Send money from Maldives to India
A shortlist of providers verified to serve this route — and exactly how the money reaches India.
MVR
INROur comparison engine doesn't price Maldives-origin transfers yet. Instead, here's a shortlist of providers verified to move money on this corridor — confirm their live rate, fee and the 3% remittance tax on their own site before you send.
Indicative options · not a live quote
Sending money from the Maldives to India
Our live price comparison can't quote Maldives-origin transfers yet, but money genuinely moves on this route every day — India is one of the top destinations for money sent out of the Maldives, driven by the large Indian workforce there. The providers below are verified to operate in the Maldives and pay out across India. Rates, fees and the 3% remittance tax are set by each provider and the authorities, and must be confirmed on the provider's own site before you send.
| Provider | Payout method | Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bank deposit, UPI or cash pickup in India | Minutes to same day (bank deposit can take longer) | Visit site |
 | Bank deposit or cash pickup in India | Minutes to same day | Visit site |
 | Send from the wallet, paid out through the MoneyGram network in India | Minutes to same day | Visit site |
 | Bank deposit to an Indian account | Typically 1–3 business days | Visit site |
 | SWIFT bank transfer to an Indian account | Typically 1–4 business days | Visit site |
Most transfers from the Maldives to India land as a direct deposit into the recipient's Indian bank account, identified by the account number and the branch IFSC code. Several services can also pay straight to a UPI ID for near-instant credit, or release cash for pickup at an agent. Two things decide the real cost here: the margin added to the exchange rate, and the Maldives' 3% tax on outward remittances — so always compare the rate that arrives, not just the upfront fee.
Why Maldives to India shows no live prices yet
Currency Expert's live comparison engine prices transfers that start in the UK and a handful of other major sending countries, where the providers we connect to operate. None of those providers currently quote transfers that start in the Maldives, so the route comes back empty even though real services exist.
Until we can pull live Maldives rates, this page lists providers verified to serve the corridor rather than a live price table. Treat the page as a shortlist, not a quote — and always confirm the rate, fee and the 3% remittance tax on the provider's own site before you commit.
How the money reaches India
Most transfers land as a direct deposit into the recipient's Indian bank account, identified by the account number and the branch IFSC code. Several services can also pay straight to a UPI ID for near-instant credit, or release cash for pickup at an agent on production of a reference number and photo ID.
Every inward transfer to India is logged under the Reserve Bank's FEMA rules with a purpose code (for example, family maintenance) — the provider handles this, but it's why you may be asked the reason for the transfer.
What sending money to India really costs
On this corridor the cost comes from three places, and the headline fee is usually the smallest of them.
The 3% remittance tax
The Maldives charges a 3% tax on money sent abroad by foreign workers, collected by the bank or transfer provider at the point of sending. It applies on top of any fee, so factor it in before you compare.
The exchange-rate margin
Banks and counters usually add roughly 2 to 5 percent to the mid-market rate, while more competitive services sit lower. Because of the Maldives' US-dollar shortage and FX controls, the rate you're offered can be worse than the mid-market rate you see online.
Intermediary & GST
Transfers routed through the SWIFT bank network can lose money to intermediary banks along the way. On the India side there's no tax simply for receiving money, but the receiving bank's own service charge carries 18 percent GST.
Tax and rules on each side
Sending from the Maldives
The Maldives applies a 3% tax on outward remittances by foreigners, deducted by the sending institution. The country also runs tight foreign-exchange controls and a US-dollar shortage, so some banks cap outward transfers — State Bank of India's Malé branch, for example, has applied a monthly limit as low as around US$150. Physical foreign currency over US$10,000 must be declared. Check your provider's limit before relying on it.
Receiving in India
There's no tax simply for receiving money in India, and money from close relatives is fully tax-free with no limit. Gifts from non-relatives are tax-free only up to 50,000 rupees in a financial year, above which the whole amount can be taxable for the recipient. Money received as salary or for services is treated as taxable income — keep records either way.
