India resumes visa-free travel for Maldivian nationals from October 15
Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid announced on Twitter that Maldivian people would be free from visa requirements for visitors, medical, and business purposes beginning in mid-October.
FollowWith several COVID-19 relaxations coming into play as cases decline across countries, Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said on Sunday that he is delighted that India has agreed to resume the two countries' 2018 December Visa Exemption Agreement, under which no visa is required for Maldivians travelling to India. Due to the COVID-19 border shutdown, the Maldives and India's Visa Exemption Agreement for December 2018 were temporarily halted.
Shahid announced on Twitter that Maldivian people would be free from visa requirements for visitors, medical, and business purposes beginning in mid-October. Taking to Twitter, Shahid said:  "Delighted that India has agreed to resume the 2018 Dec Visa Exemption Agreement between the Maldives & India, which was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 border closure. From October 15 2021, Maldivian Nationals will be exempt of visa requirements for tourists, medical & business purposes."
He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for taking the proposal to reopen the accord into consideration. The Indian High Commission in the Maldives also went to Twitter to announce that no visa will be required for Maldivians travelling to India beginning in mid-October.
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Last year, all visas given to foreigners were halted due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The Central Government also put several other limitations on foreign travel to slow the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Maldives has been accessible to tourists since July 2020, with certain restrictions. Last month, Sri Lanka opened its doors to fully immunised travellers.
Meanwhile, the Indian government just declared that the country would reopen to visitors on October 15 after being shuttered for more than a year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
According to a statement from the home ministry, tourist visas will be issued to foreigners coming on charter flights beginning October 15, and on other aircraft beginning November 15.
It emphasised that all Covid-19 regulations "must be followed by international visitors, carriers transporting them into India, and all other stakeholders at landing sites."
