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

Filipinos can work in the Maldives on an employer-arranged work permit, usually through an agency licensed by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). On 7 October 2026, DMW listed 931 approved job orders with the Maldives as the jobsite (DMW).

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 Filipinos

The 2022 census counted 1,723 Filipinos living in the Maldives (Maldives Bureau of Statistics). Between January 2013 and July 2021, 6,064 Filipinos arrived on work permits (Foreign Labour Statistics).

The Philippine Embassy in Dhaka describes the Maldives as a growing destination for Filipino workers in tourism and construction (Embassy page). Most vacancies on CareersMV are at resorts. At the end of 2022, resorts employed 55,874 people, 59% of them foreign (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 the Philippines before you fly

The rules are the 2023 DMW Rules for landbased workers, signed on 9 June 2023. These are the steps that matter for a Maldives job.

1. 01Check the agency and the job order. Look the agency up in DMW's licensed agencies directory, which shows whether its licence is valid or expired. Then search DMW's approved job orders for jobsite "MALDIVES" to see the position and employer.
2. 02Check the work permit. Ask for your Maldives work permit number and check it on the Xpat system with your name or passport number.
3. 03Sign the DMW-approved contract. Pay any placement fee only after you sign it (section 56).
4. 04Get your OFW Pass. DMW renamed the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) the OFW Clearance or OFW Pass in July 2023 (DMW circular). It is issued once your contract is processed and the DMW processing fee and OWWA contribution are paid (section 123).
5. 05Fly within its validity. The clearance is valid for 60 days for a first deployment and 90 days for rehires (section 124).

Returning workers going back to the same employer, known as Balik-Manggagawa, no longer pay the PHP 100 OFW Pass processing fee (DMW circular).

Direct hiring is banned, with exemptions

Section 126 of the 2023 Rules says no employer may hire a Filipino directly unless an exemption applies. DMW's FAQs list the exemptions, which include diplomatic missions, international organisations and senior government officials.

Other employers can directly hire professionals and skilled workers whose verified contracts beat DMW standards, but only for their first five direct hires. After that, the employer must recruit through a licensed Philippine agency. Direct hires are processed through DMW's online system for direct hires, POPS-Direct.

Agents and fees

The 2023 Rules split recruitment costs between you and the employer.

A licensed agency may charge a placement fee of up to one month's basic salary in the DMW-approved contract (section 56). There is no placement fee for domestic workers. None is allowed either for countries whose system does not allow recruitment fees.

Section 59 bans any other fee from the worker. Under section 139, an agency can be sanctioned for passing employer costs on to you or charging fees where they are not allowed. The agency must give you a BIR-registered receipt with the date, purpose and exact amount.

Ask DMW whether the no-fee rule applies to Maldives jobs before you pay a placement fee. Refuse to pay for a Maldives visa, work permit or ticket: those are the employer's costs. 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 check each figure in your DMW-approved contract. The Maldives has no minimum wage for foreign workers: the Minimum Wage Order covers employees other than expatriates.

Where to get help

There is no Philippine embassy in Malé. The Embassy of the Philippines in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is accredited to the Maldives (Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

• Embassy of the Philippines, Dhaka: Plot 2, Block K, Road 8, Park Road, Baridhara, Dhaka. Phone +880 2 9881590.
• Philippine Honorary Consul in Malé: Mr Abdulla Salih, M. Dalina Building, 5th floor, Orchid Magu, Malé 20183 (Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• DMW emergency hotline: 1348, email [email protected] (DMW).
• 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 DMW before you sign or pay.

Questions people ask

Is there a Philippine Embassy in the Maldives?

No. The Embassy of the Philippines in Dhaka covers the Maldives, and there is an honorary consul in Malé. For emergencies, call the DMW hotline, 1348.

Can a Maldives resort hire me directly without an agency?

Only in limited cases. Philippine rules ban direct hiring unless an exemption applies. A private employer can directly hire up to five professional or skilled workers on verified contracts; after that it must use a licensed agency.

How much placement fee can an agency charge for a Maldives job?

No more than one month's basic salary in your DMW-approved contract, and nothing for domestic workers. No fee is allowed where the destination's system bars recruitment fees, so ask DMW about the Maldives. Pay only after signing the contract, and get a BIR-registered receipt.

Do I still need an OEC to work in the Maldives?

Yes, under its new name. Since July 2023 the OEC is called the OFW Clearance or OFW Pass. It is valid for 60 days for a first deployment and 90 days for rehires.

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 agency 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 DMW-approved contract says.