Starting a business in Maldives: foreigner's guide (2026)

All foreign investors must submit a Foreign Investment Application to the Ministry of Economic Development & Trade before company registration can proceed. Most applications follow an automatic route and are processed within 5–30 working days; approval is granted for an initial 5-year period, renewable thereafter.

The FDI Policy 2020 uses a positive list; 100% foreign ownership is permitted in many sectors, but sector-specific caps apply — e.g., sea transport (49%), guesthouses in approved locations (49%), air transport (75%), warehousing/transport support (75%). Certain activities are reserved exclusively for Maldivian nationals.

Foreign parties may register as a private limited company or partnership only. Registration as a sole proprietor or cooperative society is not available to foreigners under the Business Registration Act 2014.

The minimum share capital for a private limited company is MVR 2,000 (approximately USD 130). A mandatory administrative fee of USD 5,000 is payable to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority, and the company registration fee at the Ministry is approximately USD 300.

Every company must have at least one director ordinarily resident in the Maldives, and must appoint a company secretary who is a Maldivian citizen. As of January 2025, re-registered foreign companies must also appoint a local agent residing in the Maldives.

The typical process involves: (1) obtain Foreign Investment Approval (5–30 working days); (2) reserve a company name via the online Business Portal; (3) prepare and submit Memorandum & Articles of Association plus director/shareholder identity documents; (4) register with the Registrar of Companies and pay fees; (5) obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from MIRA. End-to-end timeline is typically 4–6 weeks.