Travel vaccinations for the Maldives: recommendations, dengue and diving medicine

The Maldives require no vaccinations if you travel directly from Germany. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) recommends hepatitis A as a travel vaccination, along with up-to-date routine vaccinations, particularly against measles. There is no malaria, but dengue has been reported more often since early 2026, and Zika and chikungunya also occur. For a typical resort holiday the preparation is manageable, but mosquito protection and diving medicine deserve attention.

Entry rules: yellow fever and polio only in special cases

If you arrive directly from Germany, the Foreign Office says you need no proof of vaccination. Anyone aged nine months and over arriving from a yellow fever country, or after more than twelve hours in transit there, must show proof of yellow fever vaccination. The Maldives themselves are not a yellow fever area.

Polio is a special case: according to the Foreign Office, the Maldives require proof of polio vaccination if you arrive from, or depart to, a country with polio cases, and in connection with a Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. For a straightforward holiday from Germany this usually does not apply. If you combine the Maldives with other destinations, such as Sri Lanka or countries in Africa and Asia, have the rules checked for your whole route. Keep your vaccinations recorded in your International Certificate of Vaccination and take it with you.

Recommended vaccinations according to the Foreign Office

The table at the top of this page summarises the recommendations:

• All travellers: hepatitis A.
• Long stays or particular exposure: chikungunya, dengue, hepatitis B and typhoid. This tends to apply to people who stay longer, live or work on local islands or travel on a basic budget.
• Routine vaccinations: keep up to date with the STIKO schedule, the official German vaccination calendar. The Foreign Office specifically highlights protection against measles. Our guide to routine vaccinations for adults explains what adults need.

On dengue vaccination: STIKO only recommends it for people aged four and over who have had a laboratory-confirmed dengue infection in the past. For everyone else, mosquito protection remains the key measure.

Dengue, Zika and chikungunya: daytime mosquito protection

According to the Foreign Office, there is no endemic malaria in the Maldives. The relevant diseases here are spread by day-biting Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue occurs nationwide, mainly during and shortly after the rainy season, and more cases have been reported since early January 2026. It usually causes fever, a rash and severe aches in the limbs; the Foreign Office notes that complications are rare in travellers. There is no preventive tablet and no specific treatment.

Chikungunya causes high fever and sometimes long-lasting joint pain. Zika can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy, and the Foreign Office reports isolated confirmed infections in pregnant tourists in recent years. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, discuss the trip with your doctor beforehand.

Protect yourself above all during the day and at dusk: wear light clothing that covers your skin, reapply repellent to all exposed skin and use an impregnated mosquito net if needed. Our guide to dengue and mosquito protection has more detailed tips. If you develop a fever after returning, see a doctor and mention your trip.

What depends on your type of trip

Sun, sea and hygiene

According to the Foreign Office, the intense sun near the equator, especially around midday, and dangerous sea currents are often underestimated. Use good sun protection, drink enough fluids, particularly children and older people, and heed warnings about currents. Accidents involving jellyfish, venomous fish, sea snakes or sharks are rare. Beaches contaminated with animal droppings carry a risk of parasitic skin infections.

The Foreign Office advises drinking only water from a safe source and never tap water. Where possible, use drinking water for brushing your teeth too, and wash your hands before eating. This prevents most cases of diarrhoea.

Medical care and diving

According to the Foreign Office, medical care is limited and in many specialist areas does not meet European standards, including at the two hospitals in Malé. Serious illness or injury usually requires evacuation, for example to India or Sri Lanka. Take out travel health insurance that includes repatriation. Bring enough of any regular medication and ask your doctor for a certificate in English confirming that you need it. Our guide to the travel health kit covers what else to pack.

The Foreign Office says decompression chambers are currently only available on a few resort islands. Have a diving medical consultation and examination before a diving holiday.

Timing: when to see a travel health specialist

Even for the Maldives, a consultation a few weeks before you travel is worthwhile, above all to check your vaccination record. Following STIKO and DTG, travel vaccinations should be completed at least two weeks before departure. The travel vaccine check gives you a first overview, and our directory of travel clinics helps you find a practice in Germany.