Canada vs Republic of Maldives
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Canada
Canada's permanent-residence system is dominated by Express Entry, covering Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades, plus Provincial Nominee Programs. Temporary routes include LMIA-based work permits, International Mobility Program, and the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- Official portal
- IRCC
- Languages
- English, French
- Currency
- Canadian dollar
Republic of Maldives
Maldives Immigration runs visa services through the official Immigration website, IMUGA and the Xpat Online System. The route set is strongly digital: work visas are moving to e-Visa status linked to work permits, business visas start in the Business Portal before immigration verification, and family-linked marriage, resident and dependent visas are filed through IMUGA. Short meeting visitors may use a 14-day on-arrival Meeting Visa if they meet the official prerequisites.
- Official portal
- Maldives Immigration
- Languages
- Dhivehi
- Currency
- Maldivian rufiyaa
How Canada and Republic of Maldives differ
| Dimension | Canada | Republic of Maldives |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 8 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 7 | 2 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 6 | 0 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Arrival as PR → citizenship eligibility at 3 years. Temp-to-PR transition (Express Entry or PNP from inside Canada) typically adds another 1-3 years. | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) | Work Visa |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | IRCC service standard for Federal Skilled Worker under Express Entry is 5–8 months from AOR. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | Canada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) costs about CA$1,675 in government fees for a single applicant, plus roughly CA$550 in pre-application third-party costs (ECA + language test). | — |
| Official languages | English, French | Dhivehi |
| Currency | Canadian dollar | Maldivian rufiyaa |
| Primary regulator | CICC | MBC |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 1 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Canada
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- Canada Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) costs about CA$1,675 in government fees for a single applicant, plus roughly CA$550 in pre-application third-party costs (ECA + language test).
- Processing time
- IRCC service standard for Federal Skilled Worker under Express Entry is 5–8 months from AOR.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Republic of Maldives
Work Visa
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Recent policy activity
Last 6 months. Each entry links to its primary government source.
- 30 April 2026Canada
Canada: PR fees rise (30 Apr 2026), category-based Express Entry, Start-up Visa closed, arranged-employment points removed
A run of IRCC changes through 2025-26 reshaped Express Entry economics and closed the Start-up Visa to new applicants.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Routes unique to Canada
Routes unique to Republic of Maldives
Visa routes side by side
Canada (8)
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 3 years.
Start-Up Visa (Canada)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Canadian Study Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Programme length plus 90 days.
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence.
Republic of Maldives (7)
Work Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · The Work e-Visa validity corresponds to the approved Work Permit; renewed Work Visas are issued with a maximum validity of 1 year.
Business Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Granted for 30 to 90 days at a time, not exceeding 180 days total per calendar year.
Meeting Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 14 days on arrival; non-extendable.
Marriage Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for 1 year for new applications; extensions can be issued for up to 5 years.
Resident Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · The official page lists initial Marriage Visa validity of 1 year and renewals up to 5 years.
Dependent Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Duration depends on the approved dependent visa grant. Confirm the active period in IMUGA.
Sponsorship Declaration
Sponsor · Non-settlement · The sponsored person must arrive in the Maldives within 30 days of approval.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Canada or Republic of Maldives?+
Canada’s Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Maldives’s Work Visa is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Which immigration system has changed more recently, Canada or Republic of Maldives?+
In the last 6 months: 1 logged policy change for Canada, 0 for Republic of Maldives. See the recent-policy section above for the details, each linked to its primary source.
Does Canada or Republic of Maldives have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Canada has more: 7 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 2 for Republic of Maldives. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.