The Maldives is the easiest destination on this list. Every nationality, Nepal included, gets a free 30-day visa stamped on arrival. There is nothing to apply for in advance — but the entry conditions are real, and people are turned back for failing them.
At a glance
Visa needed: No — free visa on arrival for all nationalities
Length of stay: 30 days
Cost: Free
Apply in advance: Not required
Also required: Traveller Declaration submitted online within 96 hours before arrival
Fees
There is no visa fee. Be aware that resort transfers — seaplane or speedboat — are a substantial separate cost and are usually booked with the resort, not at the airport.
Visa types
Visa on arrival (tourist) — 30 days. Issued at Velana International Airport to every arriving tourist who meets the entry conditions.
Extension — Up to 90 days total. Applied for at Maldives Immigration inside the country, before the initial 30 days expires.
Business visa — Varies. Arranged in advance through the Maldivian company you are visiting.
Documents required
Machine-readable passport valid at least 1 month beyond your intended departure
Confirmed onward or return ticket
Prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered resort, hotel or guesthouse
Proof of sufficient funds to cover the stay
Traveller Declaration submitted online within 96 hours before your flight
Before you apply
The prepaid booking is genuinely checked
Maldives Immigration asks for a prepaid confirmed booking at a registered facility, not just a reservation you can cancel. This is the condition Nepali travellers most often arrive without.
The Traveller Declaration is free
Submit it yourself at imuga.immigration.gov.mv. Maldives Immigration has publicly warned about sites and individuals charging a fee for this form — there is no fee.
About Maldives
The Maldives is the one destination on this list where the visa is not the hard part — every nationality gets thirty days free on arrival. The planning that matters is which island you pick and how you get to it, because that decision sets both the cost and the character of the trip. There are no direct flights from Kathmandu, so you will connect through Colombo, Delhi or Dubai. Once you land in Malé, a seaplane or speedboat takes you the rest of the way.
Highlights
Stay in an overwater villa with direct lagoon access
Snorkel house reefs that begin a few metres from your steps
Dive with manta rays and whale sharks in South Ari Atoll
See bioluminescent plankton light up the shore at Vaadhoo
Take a sunset dolphin cruise — spinner dolphins are common
Visit a local island such as Maafushi for a guesthouse stay at a fraction of resort cost
Sandbank picnic on an uninhabited stretch of sand
Explore Malé: the Old Friday Mosque, the fish market and the National Museum
Try a submarine or glass-bottom boat trip if you would rather stay dry
Packages from Kathmandu
Maldives Honeymoon Escape — 5D/4N, NPR 185,000
Maldives Guesthouse Island Stay — 5D/4N, NPR 135,000
Maldives Family Resort Week — 7D/6N, NPR 245,000
Travelling with family
Choose a resort with a shallow, sheltered lagoon if children are young or cannot swim
Seaplanes only fly in daylight — a late arrival in Malé can strand you overnight
Many resorts have kids clubs included; confirm the age range before booking
Guesthouse islands cost far less but require modest dress on public beaches
The sun is stronger than it looks; rash vests beat repeated sunscreen for children
Ask whether transfers are included when comparing quotes — they are a major hidden cost
Pack any medicines you need, as island pharmacies are limited