Medical Licensing Pathways for International Medical Graduates in the Maldives
Regulatory body and legal framework
Medical registration and licensing in the Maldives are governed by the Maldives Medical and Dental Council (MMDC), established under the Health Care Professionals Act (Law 13/2015). All doctors must obtain registration and a practising licence from MMDC before they can legally practise; it is an offence to practise medicine without bothmmdc.gov.mv. The MMDC operates under the Ministry of Health, which provides an online “virtual counter” for submission of forms and fees.
Eligibility criteria
The MMDC’s licensing system distinguishes between medical officers/general practitioners and specialists/consultants. The exact eligibility criteria are not fully published online, but information from official forms and council announcements indicates the following:
Education and professional qualifications
Primary medical qualification – Applicants must hold an MBBS or equivalent degree from a recognised university and provide originals and copies of all certificates. The registration form specifies that all originals will be verified and returnedaeonianmaldives.com. Foreign doctors must demonstrate that their qualification is acceptable and, if required, submit proof of internship completion.
Registration in home country and good standing – Doctors must submit proof of current registration with their home-country medical council and a certificate of good standing. The council verifies professional standing and will refuse applications from doctors with a history of misconduct.
English‑language proficiency – The MMDC has issued circulars requiring evidence of English‑language competency for foreign doctors (e.g., IELTS or OET). This requirement ensures doctors can communicate effectively with patients; details are provided in the council’s English Proficiency circular.
Professional experience – Recruitment agencies working with the MOH note that medical officers are generally expected to have several years of post‑internship experience (often five years) before being considered for government vacanciesmedrecmv.wixsite.com. Consultants must hold an appropriate postgraduate qualification (e.g., MSc, MD, FCPS) of three or more years’ duration; short diplomas (1‑2 years) and certain overseas board certificates (e.g., Egyptian Fellowship) are not acceptedmedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Fitness to practise and declarations
Applicants must answer attestation questions relating to physical and mental fitness, substance use, disciplinary history and criminal convictionsaeonianmaldives.com. False declarations or failure to disclose relevant information are offences under the Health Care Professionals Act.
Required documents
The MMDC application for registration and practising licence requires the following documents:
Completed application form (pre-registration and licensing) with personal details and declarationsaeonianmaldives.com.
Curriculum vitae and a signed job offer/sponsor letter from the Maldives Ministry of Health or a licensed health facility, which is necessary to obtain a work permitmedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Original and copies of all certificates, including MBBS degree, internship certificate and postgraduate qualificationsaeonianmaldives.com.
Passport (bio‑data page) and five passport‑sized photographsaeonianmaldives.com.
Professional registration certificate from the home-country medical council and certificate of good standing(valid for three months)medrecmv.wixsite.com.
Experience letters from previous employers verifying the duration and nature of clinical practicemedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Medical fitness certificate and police clearance (valid for three months)medrecmv.wixsite.com.
Proof of English‑language proficiency (IELTS/OET certificate) as required by the MMDC circulars.
Payment of fees – The application form lists fees for pre‑registration (MVR 500), provisional registration (MVR 300), temporary and permanent registration, and licensing (MVR 500)aeonianmaldives.com.
Step‑by‑step licensing process
Secure a job offer and gather documents. International medical graduates must first obtain a job offer from the Maldives Ministry of Health or a licensed healthcare facility. They gather all required documents and complete the MMDC application forms (pre‑registration and licensing)aeonianmaldives.com.
Submit the application via the virtual counter. Applications and supporting documents are submitted through the Ministry of Health’s virtual counter (counter.health.gov.mv). The MMDC verifies documents, checks good standing and fitness declarations, and collects the appropriate fees. Original documents are returned after verificationaeonianmaldives.com.
Obtain a provisional licence and work permit. Upon initial approval, medical officers are issued a provisional licence valid for one year and a work permit. They may begin practising under supervision while preparing for the licensing exammedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Sit the MMDC licensing exam. All medical officers registered after 31 December 2013 must pass the Maldives Medical and Dental Council licensing exam before their provisional licence expiresmmdc.gov.mv. The exam schedule is published annually; for 2025–26 the exam is held monthly with application deadlines about two weeks priormmdc.gov.mv.
Format and content: News reports state that the examination consists of 150 multiple‑choice questionsmaldivesindependent.com. Unofficial exam guides describe a three‑hour computer‑based test covering basic sciences (approximately 45 questions) and clinical subjects (about 105 questions). The exam fee is MVR 3,000medrecmv.wixsite.com.
Examination centres: Exams are held at several locations, including Male’, Kulhudhuffushi, Thinadhoo, Gan and Hithadhoommdc.gov.mv. Candidates may have up to two or three attempts; those who do not take or pass the exam within the provisional period cannot renew their licencemaldivesindependent.com.
Final registration and licence. After passing the licensing exam, doctors submit their results to the MMDC via the virtual counter. The council then issues a permanent practising licence, authorising them to practise independently. Specialists may be registered under the specialist category once postgraduate qualifications and experience are verified.
Renewal. Licences must be renewed periodically (usually every year) and require proof of continuing medical education, a valid good‑standing certificate and, where applicable, evidence of having passed the licensing exam. Doctors failing to pass the exam cannot renew their licences beyond the provisional periodmedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Additional considerations
Work permit and visa: The employer (often the Ministry of Health) sponsors the work permit and residency visa. Applicants must coordinate arrival dates and provide the signed job offer and visa documentsmedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Good standing and police clearance: Certificates of good standing and police clearance must be less than three months old at the time of submissionmedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Exam exemptions: Candidates holding permanent registration from certain countries (e.g., India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh) may be eligible for simplified entry, but they still receive only a provisional licence and must pass the MMDC exam within six months of employmentmedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Experience requirements: Recruitment agencies note that, due to competition, the MOH prefers candidates with at least five years’ post‑internship experiencemedrecmv.wixsite.com.
Summary
International doctors seeking to practise in the Maldives must hold a recognised medical degree, complete their internship and accumulate several years of clinical experience. They must secure a job offer, compile documents (degree certificates, transcripts, good‑standing certificate, passport, photos, experience letters and proof of English‑language proficiency) and submit them via the Ministry of Health’s virtual counteraeonianmaldives.com. After initial verification and fee payment, doctors receive a provisional licence and must sit the MMDC licensing exam, a 150‑question multiple‑choice test held regularly throughout the yearmaldivesindependent.com. Passing the exam is mandatory for converting the provisional licence into a full practising licence; failure to pass within the provisional period prevents licence renewalmmdc.gov.mv. Once licensed, doctors must renew their registration annually and maintain good standing and continuous professional development.