Destinations entry requirements
Travel requirements and the collation of documents have always been the unpleasant bureaucratic side of taking a diving holiday. That’s become even truer as digitalisation is increasingly the norm. Rules can be confusing, ever-changing, and sometimes counterintuitive. To try and help you navigate the requirements as you plan your trip, we have collated all the information in one place for all our destinations.
IMPORTANT: Please be aware that we provide the following information as a starting point only. Requirements can change, often with little notice. We try to provide the most up-to-date information we can, although this will not always be possible.
All guests are responsible for ensuring that they meet the current entry requirements for their chosen destination.
Bikini Atoll (The Marshall Islands)
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Pacific Master’s Bikini Atoll itineraries embark at Ebeye via Kwajalein, reached via Guam or Honolulu on United Airlines.
- Both Guam and Honolulu are US territory, so non-US citizens need a valid US visa or an approved ESTA for the transit leg.
- On the flight to Kwajalein, you will be given an immigration card and customs declaration to fill in before landing.
- A free RMI visa on arrival or entry permit is granted at Kwajalein Airport for most nationalities.
- Nationalities not eligible for a visa on arrival must obtain one in advance through the Marshall Islands Division of Immigration or their nearest consular representative.
- Kwajalein is US military territory with restricted access. You must have a sponsor letter stating your reason for entry, which will be provided by Master Liveaboards before you travel.
- Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond your departure date, and onward travel must be booked before you arrive.
As waiver agreements and visa requirements can change, we recommend checking your home country’s government advice, or the Marshall Islands Division of Immigration. Full details of the Kwajalein Arrival Procedure and what to expect will be provided by our team along with the required sponsor letter ahead of your trip.
Egypt
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Most nationalities need a visa to enter Egypt: either an e-Visa, arranged online before you travel, or a visa on arrival, which can be obtained at Hurghada and Marsa Alam, or Cairo if you’re visiting the capital city before your liveaboard.
- The Egyptian Government’s official e-Visa portal is visa2egypt.gov.eg. The fee is $30 USD. Apply at least a week before departure; the site and processing time can be slow, so don’t leave it to the last minute. Once approved, keep both a digital and a printed copy as airport wifi isn’t always reliable.
- Visa on Arrival costs the same and is paid in cash only (USD) at the airport. Queues are often long and slow, which can be bypassed if you already have an e-Visa.
- Some nationalities require an embassy-issued visa before travelling.
- Passports need at least six months’ validity and a blank page.
This covers visa and entry requirements only. Egyptian immigration officials can ask for proof of travel insurance. A yellow fever certificate is required if you’re arriving from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk. We advise checking your home country’s government travel advisory or the Egyptian embassy for clarification on visa requirements.
Galápagos (Ecuador)
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Galápagos has the most layered entry process of any of our destinations, with three separate online steps, so it’s worth allowing proper time to prepare.
- Most nationalities can enter Ecuador visa-free.
- Some African, Asian and Middle Eastern nationals need a visa, which must be obtained before travelling. Visa applications must be submitted at least 2 months in advance through the official e-Visa portal as processing time is 30 to 60 working days.
- As the Galápagos Islands are an Ecuadorian province, your Ecuador entry arrangements cover both.
- Ecuador Customs Registration Form (FRA): All travellers entering or leaving Ecuador must register their details online up to 72 hours before travelling via the National Customs Service of Ecuador website www.aduana.gob.ec. The form collects personal details, flight information and includes a customs declaration. Once completed, you will receive a QR code to present to immigration officials
- Travel health insurance is a legal requirement for entry to the Galápagos specifically. It must cover medical evacuation to the mainland, and needs to be arranged before you travel.
- Galápagos Transit Control Card (TCT): the core immigration document for entering Galápagos, which needs to be completed online via the official SIIG CGREG portal. The cost is $20 USD, and it is recommended to complete the registration no less than 48 hours before your domestic flight departure.
- Galápagos Biosafety Sworn Declaration: a separate online form declaring you’re not carrying prohibited organic items. It needs to be completed via the SIABG portal 48–72 hours before your domestic flight.
- All luggage goes through a physical biosecurity inspection at the mainland airport (Quito or Guayaquil) before boarding, so allow at least 2.5 hours before your domestic flight departure.
- Galápagos National Park entrance fees need to be paid in cash on arrival in the islands; there is no online payment option. Make sure you have undamaged USD notes, as worn bills are often rejected.
This covers most Ecuador and Galápagos entry requirements and procedures. If you’re unsure whether you need a visa to enter Ecuador, check with your home country’s government advisories or the Ecuadorian government website well before travelling.
Indonesia
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Every visitor to Indonesia must complete the All Indonesia Arrival Card, a single online form covering arrival details, customs, and health declarations together.
- Submit your details online within 72 hours before arrival through the official portal, or via the mobile app, which is available for Android and iOS. It’s free and produces a QR code for immigration.
- The arrival card is not a visa, which most travellers also need.
- Visa on Arrival can be obtained by most nationalities, including UK, EU, US, and Australian passport holders. The cost is IDR 500,000 (around 35 USD) payable in cash or by card at the airport.
- An e-VOA is available to the same nationalities, which costs the same, and reduces queuing time at the airport. Apply and pay online up to 90 days before your trip via the Indonesian government’s official eVisa portal. Upon approval, a QR code is generated which can be used at the faster Auto-Gate lanes.
- Both e-VOA and standard VOA allow a stay of up to 30 days.
