Sending parcels to The Maldives
The Maldives is a popular tourist destination, and it's easy to see why - the South Asian country is blessed with blue lagoons, impressive beaches and an agreeable climate. It's no wonder that 341,256 people choose to live here, including 60,000 foreigners.
Some 99 per cent of The Maldives consists of sea - meaning just one per cent is land. The country comprises of 1,190 islands and sandbanks, yet only 187 of the islands are inhabited. If you have family or friends living in The Maldives and want to send them Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and care packages from the UK, then you'll need to follow the rules. Here are some tips on sending parcels to this island idyll.
What can't I send?
As with any country, The Maldives has some strict import prohibitions which you must be aware of before dropping your parcel off to us. In 2014, The Maldives decided to prevent all products from Israel from being imported into the country.
This was due to Israel's conflict with Gaza - Operation Protective Edge resulted in more than 500 Palestinian people being killed, so The Maldives decided to cut ties with the country. While it's unlikely you'll want to send something made in Israel to The Maldives, you may want to check the origin of the item first, just to be safe.
Islam is the chief religion of The Maldives, so do not send any items which could cause offence to the faith. Products containing alcohol are also banned for this reason. More unusually, you're not allowed to send magnetised materials to the island either. Of course, some of the prohibitions are more obvious, such as:
• Corrosives
• Poisons
• Radioactives
• Acids
• Explosives
You'll also need to attach customs documentation, depending on the parcel's value. If the contents are worth £270 or below, it's a CN22 - any packages above that threshold should be affixed with a CN23.
Packaging your parcel
With more than 5,000 miles between London and Malé (the capital of The Maldives), your package has a long journey ahead. It is therefore wise to ensure that it is prepared for the trip. Start by finding a box that is slightly bigger than your item, and fill any gaps with either packing peanuts or bubble wrap. If your item is fragile, take extra care to ensure it is properly padded.
Next you need to seal all openings with strong parcel tape. You can also wrap the tape around the parcel's edges if you want to reinforce the box further. Write the destination on the top of the package, making sure to write THE MALDIVES in capital letters.
Once you've done all that, your parcel is ready to be sent! You have the choice between dropping the package off yourself at one of our depots, or if it's more convenient we can pick it up for you. Just leave your parcel in your specified safe place, and one of our delivery drivers will come and collect it.
If you need any further advice about sending parcels to The Maldives, don't hesitate to contact us - we're more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
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