The Republic of Maldives and the Commonwealth of Dominica have entered into a new visa waiver arrangement that will allow citizens to travel freely between the two island nations.
The agreement, formally known as the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for their Respective Citizens, was signed last week in New York at the Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the United Nations.
Maldivian nationals can now visit Dominica without applying for a visa and stay for up to 30 days from the date they arrive. The same arrangement applies to citizens of Dominica who can enter the Maldives visa-free for stays of up to 30 days.
Dr Ali Naseer Mohamed signed the document on behalf of the Maldivian government in his capacity as the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN. Philbert Aaron, Dominica’s Permanent Representative, signed for the Government of Dominica.
Officials from both countries say this step highlights a shared goal to strengthen connections between people and build deeper ties through multilateral cooperation at the UN and other international bodies where both countries are active.
Although the number of travelers between the Maldives and Dominica is still relatively small, the agreement is expected to help boost tourism, cultural exchange, and education opportunities in the long run.
The new visa-waiver agreement adds to the Maldives’ expanding list of visa-free destinations. Maldivian passport holders now have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 90 countries and territories worldwide.
This list includes nearby neighbors such as India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore, along with other island states across the Caribbean and Pacific.
