Ban on imports:

Alcoholic drinks, weapons, drugs, pornographic, equipment for underwater hunting.

There is a very high punishment for drug affairs.

Ban on exports:

Turtle carapaces, tortoiseshell products, black corals - even treated (according the Washington agreement of protection of species)

Video Camera / Video Tape:

There is no problem with taking cameras and tapes for personal use as long as these are carried out again. The custom authorities reserve the right to take accidental tests within video tapes. These are tested in Male and are given back when proper (Length of tests: approximately 3 days). The tests are in general against forbidden entry of pornographic or violent videos. Put an urgency on the return and inform your hotel management. We recommend taking only unused and originally packed videos with you. You can also buy VHS tapes in Male and some hotel islands.

Insurance:

We recommend taking out a complete travel and holiday insurance, which covers luggage, accidents, disease and liability.

Nude bathing:

Nude bathing is forbidden on the Maldives.

Credit cards:

Different levels of acceptance on the hotel islands as well as in the shops in Male.

Clothing:

We recommend light summer clothing and headdress (tropical sun!), sports and swimwear, bathing shoes (waterproof sports shoes), sun glasses

Travel without tour operator (tourist islands):

Trips which are not booked via a tour operator need a long organisation. In general you have to contact your hotel management via letter, fax or phone. You have to show a booking confirmation when entering. Between November and March entering without a booking confirmation is nearly impossible.

Travel without tour operator (on inhabited islands only with special permission):

For a stay on inhabited native islands you have to ask for permission a registration at the Ministry of Atolls Administration in Male. Your application has to make sure that your stay is for study or journalistic reasons. Then the traveller can stay at a local family. After permission you can order small fisher boats (Dhonis) in Male to bring you to your destination island. In case permission is made, a stay on inhabited native islands is only possible for direct travellers from Europe or via a stopover of less than 24 hours in an Asian country.

Tips:

 A tip is common for good service (room, bar and restaurant, luggage handling, etc.)

Electricity supply:

On the islands there are generators of 220 V / 50 Hz. Sometimes they also have 230 V.

Drugs:

The possession of drugs or even seeds of drug plants is highly forbidden. There are hard punishments like lifelong arrest, also for tourists!

Public holidays:

Weekly holidays are on Fridays (Islam) and Saturdays (public administration is closed).
In addition to that: 1st of January – New Years Eve, 26th / 27th of July – Independence Day, 3rd of November – Victory Day, 11th and 12th of November – Republic Day.
There are between 10 and 13 more public holidays, which vary from year to year and are calculated along the Islam calendar (for example the Islam New Year, Birthday of the prophet Mohammed, Huravee Day, Day of the martyr, Start of fasting month)

Measure and Weight:

Kilogram, gram, inch, foot meter, centimetre