PROCEDURE FOR FOREIGN INVESTMENT REGISTRATION

Foreign investors may choose, either to set up an investment wholly owned by foreigners, form joint ventures with Maldivian Nationals or companies registered in the Maldives or re-register a company which is resident overseas.

A decision on all foreign Investment proposals received by MED, will be made and communicated to the investor within 10 working days (approx.) upon submission of all the relevant documents as per the attachment.

If the investment is approved, an Approval Letter and a draft of the Foreign Investment Agreement will be given to the investors

Once approval has been given, the investors may proceed with registration of the company with the Registrar of Companies (also located within MED).

Once the company has been registered and the documents listed in the Approval Letter has been submitted to MED, the company may proceed to sign the Foreign Investment Agreement with the Government of Maldives, represented by the Ministry of Economic Development. 

APPLICABLE FEES

1. Company registration fee; depends on the authorized registration fee capital of the Company (Minimum authorized capital of USD 130 [approx.] is required by Law)
2. Company Annual fee USD 130 approx. (MRf 2000)
   
3. Stamp fee USD 32 approx. (MRf 500)
   
4. All foreign investments incur an administrative fee of USD 2,000. This Administrative fee of shall be paid at the time of registration, and subsequently at the time of renewal of the agreement or if any amendments to the Agreement are proposed by the Investors after the Agreement has been signed.
5. All foreign investments shall comply with the Business Profit Tax Act (Law No. 5/2011)

Re-registering a company resident overseas in the Maldives is free.