Shipping From Canada
to Maldives.

Documents Only

The following items are allowed entry into Maldives provided the parcel weighs no more than 5 kg:

• Advertising literature and samples
• Annual reports
• Bids and proposals
• Blueprints and drawings (including sepia drawings)
• Books and publications
• Brochures and pamphlets
• Business cards
• Calendars
• Cash letters, negotiable bonds, and drafts
• Catalogues and price lists
• Charts and maps
• Computer print-outs
• Credit cards
• Graphs
• Greeting cards and invitations
• Intercompany mail
• Labels
• Magazines and periodicals
• Manuscripts
• Microfilms and microfiche
• Mylars
• Passports and visa applications
• Photographs, negatives, and slides
• Seismic data
• Specifications sheets
• Transparencies
• Traveller's cheques

Provided the tabled items below abide by the restriction shown, Maldivian authorities will permit their entry to the country as a document shipment.

Sources:
https://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_CA

Shipping Gifts

Gift shipments to Maldives will incur duties and taxes no matter the value of the parcel. There are no thresholds below which customs officials do not apply fees.

Shipments from Individual-to-Individual

A gift shipment from an individual in Canada to an individual in Maldives will be liable for import duties and taxes even if its value is minimal.

Shipments from Business-to-Business

Gift shipments from a business in Canada to a business in Maldives will be assessed taxes and duties even if the gift is of nominal value.

Shipments from Business-to-Individual

If a business in Canada ships a gift to an individual in Maldives, customs authorities will apply import duties and taxes to the shipment.

Gift Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time (see sample)
• List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
• Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.

Multiple Gifts in One Shipment

If your shipment contains multiple gifts, be sure to wrap and tab each one separately.

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html
https://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_CA

Shipping Personal Effects

Maldivian citizens, students, and Canadian residents moving to Maldives with their personal effects may do so exempt from duty charges.

A duty-free entrance of goods is allowed under the following conditions:

• The items have been used, i.e. they are NOT new
• They are imported for the sole use of the claimant or his or her family
• The claimant will remain in Maldives for a minimum of 6 months (if he or she is a foreigner coming to work in the country)
• Abide by the time and monetary limits listed in the table below

The maximum value of personal effects eligible for a duty-free entry to Maldives is shown below:

Moving Temporarily

Students

Students moving to Maldives are allowed a duty-free entry of their computer and other equipment required for their studies.

Non-students

Non-students who move to Maldives for a temporary stay may import personal effects duty-free up to a value of MVR 6,000 (about $500 CAD).

Moving Permanently

Canadian and Maldivian citizens moving to Maldives permanently may ship their personal effects duty-free provided:

• The goods are for their personal use (or that of his or her family)
• The goods have been in use for a minimum of 6 months
• The individual stays in Maldives for a minimum of 6 months (applies to foreign workers)
• The value of the shipment is no more than shown by the following table:

Personal Effects Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.mv/Business/Importers/dec-personal-effects
https://www.customs.gov.mv/Individuals/Items%20for%20Personal%20Use/Individual-Declaration-Processing-Licenses
https://www.customs.gov.mv/Individuals/Items%20for%20Personal%20Use/individual-duty-free-concessions

Food, Chocolate, Candies

All shipments of foodstuffs to Maldives will incur duties and taxes. (Those shipped to a business or company will be considered a commercial shipment and must follow the normal import declaration procedures.)

NOTE:
The recipient will require approval of the shipment from Maldives Food and Drug Authority for food shipments and those containing supplements and vitamins.

