How to Start a Travel Agency in the Maldives (2026 Guide)

Executive Summary

The steps to license a travel agency in the Maldives: registering the business, applying to the Ministry of Tourism for an operating licence, and the regulation and tax obligations to plan for.

1. The travel market in the Maldives

Most new agencies in the Maldives focus on resort holidays & honeymoons. Decide early whether you will sell to travellers in Maldives, design trips in Maldives for visitors and foreign agents, or both: the answer shapes your licence, suppliers and marketing.

Clients will expect quotations in USD or their own currency, fast replies, and clear terms before they pay.

2. Licences and registration

Travel agencies in the Maldives need an operating licence from the Ministry of Tourism, applied for through the government's oneGov portal. The Ministry asks for the application at least one month before you start operating.

Before applying, register the business entity and business name. The Ministry's service guideline sets out the documents, the director requirements and the ownership rules, including restrictions on foreign ownership, so read it before you form the company.

3. Company, tax and banking

Register with the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) and check which taxes apply to your services, including tourism goods and services tax.

4. Set up sales and operations

Before the first enquiry arrives, decide how you will capture leads, build quotations, confirm suppliers, invoice and collect payments. For your market, plan these workflows from day one:

Verification Checklist

Resort options side by side: offer two or three resorts in one quotation, each with its own villa type, meal plan (half board, full board, all-inclusive) and markup.

Transfers as services: add seaplane, domestic flight or speedboat transfers to each day, each with its own supplier, cost and voucher.

Resort contracts and seasons: keep resort rates by season, room type, meal plan and supplement, so every quote starts from your contracted prices.

5. Launch checklist

Tick these off before you take your first payment in the Maldives.

Verification Checklist

Business entity and business name registered

Ministry of Tourism service guideline read and ownership confirmed

Operating licence applied for at least one month before trading

Tax registration with MIRA

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I apply for a travel agency licence in the Maldives?

The Ministry of Tourism asks for the application at least one month before the agency starts operating.

Can a foreign company run a travel agency in the Maldives?

The Ministry's guideline restricts foreign ownership of travel agencies; read the current guideline before registering the company.

Sources

Official pages this guide is based on, checked on 11 October 2026. Rules and fees change: confirm the current requirements with the authority before you apply. This guide is general information, not legal advice.