Overview
The Maldives Bar Exam is run by the Bar Council of the Maldives. Under the Legal Profession Act 2019, you need three things to be licensed as a lawyer in the Maldives: a qualifying law degree, completion of the licensing training programme, and a pass in the bar exam. The exam sets a basic minimum standard for admission to practice and tests analytical ability and understanding of the law.
Who can apply
To sit the exam you must be a Maldivian citizen and hold a qualifying law degree from an accredited institution. Foreign graduates need a degree that counts as a qualifying law degree in the country that issued it. You must also register, pay the exam fee, and submit your documents. Reports on the first exam in 2022 say the one-year licensing training programme is not required before you sit the exam.
To be admitted to the Bar afterwards, the Legal Profession Act and the Council's regulation also require you to:
be at least 21 years old and of sound mind
have no major criminal offence proven against you in court within the last five years
be repaying any debts as ordered by a court
hold your law degree, pass the bar exam, and complete the licensing training programme
Exam pattern
The exam is multiple choice and covers six areas: Tort Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Constitutional and Administrative Law, Contract Law and Practice, Land Law and Practice, and the Maldivian Legal System.
The 2022 exam, the first one, had 120 questions in two sessions of two hours, with 60 questions in each. About 85% of the questions were in English and 15% in Dhivehi. The Council has not published the number of questions for 2026 on the pages we checked, so confirm the format with the Council.
| Subject area | Share of 2022 questions |
|---|---|
| Criminal Law and Procedure | 22% |
| Contract Law and Practice | 20% |
| Constitutional and Administrative Law | 18% |
| Maldivian Legal System | 14% |
| Land Law and Practice | 13% |
| Tort Law | 13% |
Syllabus
The Council publishes a syllabus document for each year's exam, covering the six areas above. For 2026 it is the BE2026 syllabus. The Council also offers study materials, including lecture videos and practice questions, and an online orientation session that the Council says all potential candidates must attend.
Marking and results
The pass mark is not fixed in advance. For the 2022 exam it was set after the sitting using the Hofstee and Bookmark standard-setting methods. In 2022, 173 candidates sat the exam and 117 of them passed, about 68%.
Important dates
2026 exam: 19 September 2026, held in the Greater Male' Region. Venues are communicated to candidates individually.
2026 registration deadline: 31 July 2026.
The exam is held once a year. The first was on 19 November 2022.
Fees
The Council says the 2026 exam fee will be published closer to the exam date. No amount was listed on the pages we checked.
How to apply
Register with the Bar Council before the deadline. For 2026 you need a copy of your national ID, a passport photo, your law degree certificate and your full transcript.
After the exam
Passing the exam is one of the two requirements for a licence, along with the licensing training programme. To be admitted to the Bar, you apply through the Council with your national ID copy, degree certificate (attested if foreign), training completion letter, bar exam result notification, a judicial clearance issued within one month, and the admission fee receipt.
Admission ceremonies are held several times a year. In 2026 there were six, with the last two on 29 October (application deadline 13 October) and 17 December (application deadline 8 December).
FAQs
Do I need to finish the licensing training before the bar exam?
Reports on the 2022 exam say no. You must complete the training before you can be admitted to the Bar, though.
How often is the exam held?
Once a year. The 2026 exam is on 19 September 2026.