You May Ship

• Candy
• Chocolate

Do Not Ship

• Perishables
• Pork and its byproducts

Food, Chocolate, Candies Checklist

• Clearly indicate 'Food' on the commercial invoice in the General Description or Remarks section (see sample)
• Ensure that your food, chocolate, or candies may be imported into the country
• You are not shipping commercial quantities (for any duty & tax exemption)
• Check with your carrier that they will accept food shipments

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Samples

Commercial samples may enter Maldives exempt from duty charges as long as:

• The shipment's value is no more than $50 USD (about $65 CAD)
• They are labelled as a 'Sample'
• The packaging is NOT resealable

Commercial Sample Checklist

• A Commercial Invoice must be included with your shipment
• Clearly indicate 'Commercial Samples' on the commercial invoice in the General Description & Detailed Description of Goods (see sample)
• The item shipped has tearing, perforation, slashing, defacing, or has permanent marking clearing indicating the item as commercial sample

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.mv/Individuals/Items%20for%20Personal%20Use/individual-duty-free-concessions

Advertising Material

Goods shipped to Maldives to be advertised or displayed at trade fairs, international exhibitions, or other similar events are allowed a total* or partial duty-free entry to the country. They must be re-exported within 2 years of their arrival.

*The amount duty exemption depends on the time the item is in Maldives as shown below:

• 90 days or less, 100% exemption
• 91 - 180 days, 95% exemption
• 181 days to 1 year, 90% exemption
• Greater than 1 year to 2 years, 80% exemption
• More than 2 years, no duty exemption

Advertising Material Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Promotional Material - Not for Resale' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.mv/d/Customs%20Regulations%20English.pdf

Repairs

Equipment and machinery exported from Maldives for repairs in Canada will be exempt from duty charges provided the work was done under a warranty.

Items Under Warranty

Machinery and equipment sent to Canada for warranty repairs will be allowed a duty-free re-entry into Maldives.

Items No Longer Under Warranty

Items no longer under warranty shipped to Canada for repairs will be liable to duty charges upon their return to Maldives.

Also, the items will incur Canadian GST on the cost of repair and any parts used during the fixing process.

Sending Product for Repair to Maldives

There is no information at this time concerning goods and machinery sent to Maldives for repairs.

Returning Repaired Product to Maldives

Provided products were repaired under a warranty, they will NOT incur Maldivian duty fees when they re-enter the country.

Repair Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return(see sample)
• Include repair contract with shipment
• Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
• Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Maldives or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.mv/d/Customs%20Regulations%20English.pdf

Temporary Imports

Goods shipped to Maldives for a temporary stay in the country are allowed to do so with total or partial exemption from duty charges provided:

• There is a guarantor in Maldives who will be responsible for the items
• The items are re-exported within 2 years of their arrival

The amount of duty exemption is dependant on the time the goods spend in Maldives as outlined below:

Goods of a temporary nature include items such as:

• Those to be displayed at international meetings and exhibitions, trade fairs, etc.
• Equipment for sports and cultural events (concerts, stage presentations)
• Tools and equipment required to effect repairs on goods in Maldives

ATA Carnets

Maldives does not accept ATA Carnets for the temporary importation of goods.

Temporary Imports Checklist

• Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods. (see sample)
• The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
• Stay no longer than the period listed above
• Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
• Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
• Any above listed items not listed in this checklist

Sources:
https://www.atacarnet.com/carnet-countries
https://www.customs.gov.mv/d/Customs%20Regulations%20English.pdf

Permanent/Sold Goods

Goods imported into Maldives for personal use will be exempt from duty provided the shipment's value is MVR 6,000 or less (about $500 CAD). (The recipient must be a person NOT a company to benefit from a duty-free entry to Maldives.)

Occasional Shipper

Occasional shippers of sold goods to individuals in Maldives, for example via eBay, may send their parcels without the recipient owing duties if its value is MVR 6,000 or less (about $500 CAD).

NOTE:
The shipment must be addressed to a person and not a company to be eligible for duty exemption.

Regular shipper

If you are a regular shipper of sold goods to Maldives, we recommend that you use the services of a licenced Maldivian customs broker. This

Sources:
https://www.customs.gov.mv/Individuals/Items%20for%20Personal%20Use/Individual-Post-Parcels
https://www.customs.gov.mv/d/C%20no.guideline.pdf [Chapter 2 Goods imported into Maldives on temporary basis 117 (a), 118, 120,125]