Moving to Maldives from France

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from France to Maldives — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from France to Maldives, and you’d need to navigate life in Maldivian. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from France to Maldives, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
124 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in France live in Maldives · UN DESA

Who's moving to Maldives?

Top countries of origin for Maldives's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How France and Maldives stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
MV
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
MV
1.3

Maldives performs significantly better than France across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
MV
$2,288
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
MV
21.6

Maldives generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FR
10.0
MV
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
MV
3.6t

France generally does better on environment, though Maldives leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FR
49.4
MV
17.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
MV
15.7%

France generally does better on infrastructure, though Maldives leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FR
7.3%
MV
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
MV
$22,400

Maldives generally does better on employment & economy, though France leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
MV
76.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
MV
25.7

France generally does better on family life, though Maldives leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France and Maldives. To live, work, or study long-term in Maldives, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Maldives's immigration authority.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Maldives

Visa on Arrival
France passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Maldives.
Maldives passport

Maldives passport holder visiting France

Visa Required
Maldives passport holders need a visa to enter France.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Maldives?

With 17.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Maldives can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in France and Maldives.

Is Maldives safe for expats?

Maldives performs significantly better than France across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Maldives is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Maldives compared to France?

Maldives generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 21.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Maldives, compared to 33.4 in France. Maldives scores 61 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

What language do they speak in Maldives?

The official language in Maldives is Maldivian. In France, the official language is French.

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At a Glance

FR MV
Population 68,305,148 390,164
Currency Euro (€) Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
Languages French Maldivian
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +33 +960
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112