Foreign Office issues new travel advice and urges UK tourists '96 hours before your flight'
The Foreign Office has issued new travel advice for UK tourists travelling to the Maldives. The paradise islands, famous for their crystal-clear waters and year-round sunshine, are a dream holiday destination and have already attracted well over a million tourists this year.
Anyone visiting the Indian Ocean country should be aware of its entry requirements, which includes a form that must be submitted before arrival. All travellers visiting the Maldives are required to submit a Traveller Declaration.
In a warning issued to UK tourists on Wednesday, November 20, the Foreign Office said: "You must complete a traveller declaration form (IMUGA) within 96 hours before your flight to the Maldives."
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There have been incidents of misleading activities where tourists have been asked to pay to submit the form, but it is free to submit on the official IMUGA portal. Holidaymakers will get a 30-day tourist visa when they arrive in the country.
Visitors should also make sure that their passport has an expiry date at least one month after the date they arrive, as per the Maldives' entry requirements. The Foreign Office goes onto say in its travel advice: "Make sure your passport is not damaged or you may be stopped by immigration.
"Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen."