See Maldives/Clearance for the latest information on clearance into the Maldives and permits.
The Customs officer will come to you in a speedboat with your agent. You have to pay for the speedboat - approx. US$150-$200.
To avoid this it is possible to anchor at Himmafushi, a few miles north and then if you need to go to Male, catch the ferry.
Anchoring in Malé atoll itself is difficult because of depth. A patch with a minimum depth of 50 ft (15 m) is reported at 4°10.40'N 73°29.80'E. If this place is occupied, one must be prepared to anchor nearby in depths of around 150 ft (50 m).
The Coastguard must inspect the yacht and provide clearance before any of the other officials. No one must go ashore until clearance is completed. Customs, Immigration, and Health will board during office hours to carry out the rest of the clearance. Note that Sunday is classed as a working day in the Maldives.
On departure, first, clear Immigration, then the Port Authority and finally Customs. This can take some time.
Last updated: October 2025
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