Maldives Reiterates Its Request for Visa-Free Travel to Schengen Area for Maldivian Nationals

According to a press release issued by the Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the meeting, the Maldivian officials present in the meeting have made the request to the EU officials, reminding them of the importance of strengthening ties between the two sides.

“Recalling the importance of enhancing people-to-people ties between the two sides, the Maldives also reiterated its request for visa-free travel for Maldivian nationals to travel to EU Member States,” the press release reads.

Throughout this meeting, the EU officials present applauded the commitment of the Maldivian government to consolidate democratic governance, strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption, as well as promote and protect human rights and implement reforms in the justice sector.

They also reaffirmed their support for the Maldives’ endeavours and the importance of these reforms being fully implemented.

Maldivian nationals, like a large share of world citizens, need a Schengen visa in order to be eligible to travel to the border-free area of Schengen in Europe, which consists of 26 countries, including here Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal, some of the top favourite destinations for Maldivian passport holders.

For some years now, the authorities of the island country have continuously called on EU officials to start the visa liberalization process for Maldivian citizens.

Only this week, on Monday, October 24, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid, met with Paola Pampaloni, who is the Managing Director of Asia and the Pacific for the EU External Action Service (EEAS).

Expressing his appreciation for the continuous support the EU has given to the Maldives, in particular in the economic recovery efforts of the country, Minister Shahid also reiterated to Director Pampaloni the interest of Maldives to join the list of countries the citizens of which can travel visa-free to the Schengen zone.

Present in this meeting were also the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Khaleel, as well as the Secretary Bilateral, Dr Hala Hameed, and Joint Secretary Shiuneen Rasheed.

Based on the 2022 rankings of the Henley Passport Index, the passport of the Maldives offers its holders the possibility to travel without having to obtain a visa beforehand to 89 world destinations, which makes it the most powerful passport in South Asia.