Work in the Maldives from Pakistan: jobs, permits and pay (2026)

Pakistanis can work in the Maldives on a work permit their employer arranges, but they are a small group. Only 1,029 Pakistanis arrived on work permits between January 2013 and July 2021, out of 276,778 arrivals in all (Foreign Labour Statistics).

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.

Which jobs are open to Pakistanis

The High Commission of Pakistan estimates about 450 Pakistani nationals live in the Maldives. It describes them as mainly doctors, with some bankers, IT specialists, HR managers, teachers, businessmen, Qaris and chefs (High Commission).

Most vacancies on CareersMV are at resorts. At the end of 2022, resorts employed 55,874 people, 59% of them foreign. Food and beverage was the largest area of work (Employment in Resorts 2022).

Some jobs are closing to foreign workers under Regulation 2025/R-120 on employing foreigners. Quotas for electricians end two years after it took effect, nurses after three and primary and secondary teachers after five (Xpat summary, in Dhivehi). Our work permit guide has the full list and dates.

What your employer does in the Maldives

Your employer, not you, gets the quota and the work permit, and you travel on the Work Permit Entry Pass. Within 15 days of your arrival the employer must apply for your work e-visa; visa stickers stopped being valid on 23 November 2025 (Maldives Immigration). Our work permit guide explains each step and who pays which fee.

What you must do in Pakistan before you fly

Before you emigrate for work, you must appear before the Protector of Emigrants and register, under section 15 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979. Emigrating other than as the Ordinance and rules allow is an offence under section 17. The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE) runs the Protectorate offices.

The Ordinance allows two routes, and BEOE describes both on its modes of employment page:

1. 01Through a licensed Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP). The OEP takes you to the Protector and handles the paperwork.
2. 02Direct employment. You find the job yourself or through relatives or friends, and register as a direct emigrant. BEOE offers online registration for this.

For direct employment, rule 22 of the Emigration Rules 1979 asks for a contract or appointment letter signed by the employer. It must be attested by the Pakistan mission in that country, here the High Commission in Malé, or you sign an undertaking in BEOE's form. Rule 22A also requires insurance before registration.

Before any of this, ask the employer for your work permit number. Check it on the Maldives Xpat system with your name or passport number.

BEOE's fee structure lists these amounts.

The rules place the Welfare Fund under the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (rule 26). Fees change, so confirm them at your Protectorate office before you pay.

Agents and fees

Only a person holding an Overseas Employment Promoter licence may act as one, under section 12 of the Ordinance. Recruiting for jobs abroad, or advertising or interviewing for them, needs BEOE or Protector permission under section 9.

Check any agent on BEOE's list of OEPs. You can search by licence number, licence title or proprietor's name, and it separates valid, expired, cancelled and surrendered licences. BEOE notices write licence numbers like "OEPL No. 4782/RWP", so ask for the number and search it.

The rules cap what an OEP may take from you:

• Rs 15,000 service charges, paid into a bank, not to the agent. The bank issues a certificate. The OEP is reimbursed only once the Protector certifies you have joined the job abroad (rule 15).
• Rs 6,000 if you found the job yourself but need an OEP to endorse the visa. In that case the OEP may charge only its actual costs (rule 15).
• No other fee. The code of conduct in rule 25 says no OEP may charge anything beyond the rule 15 service charges.

Under section 22 of the Ordinance, an OEP that charges more faces up to 14 years in prison. So does anyone unlicensed who takes money for a job abroad. BEOE publishes complaints against OEPs and their outcome on its complaints page.

Refuse any offer to fly on a visit visa and find work later. The Maldives work e-visa depends on a work permit your employer gets first (Maldives Immigration). Our guide to fake Maldives job offers lists other warning signs.

Pay

Resorts rarely advertise pay, so most advertised pay on CareersMV comes from government jobs. Resort listings often state that service charge, accommodation and meals are part of the offer. Treat that as what the listing says, and get each figure into your contract. The Maldives has no minimum wage for foreign workers: the Minimum Wage Order covers employees other than expatriates.

Where to get help

• High Commission of Pakistan, Malé: R11.02, Kinbigas Magu, Goali No. 1, Hulhumalé 23000, Phase 1. Phone +960 332 3005, email [email protected] (contact page).
• Overseas Pakistanis Foundation: +92 51 111 040 040 (OPF).
• BEOE headquarters: Emigration Tower, Plot 10, Mauve Area, G-8/1, Islamabad. Director General's office +92 51 9107272 (BEOE).
• Labour Relations Authority (LRA), Maldives, for unpaid wages, overtime, leave or breach of contract. Use the online complaint form or call +960 332 8282 (contact). The LRA says the Employment Act covers expatriates as well as Maldivians (LRA).

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, check with your Protectorate of Emigrants office or the High Commission before you sign or pay.

Questions people ask

Can Pakistanis get jobs in the Maldives?

Yes, if an employer in the Maldives gets you a work permit. Pakistanis are a small group: the High Commission estimates about 450 live there, mainly doctors. Look for vacancies open to expatriates and confirm the employer will apply for your permit.

How much is the Protector fee for a Maldives job?

BEOE lists Rs 9,200 for direct employment: Rs 4,000 Welfare Fund, Rs 2,500 insurance, Rs 2,500 registration and Rs 200 OEC fee. Through an OEP the total is Rs 22,200, which includes Rs 15,000 service charges paid into a bank. Confirm the amounts at your Protectorate office.

Can I go to the Maldives on direct employment without an agent?

Yes. The Ordinance and rule 22 allow direct employment on an individual or group visa. You still register with the Protector of Emigrants, and your contract needs attestation or a BEOE undertaking.

How do I check if an OEP is licensed?

Search BEOE's list of Overseas Employment Promoters by licence number, title or proprietor name. Use only an agent whose licence shows as valid. If you pay service charges, pay them into the bank as rule 15 requires.

How do I check my Maldives work permit?

Use the Work Permit Verification page on the Xpat system. You need the work permit number and your name or passport number. If nothing shows, do not travel until your employer explains why.

What is the minimum salary in the Maldives?

There is none for foreign workers. The Minimum Wage Order, in force since 1 January 2022, covers employees other than expatriates. Your pay is what your contract says, so get every part of it in writing.