In short
To hire foreign workers in the Maldives, an employer needs a quota before the employee arrives, a work permit through Xpat Online and a work visa from Maldives Immigration. DBS Maldives manages the whole sequence, from finding the candidate to the employee's first day, so each step happens in the right order.
How do you hire foreign workers in the Maldives?
To hire foreign workers in the Maldives, three things must line up. The employer must hold a foreign-worker quota before the employee enters the country. Each employee needs a work permit through the government's Xpat Online system. And each employee needs a work visa from Maldives Immigration.
Expat hiring with DBS Maldives covers the full journey: finding the right person abroad, putting the approvals in place in order, and settling the employee in once they arrive. It is the service to choose when you want one team to own the whole outcome, not just one form.
Who is this service for?
- Resorts, construction firms and service businesses that rely on skills not readily available locally
- Employers hiring a foreign worker for the first time
- Businesses bringing in several people at once, where timing across candidates matters
How DBS Maldives helps
- Planning. We look at your headcount and confirm whether quota is already available or needs to be requested.
- Candidate search. We find and screen candidates overseas and check that their documents are in order before you make an offer.
- Approvals. We coordinate the quota request and the work permit application, and support the work visa stage.
- Arrival. We help you prepare for the employee's arrival, induction and first payroll.
- Afterwards. We can keep the employee's records and renewal dates in order through our expat account management service.
What are the steps to hire an expat?
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Confirm the need
We agree the role, salary and start window, and check your current quota position.
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Find the candidate
We source and screen candidates abroad and collect their documents once you choose one.
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Secure quota
If you do not already hold quota for the role, we prepare the request through jobcenter.mv.
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Work permit and visa
We prepare the work permit application in Xpat Online and support the work visa process with Maldives Immigration.
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Arrival and onboarding
We help you plan travel, induction and the employee's first payroll so they start smoothly.
What do you need to hire a foreign worker?
- Your business registration details and an active employer account on the relevant portals
- A clear job title, duties and salary for the role
- Confirmation of your available quota, or our help to request it
- The candidate's passport and supporting documents, which we list for you
- A plan for accommodation and arrival, where you provide them
Common mistakes when hiring expats
- Making an offer and booking travel before quota is in place
- Using different job titles in the offer letter, quota request and permit application
- Relying on unverified agents abroad without checking candidates yourself
- Forgetting that every approval has a renewal date that needs tracking
If you are not yet registered as a business, start with company registration. To plan a foreign hire, contact us.
Frequently asked questions
What approvals do I need to hire a foreign worker in the Maldives?
You need a foreign-worker quota in place before the employee enters the Maldives, a work permit for that employee through the government's Xpat Online system, and a work visa from Maldives Immigration. DBS Maldives confirms the current requirements for your case before anything is submitted.
Can my new expat employee travel before the paperwork is done?
The quota must be in place before the employee enters the Maldives, so travel should never be booked ahead of it. We set out the order of approvals for your hire and tell you when it is safe to confirm travel, so you avoid costly changes.
Do you find candidates abroad as well as handle permits?
Yes. Expat hiring covers both. We search for and screen candidates overseas, then manage the quota, work permit and work visa stages. If you have already found your candidate, you can use our work permit or quota services on their own instead.
How long does it take to bring a foreign worker to the Maldives?
Processing times vary with the role, the authorities' workload and how quickly candidate documents are ready. We give you a realistic plan at the start, based on current conditions, and keep you informed at each stage rather than promising a fixed date.
What happens after the expat employee arrives?
The employee's permit and visa will need renewing, and their records must stay up to date. Many clients ask us to take over that ongoing work through expat account management, so expiry dates are tracked and renewals are prepared well ahead.
Can my new hire come on a business visa and switch to a work permit later?
No. Since 15 September 2026, business and special visas can no longer be converted to work permits inside the Maldives. New workers need a Work Permit Entry Pass before they travel, so quota and the permit have to be arranged first.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026. Requirements change; we confirm the current rules with you before any application.