Opening a bank account as an expat
What Bank of Maldives asks for, the employer letter, and how to avoid a second trip.
Draft (2026-10-01): being verified. Check the official sources below before acting.
Who can open an expatriate account
Bank of Maldives (BML) offers an Expatriate Account. If you are on a work visa, BML sets conditions on your work permit's length and the validity remaining. Check the current figures on BML's page before you go, because they change.
Bring these
- Your passport (original, plus a copy) and your visa document
- A letter from your employer confirming your addresses and gross salary. BML publishes a sample letter you can give HR
- A passport-size photo
- The completed account-opening form (downloadable from BML)
Tips
- Get the employer letter on letterhead, signed and stamped. It's the document most often missing.
- Other banks (for example MIB, SBI, Bank of Ceylon, Commercial Bank of Maldives) have their own requirements, so check before choosing.
- Once your account is open, local transfers between Maldivian banks are instant through Favara.