Maldives

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Department of Immigration and Emigration

Embassy Finder: Maldivian Diplomatic Missions

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	12 years continuous residence in the Maldives
Language requirement	Must be able to speak Dhivehi (Maldivian)
Civics test	None formal
Processing time	12—36 months (highly discretionary)
Naturalization fee	MVR 1,000—5,000 (approximately USD 65—325)
Dual citizenship	Not permitted
Citizenship by birth in the Maldives	Limited — at least one parent must be Maldivian
Citizenship by descent	Children of Maldivian citizens acquire citizenship
Governing law	Maldivian Citizenship Act (Law No. 1/2007); Constitution of the Maldives, 2008 (Chapter II)

Dual Citizenship

The Maldives does not permit dual citizenship. This prohibition is established in the Citizenship Act and reinforced by the Constitution.

Article 9(d) of the Constitution (2008): “A citizen of the Maldives shall not be deprived of citizenship. A citizen shall have the right to renounce his citizenship.”

Citizenship Act (2007):

A Maldivian citizen who acquires foreign citizenship is considered to have renounced Maldivian citizenship.
A foreign national seeking Maldivian citizenship must renounce all other nationalities.
There are no exceptions for investors, spouses of citizens, or any other category.

Practical note: Given the small population (approximately 520,000) and the country’s identity as an Islamic nation, the prohibition on dual citizenship is unlikely to change in the near term.

Dual Citizenship and the Islamic Requirement

One of the most distinctive features of Maldivian nationality law is the requirement that all citizens be Muslim. This is constitutionally mandated.

Article 9(d) of the Constitution: “A non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives.”

Article 10: “The religion of the State of the Maldives is Islam. Islam shall be one of the bases of all the laws of the Maldives. No law contrary to any tenet of Islam shall be enacted in the Maldives.”

Implications for naturalization:

Any foreign national seeking Maldivian citizenship must be a Sunni Muslim.
Conversion to Islam is a prerequisite if the applicant is not already Muslim.
Apostasy (renunciation of Islam) by a Maldivian citizen can theoretically result in loss of citizenship, though this is politically and legally complex.
There is no secular pathway to citizenship.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

The Maldives does not apply general jus soli. Birth in Maldivian territory does not automatically confer citizenship.

A child born in the Maldives acquires citizenship only if at least one parent is a Maldivian citizen.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

A person acquires Maldivian citizenship by descent if:

Both parents are Maldivian citizens, OR
One parent (father or mother) is a Maldivian citizen.

The 2008 Constitution and 2007 Citizenship Act provide gender-equal descent rules. A child born abroad to a Maldivian parent is also a citizen, provided the birth is reported to the relevant authorities.

By Adoption

There is no formal statutory provision for citizenship through adoption in Maldivian law. Islamic law (Sharia) governs family relations, and “kafalah” (guardianship) rather than full adoption is the recognized concept. A child under kafalah of a Maldivian citizen does not automatically acquire citizenship.

By Marriage

Marriage to a Maldivian citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. A foreign spouse may apply for naturalization, but there is no reduced residency period explicitly provided for spouses. The applicant must meet all standard naturalization requirements, including the Islamic faith requirement.

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Religion	Must be a Sunni Muslim
Age	18 years or older
Residence	12 years continuous residence in the Maldives
Language	Must be able to speak Dhivehi
Good character	No criminal convictions; good moral character
Health	Must not suffer from a communicable disease
Financial means	Must have a lawful means of livelihood
Renunciation	Must renounce all foreign citizenships
Approval	President of the Maldives, upon recommendation of the Department of Immigration

Naturalization is extremely rare. The small island nation has limited immigration capacity, and the 12-year residency requirement combined with the religious requirement creates significant barriers.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Maldivian citizen may renounce citizenship by submitting a declaration to the Department of Immigration. The person must already hold or be assured of acquiring another nationality to prevent statelessness.

Constitutional protection: Article 9(d) states that a citizen “shall not be deprived of citizenship” — this protects against arbitrary deprivation but does not prevent voluntary renunciation or loss through acquisition of foreign nationality.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Acquisition of foreign citizenship	Automatic loss upon acquiring citizenship of another state
Fraud	Citizenship obtained through false information, forged documents, or concealment
Treason	Acts of treason against the Maldivian state

The Constitution limits the government’s ability to arbitrarily deprive citizenship, but the acquisition of foreign nationality remains an automatic trigger for loss.

Restoration of Nationality

Former Maldivian citizens who lost citizenship by acquiring foreign nationality may apply for restoration. The application is submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Requirements:

Must have renounced the foreign nationality acquired.
Must be a Sunni Muslim.
Must demonstrate genuine intention to re-establish permanent residence in the Maldives.
Must be of good character.
Approval by the President.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

The Maldives is not a party to the 1954 or 1961 Statelessness Conventions.

Foundlings: There is no explicit statutory provision. However, given the small and geographically isolated nature of the Maldives, foundlings are in practice registered as Maldivian citizens (all permanent residents are expected to be Muslim).
Statelessness: The descent-based citizenship system and the requirement that all citizens be Muslim create theoretical statelessness risks for children born to non-citizen residents or for persons who renounce Islam. In practice, the Maldives has a very small non-citizen resident population (primarily foreign workers), and statelessness is not a widespread issue.

Document Checklist

Sources

Maldivian Citizenship Act (Law No. 1/2007) — Primary nationality legislation. Available through the Attorney General’s Office.
Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, 2008 — Chapter II on citizenship and fundamental rights. https://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/
Department of Immigration and Emigration — Responsible authority for citizenship and immigration. https://immigration.gov.mv/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Maldivian missions abroad. https://www.foreign.gov.mv/
Attorney General’s Office — Repository of Maldivian laws and regulations. https://www.agoffice.gov.mv/

Maldives.mv

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