How to Hire Foreign Workers in the Maldives (2026 Employer Guide)

Who this guide is for

Maldivian resorts, guesthouses, construction contractors, vessel operators, and domestic employers who need to recruit foreign nationals legally in 2026.

If your HR team currently relies on WhatsApp updates from brokers, this guide replaces guesswork with the permit-led pathway used across Malé, Hulhumalé, and resort islands.

The seven-step employer pathway

Maldives does not allow employment on tourist visas. Every foreign worker must tie to an Xpat job order, an approved work permit, and a registered employer on business.egov.mv.

• Sync your company snapshot from https://business.egov.mv into ATID
• Link the employer on https://xpat.egov.mv under a licensed agency (Set Transacting As — not Self-only)
• Publish a job order with occupation code, quota, salary band, and corridor nationalities
• Fund the advertising deposit and open the vacancy on recruitment.com.mv
• Screen applicants; on selection pay employer recruitment + management fees
• Worker pays initial processing (manpower card, medical, insurance, first permit)
• Receive the worker at Velana; add to workforce roster with permit and medical dates

Corridors you can recruit from

Most employers mix Bangladesh (general labour), Sri Lanka (hospitality English), India (skilled trades), Nepal (housekeeping growth), Philippines (domestic and culinary), and Indonesia (spa/marine). Maldivian contract staff use the MV track with Koshaaru instead of a foreign permit.

Each position on ATID declares which corridors are open — partners only see jobs matching their country licence.

Fees your finance team should expect

Advertising deposit before go-live (scales with headcount). Recruitment service fee when you confirm a matched candidate. Monthly management fee per deployed worker. Worker initial government pass-through at apply; employer pays subsequent visa renewals.

See recruitment.com.mv/fees and the employer fee transparency cluster guide for MVR line items in the database-backed schedule.

Common mistakes in Malé

Filing permits under the wrong employer because Xpat is still on Self transacting. Publishing a job without corridor flags, then wondering why Bangladesh partners cannot see it. Paying brokers who cannot show an Xpat job order reference.

ATID ops can prefill registry and permit wizards, but a human must approve before any government submit — plan lead time accordingly.