London, United Kingdom
    Male', Maldives

    Heighlights

    Find out about the attestation services offered by the High Commission.

    Institutions in Britain may require Maldivian documents to be attested by the Maldivian authorities before they are accepted. The High Commission can attest documents issues by government agencies in the Maldives

    This attestation service involves the placement of the High Commission's seal on the document and/or issuing a letter certifying the authenticity of a document.

    Generally, we provide the following services:

    • Placing the consular seal on a copy of a document, attesting that it is a true copy of the original.
    • Attesting the signing of a legal document to be used in the Maldives. For example, a power of attorney or agreement to be used in a Maldivian court.

    Note: The High Commission cannot confirm the validity of the contents of the document e.g. we can verify that a power of attorney is signed by somebody, but we do not verify that the contents of a document provide legal rights to a specific person.

    If you have documents to attest, please contact us to arrange an appointment.

    Maldivians can enter the United Kingdom and remain for up to 6 months visa-free, if the visit is for tourism purposes or to visit friends/family.

    If you are travelling to the UK for any other reason, you will need to apply for and obtain a UK visa before  you travel to the UK. The UK Government’s ‘Check if you need a UK visa’ website is the best place to find out more information on UK visas.

    UK Visa for Tourism Purposes

    Although Maldivians do not need a visa to enter the UK for tourism purposes, they do need to have documents to show the UK Border Security Officers on arrival. These documents are the same documents that you would need if you did require a visa.

    Full information on the supporting documents you will need can be found on the UK Government website.

    In the majority of cases, Maldivians travelling to the UK for tourism purposes will need the following documents:

    • A genuine passport valid for the duration of your stay in the UK

    • Previous passports showing previous travel

       

      Full information on the supporting documents you will need can be found on the UK Government website.

       

    If travelling for tourism purposes, you must not do the following while in the UK:

    • take employment, produce goods or provide services, including the selling of goods or services to members of the public;
    • undertake a course of study;
    • marry or form a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership;
    • carry out the activities of a business visitor, a sports visitor or an entertainer visitor;
    • receive private medical treatment; or
    • stay longer than six months.

    Long-stay and non-Tourism UK Visas

    If you intend to stay longer in the UK longer than six months, or wish to visit the UK for any reason other than tourism or visiting friends/family, you will need to apply for a visa.

    Please visit the UK Government website for more information about different types of visas and the supporting documents you would need.

    On 30 March 2009, the UK Government changed student visa application rules to the Tier 4 Points-based System. In order to apply as an adult student you must obtain 40 points in your application by having:

    • A confirmed place on a course offered by an approved education provider (30 points); and
    • Enough money at the time of applying to cover your course fees and monthly living costs (10 points).

    To assist with your application the Embassy has produced the following guide to the UK Student Visa Application Process.

    Disclaimer: The information on this page should be taken as a guide only. It is highly advisable that each applicant takes the necessary time to read through the visa application procedures thoroughly before lodging the application. Full information on applying for a student visa in the UK can be found on the UK Border Agency website.

    UK Student Visa Application Process

    1. Choose the course you want to study and check it is a level accepted by UK Border Agency

    2. Check the institution you want to apply to is licensed to sponsor students by the Home Office under the Tier 4 Points-based System.

    3. Work out what money you require to cover your course fees and monthly living costs.

    The money you will need will depend upon your course fees, the length of your course, the location of your institution and whether you will are a child or an adult. Please see the table below for guidance on total study for an adult studying at university in the UK:

    Length of course

    Where you will study

    Maintenance (funds) needed

    Nine months or less

    In London

    Course fees and £800 to cover living costs for each calendar month of the course

    Nine months or less

    Outside London

    Course fees and £600 to cover living costs for each calendar month of the course

    More than nine months

    In London

    First year of fees and £7,200 to cover living costs for nine months in the United Kingdom

    More than nine months

    Outside London

    First year of fees and £5,400 to cover living costs for nine months in the United Kingdom

    4. Obtain a visa letter from your approved education provider (you get 30 points for your visa letter), and gather all the documents you used to obtain this visa letter.

