In short
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 Maldives checks which category fits, prepares the submission and keeps your classification up to date.
What is SME registration in the Maldives?
SME registration in the Maldives is the step that classifies an existing business as a micro, small or medium enterprise under the SME Act. It is separate from registering the business itself: the company, partnership or sole proprietorship must already be registered with the Registrar.
The economic ministry decides the category using three measures: the number of employees, revenue and net profit. The limits for each category are set under the SME Act and have been revised over time, so we check the current criteria against your figures rather than relying on numbers quoted online.
Registered businesses register, renew and cancel their SME classification through the oneGov portal, in the same service used for business names and business activities.
How DBS Maldives helps
- We review your staff numbers, revenue and profit and tell you which category your business is likely to fall into.
- We prepare the SME classification submission on oneGov and check it against your registry record.
- We keep your business activities accurate at the same time, since they sit in the same service.
- We remind you when the classification needs renewing, or cancelling if the business has outgrown it.
- We explain how the classification connects to other work, such as SME business loan applications and the expatriate quota concession for small and medium enterprises.
How do I register my SME in the Maldives?
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Confirm the business is registered
SME classification applies to a business already on the registry. If it is not, we register it first.
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Gather the figures
We collect your employee count, revenue and net profit from records you or your accountant already hold.
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Check the category
We compare your figures with the current criteria under the SME Act and agree the likely category with you.
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Submit on oneGov
The classification is submitted through oneGov's business name, activity and SME classification service, signed in with eFaas.
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Keep it current
We note when renewal is due and review the category whenever the business grows or changes.
What do I need for SME classification?
- Your business registration details
- eFaas access for the person authorised to act for the business
- Your current number of employees
- Revenue and net profit figures from your latest records
- Your taxpayer registration details
- Any previous SME classification you hold
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using old category limits. The criteria have been revised before. Check the current ones before you apply.
- Guessing the figures. Use the numbers in your actual records, so the category can be supported if questioned.
- Forgetting to renew. A classification that lapses can leave you without a status you were relying on.
- Assuming every concession is automatic. Benefits such as the quota-fee exemption have their own conditions, including limits for businesses with shared owners.
Not sure which category fits? Send us your details and we will check.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register my SME in the Maldives?
First register the business itself with the Registrar. Then register its SME classification through the oneGov portal, signed in with eFaas. The submission covers your employee numbers, revenue and profit. We prepare it and check the category before it is filed.
What are the SME categories in the Maldives?
Under the SME Act, businesses are classified as micro, small or medium enterprises. The category depends on the number of employees, revenue and net profit. The limits have been revised over time, so we confirm the current criteria for your business rather than quoting figures.
Where is the SME portal in the Maldives?
SME classification is handled on the oneGov portal, one.gov.mv, in the service for business names, business activities and SME classification. That is where classifications are registered, renewed and cancelled. SME Digital's SME Portal is a separate site for financing applications.
Why does SME classification matter?
It records your business's size officially, and some government concessions depend on it. For example, small and medium enterprises are exempt from quota fees for a set number of expatriate quotas, subject to conditions. We check which concessions may apply to your business.
Do I need to renew my SME classification?
Yes, classifications are renewed through oneGov, and they should be reviewed whenever your staff numbers, revenue or profit change significantly. If the business no longer fits the category, the classification can be updated or cancelled. We track this for clients so it does not lapse unnoticed.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026. Requirements change; we confirm the current rules with you before any application.