Relocation intelligence
🇲🇻 Moving to Maldives: tax, residency and cost of living
The Maldives levies no personal income tax up to MVR 720,000 per year, after which progressive brackets of 5.5%, 8%, 12% and up to 15% apply. On income around the equivalent of EUR 54,000 the effective burden stays low, roughly 8% including the mandatory 7% employee contribution to the MRPS pension. There is no wealth tax, no inheritance tax and no capital gains tax. Corporate tax is 15% and GST is 8%, rising to 16% in the tourism sector.
Thinking of moving to Maldives? Here is the tax, residency, property and quality-of-life picture in plain numbers, with sources.
Key facts
- Top income tax
- 15%
- Corporate tax
- 15%
- Capital gains
- 0%
- Wealth tax
- No
- Inheritance tax
- No
- Cost of living index
- 60
- Safety
- 8/10
- Internet quality
- 6/10
- Visa-free destinations
- 90
- Foreigners can own property
- No
- Residency in
- 6 months
- Citizenship in
- 5 years
Taxes
0% up to MVR 720,000, then brackets from 5.5% to 15%. Effective around 8% on the equivalent of EUR 54,000, including a 7% employee MRPS contribution. No wealth, inheritance or capital gains tax. Corporate tax 15%, GST 8% (16% for tourism).
Residency and visas
Residency is generally tied to employment. There is no general permanent residence permit or path to citizenship for foreigners. Citizenship requires the Islamic faith.
Property ownership
Land is largely leased. Foreign freehold is possible only through large investment projects. Property on inhabited islands is of limited access to private individuals.
Cost of living and quality of life
Tropical Indian Ocean archipelago with a tourism economy. Islamic country with conservative laws. Alcohol is permitted only in resorts.
Passport and mobility
The Maldivian passport allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to roughly 90 destinations. Dutch visitors receive a visa on arrival.
Why people move to Maldives
Low effective tax burden
No tax up to MVR 720,000 and an effective rate of about 8% on the equivalent of EUR 54,000. No wealth, inheritance or capital gains tax.
Tropical life by the sea
An Indian Ocean archipelago with a tourism-driven economy, a warm climate year-round and a calm island setting.
Honest trade-offs
- Er is geen algemene permanente verblijfsvergunning of route naar staatsburgerschap voor buitenlanders, en staatsburgerschap vereist het islamitische geloof.
- Grond is grotendeels in erfpacht en buitenlands eigendom in volle eigendom kan alleen via grote investeringsprojecten.
- Het is een islamitisch land met conservatieve wetgeving, waarbij alcohol alleen in resorts is toegestaan.
See how Maldives scores for your situation
Get your personal Freedom Score and a full relocation comparison based on your income, family and goals.
Calculate my score