    The visa letter is confirmation of your unconditional offer of a place on a course of study. Without a visa letter, your application will be refused.

    5. Obtain proof that you have the money necessary to fund your studying in the UK (you get 10 points for having proof of funds).

    You will need to demonstrate that your funds will cover your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of nine months. Your money must be held in cash - shares, bonds, pension funds or similar savings accounts will not be accepted.

    Additionally, you must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days prior to your application. Your proof of funds document must show that the end date of this 28 day period occured no more than one month before the date of your application.

    Valid Evidence of Funds Documents

    To prove your funds, you can provide bank or building society statements, a building society passbook, a letter from your bank confirming money or a loan, a letter from a regulated financial institution or a letter of official financial sponsorship.

    A valid personal or building society statement should show:
    1. your name, or the name of a child's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) (if the applicant is a child); and
    2. the account number; and
    3. the date of the statement; and
    4. the financial institution's name and logo; and
    5. the amount of money available (this must cover your course fees and living costs).

    Note: Personal bank or building society statements are valid proofs of funds for up to a month after the date of the closing balance. They are not valid for longer. New bank statements may be required if a visa application is resubmitted.

    A valid letter from a bank or building society should show:
    1. your name, or the name of a child's parent(s)/legal guardian(s) (if the applicant is a child); and
    2. the account number; and
    3. the date of the letter; and
    4. the financial institution's name and logo; and
    5. the money in your account; and
    6. that there is enough money in the account (to cover your course fees and living costs).

    Please scroll to the end of this page to download a sample bank or building society letter.

    Letter of official financial sponsorship or government sponsor

    Financial sponsorship means that you are given money to cover your course fees and living costs. Your official sponsor could be the Government of Maldives, the UK Government, the British Council or another international organization, company or university.

    If you have an official financial sponsor, you will need to provide a letter of confirmation from your official financial sponsor with your application. The letter must be on the official stationery of your official financial sponsor and have the official stamp of that organization on it. Additionally, the letter should show:

    1. your name;
    2. the name and contact details of your official financial sponsor;
    3. the date of the letter;
    4. the length of your sponsorship; and
    5. the amount of money you have been given, or a statement that your official financial sponsor will cover all of your fees and living costs.

    If your financial sponsor is only covering some of your course fees or living costs, you must provide a sponsorship letter and submit evidence that you have the rest of the money you require (see above).

    General Notes
    • If you have already paid some of your fees or accommodation before applying for your visa, this amount will be deducted from the total amount of money you need to demonstrate. For accommodation, this only applies if you are staying in university or college arranged accommodation.
    • If you are using overseas currency, you are expected to show (written on the document) the closing balance in pounds sterling. The official exchange rate used by the UK Border Agency is on the OANDA website.

    6. Complete the application forms, and submit it with the visa application fee and the supporting documents (your passport, visa letter and proof of funds).

    Common Errors in Student Visa Applications

    Visa applications have been known to be rejected due to the following common errors.

    • CAS number not being written into the appropriate space on your application form.
    • Absence of the financial institution's name and logo on each page of the bank statement as evidence of funds.
    • Required funds for study not being held in your bank account for the required duration of 28 days. It is essential that the funds be held in your account for 28 days, even one day less can result in your application being rejected.
    • Invalid bank or building society statements because they were dated over a month before the application date.
    • Bank letters not including the required information: bank logo and name on each page, your name, the account number, date of the letter, and account balance.
    • If the offer was conditional on certain grades, not taking your original grade documents to the visa assessment centre. Do not take photocopies.

    The video at the bottom of the page dicusses some of the frequent errors made in student visa applications.

    Information on how foreign nationals can obtain Police Clearance Certificates from the Maldives Police Service.

    A Police Clearance Certificate contains details of any 'disclosable' convictions relating to the applicant under the Criminal Law of The Republic of Maldives. The issuance of Police Clearance Certificates is the responsibility of the Maldives Police Service. However, in certain circumstances, the High Commission may be able to provide assistance with applications.