- Bali Tourism Levy: visitors travelling to or through Bali must also pay the Bali Tourism Levy (IDR 150,000, around $10 USD, per person). This is a provincial charge, separate from the arrival card and visa. Pay online in advance at lovebali.baliprov.go.id to skip the airport queue, or in person on arrival. It’s a one-time payment covering your whole stay, and produces a QR code to show at checkpoints.
This covers entry documents only. Passports need at least six months’ validity and at least one blank page. For additional information, we suggest checking your home country’s travel advisory or the visa information section on the Visit Indonesia website
Maldives
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Every visitor to the Maldives, regardless of nationality or age, must complete the IMUGA Traveller Declaration before arrival.
- Submit online at imuga.immigration.gov.mv within 96 hours before your flight’s scheduled arrival time.
- The form covers passport details, flight information, your accommodation booking, and a short health declaration.
- IMUGA registration is free. Third-party sites charging a fee for “IMUGA assistance” aren’t affiliated with the Maldivian government; use the official portal directly.
- A free 30-day tourist visa is issued on arrival for almost all nationalities.
This covers entry documents only. A yellow fever certificate is required only for travellers who’ve visited a risk area within the six days before arrival. For additional information relating to entry requirements, check your home country’s government travel advisory, or the Maldives Immigration website: immigration.gov.mv/
Palau
Last checked: 21 July 2026
All visitors to Palau, regardless of nationality, must complete the Palau Entry Form online at palautravel.pw.
- Submit within 72 hours before your arrival time. Submitting earlier than that invalidates the form, so don’t get ahead of yourself packing this one.
- One form covers a whole family or a solo traveller, not one form per person.
- You’ll receive a QR code by email, which you’ll need to show at airline check-in and again at Palau International Airport on arrival. Airlines have been known to deny boarding without it, so this genuinely isn’t optional admin.
- On arrival, all visitors also sign the Palau Pledge, a conservation commitment stamped directly into your passport; this is separate from the online form and happens in person.
- Palau has some of the strictest biosecurity rules of any destination we operate in: reef-harmful sunscreen and vape products are both prohibited and can be confiscated at the border.
This covers arrival paperwork only. Most nationalities enter visa-free or receive a visa on arrival, but requirements, proof of onward travel, and sufficient funds rules vary, so we’d recommend checking the Palau Visitors Authority or the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection for anything beyond entry registration.
Philippines
Last checked: 21 July 2026
- Register within 72 hours before your scheduled arrival (and again before departure; the system covers both directions).
- You’ll need your passport, flight details, and accommodation address. The form includes a short health declaration.
- Registration is simple and free. Do not use third-party sites offering to complete it for a fee.
- Once submitted, you’ll receive a QR code, which you may be asked to show at check-in as well as on arrival.
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months, and you may be asked to provide proof of onward travel.
Solomon Islands
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Most nationalities don’t need a visa to enter the Solomon Islands.
- UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most EU and other Commonwealth nationals are issued a free visitor’s permit on arrival.
- Non-exempt nationalities (including South Africa and many African, Asian, Latin American, and some European countries) must obtain a visa before travelling.
- An official government eVisa portal has launched but, at the time of writing, is not fully operational. Therefore, travellers who require a visa may need to submit a manual application to immigration.visas@commerce.gov.sb.
- The manual visa application form can be downloaded for the Immigration Division resources page
- Passports need at least six months’ validity and at least 2 blank pages.
For additional information, and other requirements, we recommend checking your home country’s government advice. If you are unsure whether you need a visa or not, you can also contact the Solomons Immigration via their website: immigration.gov.sb/contact-us/
Truk Lagoon (Federated States of Micronesia)
Last checked: 21 July 2026
The majority of nationalities do not require a visa to enter any of the Federated States of Micronesia. Most flights to Chuuk require transit through Guam which is a US territory with its own visa considerations.
- Non-US citizens travelling via Guam need a valid US visa or an approved ESTA, even though it is only for transit.
- Before arrival in Chuuk, you will be given an immigration card and customs declaration form to fill in
- Upon arrival, you will be given an entry stamp which, for most nationalities, allows a stay of up to 30 days.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months (requirement for transit through Guam).
- You’ll also need to show a confirmed onward or return flight ticket.
For additional information, we suggest checking your home country’s goverment advisories, or the Visit Chuuk website.
Thailand
Last checked: 21 July 2026
Every foreign visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival, at tdac.immigration.go.th.
- Submit your TDAC details up to 72 hours before arrival. It’s free, covers immigration and health details, and produces a QR code you show on landing.
- Visa exemption: most nationalities, including UK, EU, US, and Australian passport holders, are allowed entry free of charge without a visa. The number of days permitted to stay is under review, so it’s advisable to check well in advance if you are planning to visit for more than a few weeks.
- Visa on Arrival: available for a smaller number of nationalities, paid in cash at the airport, valid for a 15-day stay only.
- Visa required in advance: remaining nationalities need a Tourist Visa (TR), arranged before travel via the government’s e-visa portal thaievisa.go.th.
- Fingerprint and facial scans are a standard part of Thai immigration on arrival; this isn’t new or something to prepare for, just what happens at the counter.
- Entry into Myanmar: a visa is required to enter and exit Myanmar and the Mergui Archipelago. For guests joining a Thailand Master Mergui Archipelago itinerary departing from Ranong, Master Liveaboards will arrange this on your behalf as part of your booking, so there’s nothing for you to apply for separately.
This covers entry requirements, in addition to which, passports need at least six months’ validity for both destinations. If you are not sure whether you are exempt from visa requirements, or need to apply for an e-Visa, please check your home country’s government travel advice, or the thaievisa.go.th website.
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