| Maldivian passport | |
|---|---|
 The front cover of the current biometric passport. | |
| Type | Passport |
| Issued by |  Maldives |
| First issued | 25 January 2016 (latest update) |
| Purpose | Identification |
| Eligibility | Maldivian citizenship |
| Expiration | 5 years from the date of issue |
Maldivian passport is a proof of citizenship, issued by Maldives Immigration, to all the nationals of the Maldives for international travel. The current passport, the 2nd generation e-passport, was launched on 24 January 2016.[1] This passport consists of a highly secured poly-carbonate data page with laser engraved photos and data. Each visa page of the passport has a different design, represented with numerous illustrations by the Maldivian local artist, Hussain Ali Manik.[2] A Maldivian Passport can be issued to any Maldivian citizen who applies for a passport.
The Maldivian passport is one of the most secure biometric passports in the world with 34 visible and invisible security features and full compliance to the highest security passport standards.[1] The Maldives is the first country in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC to introduce such a sophisticated bio-metric passport.
According to the Henley Passport Index (2024 update), Maldivian passport is the most powerful passport in South Asia, ranked globally at 58,[3] enabling travel to 94[3] countries without a prior visa.
- ^ a b "President Launches Biometric Passport and Immigration Auto-Gate Service". The President's Office.
- ^ "Maldives - Overview - Success Stories - DERMALOG - The Biometrics & Security Innovation Leader". www.dermalog.com.
- ^ a b "Global Passport Ranking".