1. Bar Admission in the Maldives

The Legal Profession Act and the Regulation on Issuing Practicing Licenses set out the conditions an applicant must meet in order to be admitted to practice in the Republic of Maldives.

The applicant:

• Must be a Maldivian citizen

• Must be 21 (Twenty-One) years of age

• Must be of sound mind

• Must not have a major criminal offense proven against them in a court of law within the last (Five) years

• If they are a debtor, must be discharging the debt in accordance with the verdict

• Must hold an undergraduate degree in law from an educational institution that is accredited by and satisfies the conditions prescribed by the Bar Council

• Must have passed the Bar Exam administered by the Bar Council

• Must have completed the Licensing Training Program.

Applicants who meet the above criteria may apply to the Bar Council for their Practicing License with the necessary supporting documents.

2. Application Process

The application for Bar Admission must be made via the link below.

Successful applicants will be required to take their oath at the next available opportunity, and sign the Declaration, after which they will receive their Practicing License. 

Application Form:

https://forms.gle/98Cy8oLP4UgqehbAA

The following supporting documents are required with the application:

• National Identity Card (clear scan of both sides)
• Qualifying Law Degree (accredited by the Maldives Qualifications Authority if the teaching institution is not a local institution)
• Letter of Completion of the Licensing Training Program
• Notification of Results of the Bar Exam
• Record Clearance from the Department of Judicial Administration (must have been issued within 15 days from the date of application)
• Payment Slip of the Bar Admission Fee of MVR 2,000/- (Two Thousand Maldivian Rufiyaa)

3. Oath Taking Session

An Oath Taking Session will be held ideally every other month starting from May 2024 to ensure that all eligible applicants are admitted to the Bar as soon as reasonably possible from when their application is approved, and to ensure that they do not have to wait lengthy periods in order to be licensed.

This Session will only be for the purpose of taking the Oath and will take 10-15 minutes. The licensees will not be allowed to bring a plus-one to these Sessions.

Sessions are to be arranged on a bi-monthly basis and sessions will be scheduled during the following months. Any changes to the following will be updated on this page. Confirmed dates will be published closer to the event date.

February 2025
April 2025
June 2025
August 2025
October 2025
December 2025

THE NEXT OATH TAKING SESSION

February 2025

4. Bar Admission Ceremony

A formal Bar Admission Ceremony will be organized by the Bar Council of the Maldives once a year. All those who have been admitted to the Bar during the year, and who wish to participate in the ceremonial event can participate in the Bar Admission Ceremony without any additional cost. Registration for this Ceremony will be announced by the Bar Council of the Maldives closer to the Admission Ceremony. 

5. PROCESS FLOW

What is the Bar Admission process?

6. USEFUL INFORMATION AND LINKS

More information about the Bar Exam can be found at https://barcouncil.hash.mv/bar-exam
More information about the Licensing Training Program can be found at https://barcouncil.hash.mv/licensing-training