Veli Beach Inn
GETTING HERE
Velana International Airport
When searching for flights you are looking for the MLE airport code. Scroll down for a list of airlines flying to the Maldives and the official airport website can be found here https://macl.aero.
The international terminal is one building with both arrival & departure areas intermixed. On arrival & having exited the secure area you will enter the large public area, where you will find plenty of seating, free device charging points, airport, information desk, resort & Maldivian Airways desks, public toilets, baggage storage facility costing $6 for up to 24 hours, dining area with coffee bistros a Burger King and others, convenience shops, pharmacy, currency exchange, ATM's, mobile service operator stores where you can purchase/collect a local sim. There is also an Ooredoo self service 24hr machine where you purchase a sim or recharge without having to enter their store. If you unfortunately do not have time to purchase a sim at the airport, the Fastboot store on Dhiffushi sells prepaid Ooredoo sims for 35 MVR with various data/SMS/call packages available from only 35 MVR for 1GB of data.
There are no walk in landside lounges, only the the VIP Service Lounge which is part of the arrival/Departure VIP Service. The VIP Service is available for a fee. You will be greeted at the plane & cared for right through to boarding your transfer to the island. For more information please go to the dedicated page on the airport website here.
Departing. What to expect air side.
There are no on-site sleeping facilities but there is one lounge air side which can be accessed for a fee or free depending on the arrangements with your airline. None of the airlines have their own lounge. There is plenty of seating, free device charging points, toilets, smoking room, the usual abundance of duty free and shopping for gifts and other outlets, a variety of food outlets and large dining area with amazing views over the apron and runway. All the gates are on the lower level, accessible by stairs or the lift.
Immigration
Arriving to Maldives
While you are heading to immigration your luggage is being screened before you receive it at Baggage Claim. However, after immigration you may be asked to do a second screening. It is an offence to have pork and pork products, alcohol, explosives, weapons, firearms, ammunition, pornographic material, materials deemed contrary to Islam including ‘idols for worship’ and bibles.
Immigration &
Customs
Duty Free Allowances. Items brought in by passengers for their own use when travelling
to Maldives. These items include:
Clothes, jewellery, watches, pens, portable gadgets, toiletries, books, magazines,
newspapers and zero Alcohol. Bringing in any type of alcohol is strictly forbidden. 200
cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco & up to MVR 6,000 worth of other personal
items.
(Click here for the official government customs website)
All travellers are required to go through immigration clearance upon arrival. Tourist visas are granted for all nationalities, free of charge, on arrival. Inbound passengers must satisfy the following basic entry requirements before they can be considered for entry into Republic of Maldives:
- No earlier than 96 hours prior to your date & time of departure to the Maldives (i.e. your home airport), you must complete the online health declaration.
- The Online Health Declaration form can be found here: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create
- While not a legal requirement, for your own safety & others it is strongly recommended you download & activate the TraceEkee App. This supports the efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. The Health Protection Agency will seek and need your actioned consent to upload your encounter data for contact tracing analysis.
- A passport or Travel Document with Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) with a minimum of 1 month validity after your departure.
- Proof of a Pre-Paid hotel booking/accommodation (Confirmed with payment on arrival are accepted in most cases but this is not guaranteed).
- Proof of Travel Insurance (TI) for the intended period of stay in the Maldives. If not covered in your own travel insurance policy, you can additionally purchase the Maldives Government approved Tourist COVID-19 Insurance policy from Allied’s website here.
- Sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Maldives
- Confirmed onward/return tickets to home country or a country of Resident (not applicable for valid Resident permit holders)
- Entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas.
- Completed Disembarkation/Embarkation Card approved by Maldives Immigration
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable
- Other vaccinations: Unless you are flying from tropical Africa there are no required by law vaccinations for the Maldives for entry or exit. However for your own personal health it is strongly recommended that travellers be covered against the main food and water borne diseases (Hepatitis A and Typhoid) and Tetanus. Please check with your Foreign Office service to keep up to date with changes to vaccination requirements and or recommendations.
The maximum number of days granted on arrival will be 30 days unless agreed by any bilateral means or Treaty. The 30 days is not for the passenger to claim, but lies at the discretion of the Immigration to grant any number of days less than or equal to 30. The period of stay granted is shown on the endorsement given on the passport. Passengers are advised to check their passports for the arrival endorsement and take note of the number of days stay given.
All Passengers Entering on a Tourist visa are not permitted to engage in any form of business, occupation, profession or paid employment while in Maldives. It is a punishable offence to overstay in Maldives beyond the number of days given. A fine of MVR 15750 will be imposed as an overstayed fee. and denial of re-entry is common for your lifetime.
Departing from Maldives
As you did prior to arrival & no earlier than 96 hours prior to your flight departure time, you must complete the same Online Health Declaration, this time selecting 'Departure'. The Online Health Declaration form can be found here: https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create
It is important to note that unlike many other airports the security and ability to go back outside the terminal ends the moment you pass through the screening when entering the check in hall.
Immigration &
Customs
You & your luggage will be screened before entering the check in hall and once
checked in, you and your carryon luggage will be screened for a second time prior to
passing through immigration.
When leaving the Maldives you should know it is an offence to depart with alcohol, tortoise shell and coral. Customs checks/baggage screening is very thorough so it is important you have all your receipts for items purchased during your stay, so as to avoid being inadvertently accused of attempting to leave with prohibited items or items which may incur export fees and so forth.
Transfers
Whichever option you choose, you will be greeted as you exit arrivals. Just look for our colleague, holding a Veli Beach Inn sign. They will help you with your luggage and escort you to the vessel. ON arrival at Mathiveri, we will escort you and your luggage to our property.
Whichever option you choose. The fee will be added to your total booking cost, payable on arrival at the property.
Airport to Mathiveri
Depart Airport Harbour: 10:30 & 16:00
$50 per person.
$25 per Child aged 2 - 5 Years.
Children under 2 travel free.
Mathiveri to Airport
Depart Airport Harbour: 06:30 & 12:30
$50 per person.
$25 per Child aged 2 - 5 Years.
Children under 2 travel free.
Private Speedboat
You have the option of hiring your own private speedboat transfer at the cost of $700.00 per direction (max 30 passengers), which includes a personal meet & greet in arrivals.