Maldives Import Duties & Taxes Explained

Your shipment to the Maldives may incur Import Duty and 8% General Goods and Services Tax (GGST) if the FOB value exceeds MVR 10,000 (approximately $648 USD). Duty is typically charged only on the excess amount over the threshold, with rates varying by category from 0% for electronics to 25% for luxury items, and carriers may add a small handling fee of around MVR 150–200.

The General Goods and Services Tax (GGST) rate in the Maldives is 8%. For your shipment, this applies to imports exceeding MVR 10,000 (approximately $648 USD), though small personal parcels under this threshold often clear without tax charges.

Personal shipments with a value up to MVR 10,000 (approx. $648 USD) are generally exempt from import duty. This exemption applies only if the goods are for personal use and not commercial quantities.

Duty is typically charged only on the portion of the value that exceeds MVR 10,000, not the total shipment value. So if your package sits just above the threshold, duty applies only to the amount over MVR 10,000 rather than the full declared value.

Duty rates vary by item; laptops and mobile phones are often 0%, while general electronics range from 5% to 10% and clothing is typically around 15%. Luxury items like watches can face rates between 5% and 25%.

Yes, carriers like DHL or FedEx usually charge an administrative fee for advancing tax payments to Maldives Customs. This is typically around 2% of the tax amount or a fixed minimum of MVR 150–200.

Import duties are collected by the Maldives Customs Service (MCS), while GGST is administered by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). The carrier usually collects these fees on behalf of these agencies.

You can estimate costs by calculating duty on the amount over MVR 10,000 (if applicable) plus 8% GGST on the total CIF value and duty. Add a carrier fee of roughly MVR 150–200 for a complete picture.

If your goods are deemed commercial rather than personal use, the MVR 10,000 exemption is voided and duty may be charged on the full value. A 10% processing fee may also apply in such cases.

If your shipment's FOB value stays under MVR 10,000 and is clearly for personal use, you likely won't pay duty or GGST. However, items like vehicles or single-use plastics are excluded from this exemption regardless of value.