Business Registration & Closure
Registering, changing and closing businesses in the Maldives, from choosing the right structure to GST registration and formal closure. We prepare the applications and follow them through.
Business registration in the Maldives starts with one decision: which legal form your business will take. Businesses are registered with the Registrar under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and applications are made online through the government Business Portal.
The three common choices are:
- Sole proprietorship, for one Maldivian owner running the business alone.
- Partnership, for two or more people running a business together.
- Company, for owners who want the business held in its own name, and the route foreign investors must use.
We help you choose, prepare the application, and handle the registrations that follow, such as GST. When a business has run its course, we help close it properly.
Company Registration
Company registration in the Maldives sets up a private limited company with the Registrar through the government Business Portal. DBS Maldives plans the structure with you, reserves the name, prepares and files …
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Foreign Investment Registration
Foreign investment registration in the Maldives is the approval process every foreign investor must complete before setting up a business. Under the Foreign Investments Act, in force since December 2024, it runs …
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Sole Proprietorship (SP) Registration
Sole proprietorship registration in the Maldives, often called SP registration, sets up a business owned and run by one individual. It is applied for online with an eFaas login and a national …
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Partnership Registration
Partnership registration in the Maldives sets up a business owned by two or more partners with the Registrar through the Business Portal. It is one of the two routes open to foreign …
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Business Name Registration
Business name registration in the Maldives means checking that a proposed name is available on the Business Portal and submitting it for approval before the business is registered. DBS Maldives searches the …
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Trademark Registration
Trademark registration in the Maldives is changing. A Trademark Act ratified in November 2025 creates the country's first full registration system for local and foreign marks. DBS Maldives helps you record your …
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Business Activity Registration
Business activity registration in the Maldives records what a registered business actually does, on the government Business Portal. DBS Maldives chooses the right activity classifications, adds or updates them for you, and …
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SME Registration & Classification
SME registration in the Maldives records a registered business as a micro, small or medium enterprise under the SME Act. The classification is registered, renewed and cancelled through the oneGov portal. DBS …
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GST Registration
GST registration in the Maldives is made with the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). Tourism suppliers must register regardless of turnover; other businesses register once taxable supplies pass MIRA's threshold. DBS Maldives …
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GST Deregistration
GST deregistration in the Maldives is applied for with MIRA using form MIRA 106, for example when a business stops or its taxable supplies fall below the registration threshold. GST returns must …
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Company Dissolution
To dissolve a company in the Maldives, it must go through a formal dissolution process, such as voluntary liquidation by its shareholders. DBS Maldives helps shareholders choose the right route, prepares the …
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Sole Proprietorship & Business Closure
To close a sole proprietorship or partnership in the Maldives, the business must be deregistered with the Registrar and its open obligations settled, including GST with MIRA. DBS Maldives confirms the current …
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
How do I register a business in the Maldives?
Businesses are registered online with the Registrar under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, through the government Business Portal using an eFaas login. You choose a legal form, reserve a business name, and submit the application. We prepare each step and check it before it is filed.
Should I register a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a company?
It depends on who owns the business, whether anyone involved is a foreign national, and how you plan to grow. A sole proprietorship suits one Maldivian owner, a partnership suits people working together, and a company suits owners who want the business held in its own name. We talk it through with you first.
Can a foreigner register a business in the Maldives?
Yes, but not as a sole proprietorship. Foreign individuals who want to do business in the Maldives must register a company or a partnership, and foreign investment has its own approval process. We confirm the current requirements before any application is prepared.
Can DBS Maldives help close a business as well as register one?
Yes. We help with company dissolution, closing sole proprietorships and partnerships, and GST deregistration with MIRA. Closing a business properly matters, because obligations to the Registrar and MIRA continue until the closure is formally recorded.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what you need. An advisor will help you choose the right service and explain the next steps.