The government has amended regulations to increase the quantity of tobacco products that can be imported for personal use.
Under the revised regulations governing duty exemptions for travellers' belongings, personal effects, and commercial samples, Maldivian nationals are now permitted to import tobacco products for personal use at the same allowance levels previously reserved for tourists.
A key change in the policy is the adjustment of the minimum age for importing tobacco products, which has been raised from 18 to 21 years. While these allowances were previously restricted to tourists, the new rules extend the privilege to Maldivian citizens as well.
Under the new guidelines, individuals may import up to 200 cigarettes (including heated tobacco products and bidis), 20 cigars, or 100 grams of tobacco duty-free for personal consumption.
However, the regulation specifies that duty exemptions for personal use do not apply to certain items, including other tobacco or nicotine-containing products, smoking accessories, e-cigarettes, shisha, flavored cigarettes, or e-liquids.
This move follows a series of legislative changes to the Import-Export Act. In 2024, the government increased cigarette prices by 50 percent, only to implement an amendment in July that effectively reduced the price by 50 percent.
Currently, a packet of cigarettes in local shops retails between MVR 240 and MVR 250. Previously, the price of a carton of cigarettes surged from MVR 995 to over MVR 2,200 following the highest duty hike in the country’s history.
However, with the passage of the new bill 19 months later, the price of a packet of cigarettes has effectively been halved.
The government's previous decision to hike tobacco taxes led to the emergence of a black market, with counterfeit cigarettes becoming widespread across the Maldives. These counterfeit products remain available at prices much lower than the original market rates.
