Maldives
Last update 09 August 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Republic of Maldives
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have an embassy on the Maldive Islands. The Maldives are serviced by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Delhi, India.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in New Delhi, India
Address: 16/17 Chandragupta Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021
Telephone: +91 11 26115549; +91 11 26115551
Fax: +91 11 26876190
Mobile number (for emergencies): +91 9910999498
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/india
Consular Office:
Telephone for consular matters: +911126115549
Working hours: 09:00 to 18:00 (local time)
Opening hours:
Monday and Thursday from 09:30 to 12:30 (local time) — acceptance of visa applications and consular services; Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays from 09:30 to 12:30 (local time) — acceptance of visa applications for groups; Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 13:00 (local time) — delivery of issued visas and consular services documents
E-mail: [email protected]
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Maldives in Sofia
Hristo Chepishev
Office: 1616 Sofia, 25 Kumata St.
Telephone: +359 875 304 934; +359 888 50 80 50
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00 (Monday – Friday)
General information
Security level:
Before travelling to the Maldives, it is recommended to inform yourself about the current situation in the country and continue to follow it throughout your stay there. Observe Muslim traditions when visiting non-tourist resorts.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Same-sex contact in the Maldives is prohibited by local law. Tourists visiting the country should respect local traditions and the sensitivities of the community in this regard by avoiding provocative behaviour.
Customs requirements:
The import of local and foreign currency is unrestricted. Carrying US dollars in cash is recommended. Import of items for personal use is duty-free.
Import of pork meat, liquor and pornographic material is prohibited. Drug trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment.
The export of black coral, as well as amphibian armour tiles or parts, is prohibited.
The import of pork meat, liquor and pornographic materials is prohibited. Drug trafficking is punishable by life imprisonment.
The export of black coral, as well as amphibian armour tiles or parts, is prohibited.
Road traffic:
The islands are connected by air and water.
Practical advice:
On hot days, it is advisable to take sufficient fluids. The use of light food and a high degree of personal hygiene is recommended. The use of bottled mineral water is recommended. Be cautious when eating fresh fruit and salads. It is recommended to carry essential medicines.
Local currency:
The local currency is Rufiyaa (Rf)
Climatic characteristics:
There are no clearly defined seasons in the Maldives. Dry and rainy periods alternate. The tropical monsoon period is from May to October. More detailed information about the Maldives can be found HERE.
Travel papers and visas
Maldives immigration authorities issue a free tourist visa upon arrival in the country for up to 30 days For this purpose, the traveller needs to present a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of entry into the country, an air ticket for departure from the country, a hotel reservation, USD 150 per day per person.
Maldives Migration: http://www.immigration.gov.mv/pages/entry.html
Competitive service
What consular officers can do for you:
• Protection of the rights and interests of Bulgarian citizens, Bulgarian legal entities and persons of Bulgarian origin in India and in the other countries of accreditation — Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, in accordance with Bulgarian legislation and international treaties in force for the Republic of Bulgaria, within the limits permitted by international law and norms, as well as the legislation of India and the other countries of accreditation;
- Consulting natural persons and legal entities on matters of consular activity or of significant public interest or Bulgarian citizens in distress;
• Consulting Bulgarian natural persons and legal entities on the representation of their interests in investigative and judicial proceedings, in case of restrictions on entry into the territory of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, in tracing inheritance/heirs, etc. on the territory of the countries of accreditation;
• Acceptance, processing and sending to the competent Bulgarian institutions of applications for Bulgarian identity documents (passport, identity card and driving licence);
• Acceptance and processing of statements for declaring invalid Bulgarian identity documents; acceptance of invalid Bulgarian identity documents with subsequent information to the competent Bulgarian institutions;
• Acceptance and processing of applications for Emergency Travel Documents of Bulgarian citizens with lost or stolen documents and of certificates of return to Bulgaria of foreigners; issuance of replacement travel documents after obtaining the relevant permission from the competent Bulgarian institutions;
• Drawing up of Acts for established administrative violations under the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act;
• Preparation of certificates, service notes, etc. within the competence of the Embassy;
• Acceptance and processing of applications for establishment of Bulgarian citizenship and personal identification number, for entering the personal identification number in the National Population Database and for choosing/changing permanent and current address in the Republic of Bulgaria;
• Acceptance and processing of applications for acquisition or restoration of Bulgarian citizenship or for release from Bulgarian citizenship;
• Accepting and processing civil status notifications and civil marriage documents for contracting civil marriage in the Embassy;
• Performing translations and certification of the translator’s signature of civil status documents and certification of the translator’s signature of other documents and papers in accordance with the competences laid down;
• Notarization of signatures and transcripts/copies;
• Acceptance and processing of applications for Bulgarian visas;
• Providing information on the procedures and conditions for issuing visas;
• Acceptance of invalid Bulgarian identity documents requests and cooperation for providing assistance to Bulgarian citizens and foreigners in distress in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka;
• Protection of the interests of Bulgarian natural persons and legal entities in emergencies (natural disasters, terrorist attacks, etc.) and of the rights of Bulgarian citizens – victims of trafficking for sexual or other forms of exploitation, etc.;
• Providing information on Bulgarian citizens detained and/or serving custodial sentences in the territory of the countries of accreditation;
• Representing the interests of minors and under-aged children, and persons with disabilities within the framework of international norms and the legislation of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka;
• Tracing Bulgarian citizens or persons of Bulgarian origin in the territory of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka at the request of Bulgarian natural persons or legal entities in the presence of a legitimate interest and within the framework of international customs and the legislation of these countries;
• Rendering assistance to the crews of sea and river vessels sailing under the flag of the Republic of Bulgaria and to aircrafts registered in the Republic of Bulgaria, within the framework of international norms and the legislation of the host countries; if necessary — accepting ship sailing declarations, formalising ship documents and settling of disputes between the master, commanding staff, seamen and passengers, insofar as this is provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria;
• Providing information on injured, detained, deceased or dead Bulgarian citizens on the territory of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka;
• Providing information on the procedures and documents required and provide assistance for repatriation to Bulgaria or for carrying out a funeral/official burial in these countries in case of death of a Bulgarian citizen;
• In cases of arrest — visit of the consular official to the detained Bulgarian citizen; providing information and assistance to the relatives of the detained person to visit him/her in prison; making efforts to ensure the same treatment of the detained Bulgarian citizen as the citizens of the host country;
• Providing up-to-date information when travelling to and from countries of accreditation;
• Acceptance of requests for access to public information and providing information on matters relating to Bulgarian identity documents (passport, identity card and driving licence), on the possibilities of restoring or acquiring Bulgarian citizenship, on civil status, on citizenship matters, apostilles, legalizations, translation of documents and certification of the signature of the translator, etc. notarial activities in accordance with the competences laid down;
• In exceptional cases of Bulgarian citizens in distress and after their relatives have deposited the necessary amount at the cash desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy will pay the person the corresponding amount.
European Emergency Travel Document
In case of emergency (lost passport), Bulgarian citizens can seek on-the-spot assistance from a diplomatic mission of any EU Member State to obtain an Emergency Travel Document.
Legalizations and Certifications
In order to be valid in Bulgaria and to be able to serve before the Bulgarian institutions all documents issued by the authorities in the Maldives to Bulgarian citizens must bear the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then, they need to be certified by the Embassy of the Maldives in New Delhi, India. The signature and certifications of the Embassy shall be certified by the Consular Office of the Embassy of Bulgaria in the capital of India.
Once the documents have been so prepared, they must be translated into Bulgarian by an authorized company in Bulgaria and certified by the Department of Certifications and Legalizations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.