Citizenship of the Republic of Maldives can be obtained by birth, adoption, marriage to a Maldivian citizen, or naturalization. 

Citizenship by birth

Birth in the Republic of Maldives automatically grants citizenship, unless:

• At least one of his/her parents is a citizen of the Maldives at the time of birth.

• The child is found abandoned, not knowing about the location of the parents. 

The child's place of birth is not a decisive factor.

Citizenship by adoption

All adoptions made or recognized under the laws of the Maldives grant the adopted child (if he is not yet a citizen of the Maldives) Maldivian citizenship, if at least one of the adoptive parents was a citizen of the Maldives at the time of adoption. 

Citizenship by marriage

Foreign spouses of Maldivian citizens do not obtain citizenship automatically and are not required to obtain Maldivian citizenship.

However, if you want to live as a spouse in the Maldives, you can apply for a marriage visa.

A marriage visa is a residence permit in the Maldives that is granted to a foreigner who is married to a citizen of the Maldives. A foreigner who is traveling to the Maldives to marry a Maldivian, or a foreigner who is married to a Maldivian and is traveling to the Maldives to register their marriage in the Maldives, must be sponsored prior to arrival. The sponsorship declaration must be submitted online through the digital Immigration Services Platform.

Upon arrival, the foreigner must complete the legal marriage process and apply for a marriage visa within the specified period of 30 days.

How do I apply for a marriage visa?

To apply for a marriage visa, the following documents are required:

• Permit renewal application form

• Applicant's passport

• Signature and seal of the Family Court in the application form

• Original and copy of the marriage certificate

• Copy of the Maldives citizen's identity card

• A photo with the size of the passport (the photo must meet the Maldives Immigration passport photo standard)

• Visa card fee, 50 Maldivian Rufiyaa.

• An employee's medical examination report issued from a hospital/clinic authorized by the relevant government agency.

Applications for a marriage visa are submitted online.

When the application is processed, the applicant will be notified via an online information portal and an appointment will be made to submit a passport for a visa.

How long is a marriage visa issued?

A marriage visa is issued for 1 year if it is a new application.

Naturalization

Naturalization allows a foreign citizen to obtain Maldivian citizenship. The procedure is different in each individual case.

What is naturalization?

Naturalization is the last step in the process of integration into the Maldivian lifestyle. This gives you the right to vote and run.

Since the Maldives recognizes dual citizenship, applicants for a Maldivian passport don’t risk losing their original citizenship, provided that the country of Origin also allows dual citizenship.

What are the requirements for obtaining citizenship by naturalization?

Anyone who are wishing to become a national of the Maldives must submit a written application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs subject to the following conditions:

• The religion he / she professes is Islam

• The person is 21 years old and healthy

• A person has lived in the Maldives continuously for 12 years

• The person has sufficient knowledge of the Constitution of the Maldives

• A person can write and speak the Divehi language

• If he/she is a citizen of a country other than the Maldives, provided that he / she renounces that country's citizenship in accordance with the law in force on that behalf and has officially notified the Government of the Maldives in writing of such renunciation.

The president of the Maldives may, at his or her discretion, grant citizenship to any person who has applied for registration in the Maldives, provided that he or she complies with the provisions of this act. 

Loss of citizenship

If you want to renounce your Maldivian citizenship, you must contact the authorities. In addition, the rules do not revoke your citizenship because you made a small mistake or applied for citizenship in another country.