Effective November 9, the Maldives has introduced stricter rules and reduced the amount of tobacco products that tourists on visas are allowed to bring into the country, according to the Maldives Customs Service.
Under recent amendments to the Tobacco Import Act and its regulations, only tourists carrying tobacco for personal use will be permitted to import these products. New limits restrict tourists to a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 250 grams of loose tobacco, with these quantities exempt from duty charges.
If tourists exceed these limits, Customs will hold the surplus items for 30 days. Upon their departure from the country, tourists will have the option to retrieve the excess tobacco products from the customs departure terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA).
Previously, tourists were allowed to import tobacco products for personal use without specific quantity limits. Meanwhile, stricter regulations now prohibit the import of tobacco products by anyone other than tourists, with violators facing the seizure of their goods.
The Maldives has implemented several policies to discourage tobacco use, including stringent usage and sales restrictions and significant tax hikes on tobacco products. Parliament has also passed legislation to enforce strict penalties for rule violations, reinforcing the government’s commitment to public health.
Under recent amendments to the Tobacco Import Act and its regulations, only tourists carrying tobacco for personal use will be permitted to import these products. New limits restrict tourists to a maximum of 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 250 grams of loose tobacco, with these quantities exempt from duty charges.
If tourists exceed these limits, Customs will hold the surplus items for 30 days. Upon their departure from the country, tourists will have the option to retrieve the excess tobacco products from the customs departure terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA).
Previously, tourists were allowed to import tobacco products for personal use without specific quantity limits. Meanwhile, stricter regulations now prohibit the import of tobacco products by anyone other than tourists, with violators facing the seizure of their goods.
The Maldives has implemented several policies to discourage tobacco use, including stringent usage and sales restrictions and significant tax hikes on tobacco products. Parliament has also passed legislation to enforce strict penalties for rule violations, reinforcing the government’s commitment to public health.
