Maldives Tightens Vehicle Import Rules with New Permit Restrictions

The Transport Ministry has rolled out a major regulatory change that requires proof of proper vehicle storage such as garage, showroom, or warehouse permits — before importing any motorized land vehicles into the Maldives, with the exception of two-wheelers.

According to the amended regulation, effective 90 days from now, all four-wheeled and heavy vehicles can only be imported after submitting relevant permits for storage locations. These facilities must be authorized by the government, and their capacity will be verified by officials assigned by the Ministry.

In a tweet announcing the update, Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen emphasized the government's intent to control unregulated vehicle imports and ensure responsible storage. Importers must also submit documents verifying that vehicles meet the age requirements set by the Ministry.

Under the new rules, import requests must include:

- A copy of garage, showroom, or warehouse permits

- The importer’s ID card

- Company registration certificate

For heavy vehicles, additional documents such as manufacture certificates, invoices, export certificates, and de-registration certificates (for used vehicles) are required.

Key vehicle age restrictions include:

- Motorcycles/auto-cycles (≤250cc): Older than 3 years from manufacture date will not be registered

- Cars/vans/vehicles under 1 ton: Older than 5 years

- 1–4 ton vehicles: Older than 7 years

- 10-ton and above vehicles: Older than 15 years

The Ministry stated that these measures are part of broader efforts to reduce traffic congestion, ensure public safety, and bring more order to vehicle imports and registration processes.