Funding your transfer without overpaying
Paying from a bank account or debit card is usually the cheapest way to fund a transfer. Funding with a credit card is often treated by the card issuer as a cash advance, which can trigger a one-off fee and interest from day one with no grace period — quietly making a cheap-looking transfer expensive. Given the 3% remittance tax and rate margin already in play on this route, it's worth avoiding an extra card charge on top.
Scams to watch on this route
The most common traps target the recipient in India. These few rules are worth passing on to whoever you're sending to.
The fake UPI "collect request"
Rule: a genuine UPI transfer never asks the receiver to enter a PIN. Any "collect request" or QR code that demands a PIN to receive money is a fraud — to get paid you never need to approve anything.
OTP and "bank" calls
Rule: no bank or transfer provider will ever ask for a one-time password or full card details by phone or message. Anyone who does is an impersonator — hang up and contact the provider directly.
Avoid informal "better rate" channels
Rule: the Maldives' dollar shortage tempts people toward off-the-books money changers offering a better rate. These carry no protection if the money vanishes — use a verified provider even if the rate looks slightly worse.
Confirm before you send
Rule: check the account number, IFSC code or UPI ID against details your recipient sent you in writing, and use a verified provider rather than a stranger offering a deal off-platform.
How most people send money from the Maldives to India
For most people sending money from the Maldives to India, the simplest route is a verified money-transfer provider paying into the recipient's Indian bank account or UPI ID. Because we can't show a live quote here yet, treat this page as a vetted shortlist — then judge each option by the rupees that actually arrive after the 3% remittance tax and the rate margin, and confirm the recipient's details before you send.
Maldives to India transfers: frequently asked questions
Our live comparison engine prices transfers that start in the UK and a few other major sending countries. It doesn't yet quote transfers that start in the Maldives, so instead of an empty table we list providers verified to serve the corridor. Confirm the live rate, fee and the 3% remittance tax on each provider's own site before you send.
There's no single national cap, but the Maldives runs tight foreign-exchange controls and a US-dollar shortage, so individual banks set their own outward limits — State Bank of India's Malé branch has applied a monthly cap as low as around US$150. A 3% remittance tax also applies to foreigners' outward transfers. Check the limit and tax with whichever provider you choose before relying on it.
Usually the recipient's full name, their Indian bank account number and branch IFSC code, or their UPI ID for instant transfers. India does not use IBANs. For cash pickup you'll need the recipient's name and a reference number. You may also be asked the reason for the transfer, which the provider records under India's FEMA rules.
It depends on the method. UPI and card-funded transfers can arrive within minutes; bank deposits typically take one to a few business days; cash pickup is usually available the same day. The provider will show an estimated delivery time before you confirm.
There are two sides to it. In the Maldives, foreigners pay a 3% tax on money sent abroad, collected by the provider. In India there's no tax simply for receiving money, and money from close relatives is fully tax-free with no limit; gifts from non-relatives are tax-free only up to 50,000 rupees in a financial year, and money received as salary or for services is taxable income.
Paying from a bank account or debit card is usually cheapest. Avoid funding with a credit card where you can — issuers often treat it as a cash advance, adding a one-off fee and interest from day one. And always compare the exchange-rate margin plus the 3% remittance tax, not just the upfront fee, since that's where most of the cost hides.
Yes. State Bank of India (Maldives) and Bank of Maldives both handle transfers to India for their own account holders, usually as a SWIFT bank deposit. Bear in mind banks can apply low monthly outward caps because of FX controls, so a money-transfer provider is often faster and more flexible for everyday amounts. See the local options listed above.
Our sources & how we keep this current
Last reviewed: 1 July 2026. We re-check the providers and rules on this corridor regularly, and will switch this page to a live price table as soon as our engine can quote Maldives-origin transfers.
Affiliate disclosure: the "Visit site" links to some providers are affiliate links. Currency Expert may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you open an account through them. It never changes which providers we list or the order they appear in.