The Maldives are an archipelago of more than a thousand islands in the Indian Ocean. The islands are known for their luxury, clear waters, and amazing sea life. The Maldives has a piece of paradise for every traveller. There are overwater bungalows at high-end resorts, coral reefs full of marine life, and beautiful white-sand beaches. To make the most of your time in this tropical paradise, it’s important to understand the local cash, cash and ATMs in Maldives and payment options. This guide will give you the financial information you need to enjoy the Maldives’ peaceful beauty with ease and confidence.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to save money for travelling in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Maldives?
Maldives has around 150 ATMs. These are mostly run by the six largest commercial banks. You can find some of them on the main streets in cities and on some popular islands, but not on on every island.
You can find ATMs at:
- Large airports,
- Market and town squares,
- Popular streets in large cities that attract many tourists,
- Shopping malls,
- Food lanes,
- Branches of banks.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Smaller airports,
- Mountain-adjacent towns,
- Bus stops in the region,
- Village interiors,
- Hidden away in small towns, tucked off the main streets,
- Remote resorts and retreats.
Best ATMs to use in Maldives for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Maldives are those owned by popular banks such as:
Bank of Maldives,
Commercial Bank of Maldives, and
Habib Bank.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Maldives, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in MVR).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in Maldives, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in MVR’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Maldives?
Yes, many foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Maldives. ATMs commonly accept Visa and Mastercards. Some of them also accept Plus and Cirrus cards. Only some accept American Express, Diners, Discover cards. Others like CUP, JCB, Maestro or Rupay cards are usually not accepted.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Maldives.
What are the ATM opening hours?
ATMs – In most cases, yes, they are open around the clock, every day of the year 24×7. You should have no trouble getting to any of them at any hour of the day or night because many of them are self-contained ATMs. Depending on the location, some bank branches may only be open from 9 am to 3 pm.
What do they call ATMs in Maldives?
The term ‘ATM’ is typically used to display the presence of an ATM.
PIN type
Length of ATM PINs in Nepal: Usually, 4-digit PINs are accepted.
Languages at ATMs in Maldives
By default, ATMs in Maldives offer two languages: Dhivehi and English. If you don’t understand these languages, you can use the camera feature of Google Translate to translate the options on your phone in real-time. Note: These translations aren’t always right, so be patient and don’t rush through the transaction.
You can use Google Translate’s camera feature to get real-time translations of your phone’s menu options to translate the ATM screen. Feel free to take your time and not rush through the transaction. Just keep in mind that these translations may not always be 100% accurate.
Do ATMs in Maldives work similarly as other countries?
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in Asia.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Maldives?
ATMs in Maldives dispense only the official currency Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR).
ATM withdrawal limits in Maldives?
ATMs in Maldives typically have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of MVR 2000 (Maldivian Rufiya). One bank ATM allows to withdraw up to MVR 8,000 in one transaction.
ATM Fees in Maldives?
There are some fee-free ATMs in Maldives. Majority of the large bank ATMs charge between MVR 30 to MVR 100 as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders (Maldivian Rufiya). There are two bank ATMs that do not charge any ATM Access fees to foreign card holders, however, they accept cards issued only in specific countries and have a small network of ATMs in Mauritius so they may be hard to access.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Maldives – something every traveller handling cash in Maldives should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Maldives?
- Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
- Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Maldives?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Maldives. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Maldives.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Is it safe to use Maldives ATMs?
Most of the time, yes. A lot of the ATMs have cameras and security guards. There isn’t much crime near ATMs.
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Maldives takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, it is possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Maldives. Majority of the large bank ATMs charge between MVR 30 to MVR 100 as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders (Maldivian Rufiya). There are two bank ATMs that do not charge any ATM Access fees to foreign card holders, however, they accept cards issued only in specific countries and have a small network of ATMs in Mauritius so they may be hard to access.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Maldives?
Yes. Most ATMs in Maldives accept credit cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other places.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Maldives does not have any bitcoin ATMs.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Maldives
Bank of America: There aren’t any Bank of America ATMs in Maldives.
Citibank: None.
Barclays: For the record, Maldives does not have any Barclays ATMs.
HSBC: Maldives does not have any HSBC ATMs.
Standard Chartered: Maldives does not have any Standard Chartered ATMs.