    As all Police Clearance Certificates must be collected by hand from the Police Headquarters in Male', Foreign nationals seeking to obtain a certificate for their time as expatriate workers in the Maldives, are advised to contact their former employers in Maldives for assistance.

    In the event that this is not possible, application forms can be downloaded here. All applications, with any supporting documents, should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

    All queries in relation to obtaining police certificates should be first directed to the Bureau of Criminal Records:

    Bureau of Criminal Records,
    Maldives Police Service,
    Shaheed Hussain Adam Building,
    Boduthakurufaanu Magu,
    Male’
    Republic of Maldives

    Telephone: +960 3322112 (ext. 3733)
    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please Note: Obtaining Police Clearance Certificates can take a considerable amount of time when the applicant is outside of the Maldives. Please make applications well in advance.

    To check the authenticity of an issued Police Clearance Certificate, click here.

    Maldivian citizens residing in the United Kingdom can renew their expired National Identification Cards through the High Commission Maldives by following the instructions below.

    Required Documents

    To renew an expired passport, please forward the following documents to the High Commission:

    1. A covering letter requesting a ID renewal, including details of all enclosed documents
    2. A fully completed ID application form (please remember to include a current contact number and signatures in the relevant boxes). The ID application form can be downloaded here
    3. Please email a digital copy of a passport sized photograph to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please ensure that the photo is in compliance with the requirements set out by Department of National Registration.
    4. The applicant's current ID card
    5. Renewal Fees (please see below)

    Please ensure that all necessary documents are submitted when making your application

    Processing Time

    Following receipt of application, ID card renewal will take approximately 12 working days.

    Renewal will take longer if the necessary documents are missing, incomplete or not in accordance with requirements, and/or payment is incorrect.

    Fees

    The following fees apply to all applications for ID card replacement/renewal/issuance:

    ID Renewal Fee £7.23
    Postage - Courier Charges £37.51
    Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day by 1pm) £6.50
    Total £51.24

    Form of Payment: The High Commission accepts bank transfers to the High Commission's Account.

    If you are a Maldivian citizen who has got married abroad and you wish to register your marriage in the Maldives, you will need to contact the Family Court directly.

    The contact details of the Family Court are as follows:

    Telephone:    00960 3325502, 00960 3006101

    Email:            This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

    If you are a Maldivian citizen who has given birth to a child abroad and you wish to register the birth in the Maldives, you will need to contact the Department of National Registration directly.

    The Contact details of the Department of National Registration are as follows:

    Telephone: 00960 3323814, 00960 3315440 

    Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Maldivian citizens who have a child while residing in the United Kingdom could apply for their children to be issued a certificate of identity in order to travel or return to Maldives.

    Please note that these instructions apply to Maldivians wishing to obtain a certificate of identity for new born children only. For information on the renewal of an expired passport click here, for the issuance of a passport in the event that a passport has been lost, stolen or damaged click here, and for the issuance of a passport for the first time click here.

     

    Required Documents

    To apply for a certificate of identity for a new born, please forward the following documents to the High Commission:

    1. A covering letter requesting a certificate of identity, including details of the intended date of travel, contact details (phone number and postal address), and details of all enclosed documents
    2. Copy of the child's birth certificate
    3. Please email a digital copy of a passport-sized photograph of the child taken within the last month that complies with the requirements set out by Maldives Immigration. Details of these requirements can be found here
    4. Copy of the parents' marriage certificate
    5. Copies of the data page of both parents' passports
    6. Please email the Embassy on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further application guidelines
    7. Passport fees (see below)

    Please ensure that all necessary documents are submitted when making your application

    Processing Time

    Following receipt of application, passport renewal will take approximately 7 days.

    Renewal will take longer if the necessary documents are missing, incomplete or not in accordance with requirements, and/or payment is incorrect.

    Travel Document Fees

    The following fee applies to all applications for a certificate of identity:

    Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day by 1pm)

    £6.50

    Total

    £6.50

    Form of Payment: The High Commission accepts bank transfers to the High Commission's Account.

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