Foreign investment — selected practice notes
1–6 of 6 practice notes · curated starting points; shared topics remain in the full contents
11. Foreign investment company
Any direct or specified indirect foreign participation can bring a private or public company within the foreign-investment classification.
Subject: Choosing the company vehicle
Act references: s. 8
Key point: The classification captures a company with any share registered to a foreign individual or entity.
12. Foreign company re-registration
A foreign legal entity may operate through re-registration, but must obtain the relevant authorisation, appoint a qualified Maldives-resident agent and maintain change reporting.
Subject: Choosing the company vehicle
Act references: s. 33; s. 34; s. 35; s. 36; s. 37
Key point: A foreign company must not conduct activity in Maldives without the required registration.
18. Re-registering a foreign entity
Re-registration preserves the foreign entity while placing its Maldives operation, agent and information within the local register.
Subject: Formation and registration
Act references: s. 33; s. 34; s. 35; s. 36
Key point: Foreign investment authorisation precedes re-registration.
19. Foreign-company agent: role and exposure
The agent is more than a postal contact: the Act assigns responsibility to the Registrar and personal liability in respect of enforcement against the foreign company.
Subject: Formation and registration
Key point: The agent must be an individual aged at least 18, ordinarily resident in Maldives and free of the specified disqualifications.
67. Beneficial owner information duties
Registered non-individual members and individual beneficial owners have affirmative information duties to the company, including change reporting.
Subject: Security, ownership and records
Act references: s. 177
Key point: A non-individual registered member provides the company with beneficial-owner information.
92. Ending a foreign re-registration
A foreign company applies to cancel re-registration when Maldives operations end, authorisation expires/is revoked, or the company decides to dissolve.
Subject: Dissolution, winding up and restoration
Act references: s. 37; s. 195; s. 215
Key point: The section 37 cancellation triggers are cessation, authorisation expiry/revocation and dissolution decision.
This page is a general research and practice aid. The translations used in this manual are unofficial. Verify the official Dhivehi legislation, amendments and current procedures before relying on any entry. Read our sources and verification guidance and contact a lawyer at Sulthan & Amhar for advice on your circumstances before relying on this material or taking action.