Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): Maldivian citizen in Maldives → United Kingdom
Maldivian citizens do not need a Standard Visitor visa for a short UK visit — they apply online for a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), decided usually within a day.
Online travel authorisation for visits to the UK of up to 6 months — no visa to obtain for eligible nationalities; apply on the UK ETA app or online.
- Validity
- An ETA lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner
- Entries
- Multiple — you can travel to the UK as many times as you want while you have an ETA
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 6 months per visit
When to start
Start 3–7 days before your travel date.
Getting an appointment in Maldives
- VFS releases appointment slots up to ~90 days ahead; if you see “No slots available”, new slots are often added — retry over the next few days.
- You can book any centre in your country of residence — a centre in another city often has earlier slots.
Maldivian passport holders visiting the UK for tourism need an ETA rather than a Standard Visitor visa (gov.uk suggests the visa route instead only if you have a criminal record or were previously refused entry).
Apply with the passport you'll travel with, an email address and a card or mobile payment; the £20 fee is non-refundable.
Decisions usually arrive within a day, but allow up to 3 working days — and do not travel until the confirmation email arrives.
Your ETA is linked electronically to your passport, so you only show your passport at the UK border; the ETA does not guarantee entry.
What you'll need
- Passport you'll travel with — The passport you will travel to the UK with — the ETA is linked to this passport, and it should be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. ✓ verified
- ETA confirmation email — The email from UK Visas and Immigration confirming you have an ETA — you must have it before you travel. ✓ verified
- Email address — An email address for receiving the UKVI decision. ✓ verified
- Card or mobile payment — A credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay to pay the £20 fee. ✓ verified
Where you'll apply
No visa application centre and no biometrics appointment: you apply for the ETA entirely online (UK ETA app or website) from the Maldives.
Fees
| ETA application | GBP 20 |
Gotchas to watch
- An ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man — border officers make the final decision.
- The ETA is linked to the passport you applied with, so if you renew your passport you need a new ETA.
- The £20 fee cannot be refunded after you apply.
- gov.uk advises applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead if you have a criminal record or you've previously been refused entry into the UK.
