number and your name or passport number on the Xpat Work Permit Verification page.

Be wary of requests for money, offer letters without the employer's registration number, and advice to fly in on a tourist visa. The guide to avoiding fake Maldives job offers has a full checklist and the offices to report to.

Guides by nationality

Each guide covers the rules in your home country as well as in the Maldives:

• Work in the Maldives from India
• Work in the Maldives from Sri Lanka
• Work in the Maldives from Nepal
• Work in the Maldives from Bangladesh
• Work in the Maldives from Pakistan
• Work in the Maldives from the Philippines

Rules change often. Check your own case with the Ministry's Department of Foreign Labour on 1485 or with Maldives Immigration before you travel.

Questions people ask

Can a foreigner get a job in the Maldives?

Yes. A Maldivian employer can hire you once it has a quota for the job and a work permit for you, and it pays the fees. The job must first be offered to Maldivians, and some jobs, such as taxi driver and boat captain, are closed to foreigners.

Is it easy to get a job in the Maldives?

It depends on your field. Resorts hire in large numbers and most resort staff in 2022 were foreign, so hospitality experience and good English help most. Some jobs, such as accountant and electrician, close to new foreign hires in December 2027.

How do I apply for a Maldives resort job?

Send an English CV to the address or form in the resort's advert, naming the position. Shortlisted candidates usually have a video interview, and some roles include a practical test. If you are foreign, the resort then applies for your work permit.

Can I work in the Maldives without a permit?

No. Regulation 2025/R-120 forbids employing a foreigner without a work permit, and the employer can be fined. Maldivian citizens do not need a permit.

How much do Maldives resort staff get paid?

Resorts rarely publish salaries. Resort pay is usually a basic salary plus a monthly service charge share, which varies by resort and month, and often includes accommodation and meals. See /insights/salaries for the pay that listings do state.

How can I get a job in the Maldives from India?

Apply to Maldivian employers directly or through a licensed agent. The employer arranges your quota, permit and visa and pays the Maldivian fees, so nobody should charge you for them. The India guide covers the Indian side, including agents.