India, Maldives ease visa rules from March 11

NEW DELHI: India and the Maldives on Tuesday moved forward with the implementation of a visa facilitation agreement signed during President Ibrahim Solih’s visit to New Delhi that is aimed at making it easier for Indians to travel to the Indian Ocean archipelago for business and work.

The two countries exchanged “diplomatic notes” for implementing the agreement inked on December 17, and will be effective from March 11. The exchange followed the signing of the agreement by President Ram Nath Kovind after it was approved by the cabinet, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

People familiar with developments said this development will help address the restrictions that were imposed on the grant of visas and work permits to Indian workers by the regime of former president Abdulla Yameen last year, when bilateral ties plunged to an all-time low.

The agreement provides a “very liberal visa regime” for Maldivian nationals to visit India for tourism, business, education and medical purposes, the statement said. “It also makes it easier for Indians to travel to Maldives for business purposes,” it added.