Do you need insurance for a trip to the Maldives

Russian citizens receive a free tourist visa on arrival for up to 30 days if they have a hotel booking and a return ticket. An electronic traveller declaration must be completed before arrival. Medical insurance is not checked on entry and is not mandatory.

The Maldives is a special destination in terms of healthcare. Most hotels are on separate islands with, at best, a first-aid post or a doctor on duty. Full hospitals are in Malé and on a few large atolls. After a serious injury or illness the patient is taken there by speedboat or seaplane, and sometimes abroad. Such evacuation is very expensive, and without a policy the traveller pays for it.

Which sum to choose

We recommend USD 100,000. The reasonable minimum is USD 50,000, but if you travel with children, are older or plan to dive, it is better not to economise. Make sure the plan includes medical transportation and evacuation.

Risks typical of the Maldives

  • Diving and snorkelling. The main activity on the islands. Scuba diving requires the diving option and decompression chamber treatment. Without it, the consequences of decompression sickness may not be covered.
  • Coral and marine life. Reef cuts, jellyfish stings and sea urchin spines are common and usually covered.
  • Sun. Being close to the equator makes the sun very strong. Sunburn is covered by a separate option.
  • Water sports. Kayaking, paddleboarding, kitesurfing and water skiing count as active sports.
  • Cost of the trip. A holiday in the Maldives is expensive, so it makes sense to add trip cancellation cover: it reimburses non-refundable costs if the trip falls through for reasons listed in the policy terms.
  • Connections. People often fly to the Maldives via the UAE, Sri Lanka or other hubs. If you leave the transit airport, add that country to the policy.

How to buy insurance to the Maldives in a few minutes

On polisre.ru there is no need to fill in a request and wait for a call. The calculator above the text compares prices from 16 insurance companies via Polis Re’s partner, the Cherehapa service. The policy is issued by the insurer you choose and sent straight to your e-mail.

  1. Set the dates, the number of travellers and their ages.
  2. Choose the sum insured and, if necessary, add diving and decompression chamber treatment, sunburn, trip cancellation, flight delay.
  3. Pick a plan by comparing price, deductible and assistance company.
  4. Enter your first and last name in Latin letters exactly as in your international passport, then pay by card.
  5. Receive the policy by e-mail and save the assistance phone number in your contacts.

What to do if something happens in the Maldives

Your first step is a call to the assistance company whose phone number is shown in the policy. The assistance company will choose a clinic, approve the treatment and pay for it directly. If someone’s life is at risk, call the local ambulance at once and notify the assistance company as soon as you can.

  1. Call or message the assistance company (many accept requests via messengers); give the policy number, your full name, your location and what happened.
  2. Go to the clinic named by the assistance company and take your passport and policy with you.
  3. If you had to pay yourself, keep the doctor’s report, invoice, receipts and prescriptions: after you return, attach them to your claim to the insurance company.

Step-by-step guidance is available in the “Insured event” section.

Nearby destinations

If your route covers several countries, see the other pages too: insurance to the UAE, insurance to Sri Lanka, insurance to India, insurance to Indonesia. The full list of destinations, annual policies and tips on choosing cover are on the travel insurance page.