The Foreign Office has sounded the alarm for Brits jetting off to the Maldives, outside of the European Union, with a crucial piece of advice. British tourists planning to soak up the sun in the idyllic destination have been told: “You must complete a traveller declaration form (IMUGA) within 96 hours before your flight to or from the Maldives,” according to the Foreign Office.
A key message from Maldives Immigration states: “We would like to inform all travellers that the Traveller Declaration is a self-declaration form provided by Maldives Immigration and is completely free of charge.”
It has come to light that some holidaymakers have been duped into paying for this service, as reports indicate “misleading activities where individuals are asked to pay for the submission of this form.”
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UK visitors are reminded: “The Traveller Declaration form is a self-declaration form that can be easily submitted on your own.”
The official route to access and complete the form is through the IMUGA portal, which incurs no cost. “We strongly advise all travellers to use the IMUGA portal to fill out the Traveller Declaration form and avoid using any other websites that may charge a fee or provide misleading information.”
Additionally, it’s essential to ensure your passport’s ‘expiry date’ is valid for at least one month beyond your arrival date in the Maldives.
The Foreign Office has issued a stark reminder to British travellers, urging them to ensure their passports are in good condition to avoid being turned away at immigration. The official advice on their website states: “make sure your passport is not damaged or you may be stopped by immigration.”
It also advises checking with travel providers that all travel documents meet the necessary requirements and to renew passports where needed.
Travellers have been warned they will face entry denial if they attempt to use invalid documents or those reported as lost or stolen.
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