Traveling to Mauritius
Do you need a visa to travel to Mauritius? What are the entry conditions and health requirements? Find the answers to your questions in this article.
Short stays in Mauritius
A short stay is defined as any stay of maximum 6 months within a 12-month period. Mauritius offers several categories of short-stay visas:
Tourist Visa - a maximum period of 6 months may be granted in a calendar year on a case-by-case basis, subject to immigration requirements. Beneficiaries may take advantage of their stay in Mauritius to apply for a Premium Visa.
Business Visa - maximum 120 days in a calendar year for any stay up to 90 days and without remuneration of the holder in Mauritius.
Social Visa - granted to non-citizens sponsored by socio-cultural organizations for a maximum of 45 days to conduct social and religious activities.
Multiple Entry Visa - granted only to foreign business people with business interests in Mauritius who require a visa prior to travel. Maximum stay of 120 days per calendar year, and each trip must not exceed 90 days.
Transit Visa - granted for a maximum of 3 days. It is issued when the beneficiary has to enter the territory of Mauritius before being transferred to a third destination. The visa on arrival in Mauritius is issued at the port of entry.
Medical Visa - granted on arrival for the duration of treatment, but not exceeding 6 months.
Important :
These short-stay visas do not authorize their holders to carry out any commercial activity and generate income or to purchase property during their stay in Mauritius.
European, Canadian and Swiss nationals traveling to Mauritius
European, Canadian and Swiss nationals wishing to stay in Mauritius for less than 3 months do not need a visa. On arrival, the immigration services stamp their passport authorizing their entry into the territory.
Conditions to be met before traveling to Mauritius
To travel to Mauritius, in general, you are required to comply with the following requirements :
- Be in possession of a valid passport for the entire duration of the stay and a return ticket;
- For Canadian nationals, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned date of departure from Mauritius;
- Proof of residence and financial capacity (100 USD per day);
Good to know :
Canadian nationals: Students and work permit holders require a visa. Persons coming to Mauritius for business must present a letter of authorization from the host company.
Nationals of other countries traveling to Mauritius
Nationals of other countries should contact the Mauritian diplomatic representation closest to their place of residence for visa application requirements and a list of documents to be provided.
The Passport and Immigration Office website provides complete information in the "Services and Information" section at the bottom of the page.
Find out if you need a visa to visit Mauritius here.
Visa exemptions for Mauritius
The following are exempt from visa requirements:
- Mauritian citizens;
- Persons residing in Mauritius under the Immigration Act;
- The spouse of a Mauritian citizen;
- Children legally adopted by Mauritian citizens and their spouses;
- Holders of diplomatic passports other than those issued by the government of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, State of Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen;
- Holders of passports issued by the governments of European Union countries;
- Crews of a vessel traveling on duty or in transit to another vessel;
- Holders of passes issued by the United Nations, COMESA, SADC or other internationally recognized organizations;
- Holders of passports issued by INTERPOL, who come to Mauritius on official business;
- Holders of passes issued by the African Reinsurance Corporation and the African Development Bank Group in respect of their directors;
- Officers or employees coming to Mauritius on official business;
- Persons intending to remain in Mauritius only during the stay of a ship by which they arrive and depart.
For stays longer than 6 months, an application for a visa or residence permit will be required, depending on the type and purpose of stay.
Student Visa - Once the international student has returned all the required documents and made all payments to their host university in Mauritius, the institution will submit all the supporting documents to the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) located in Port Louis. The PIO will process and issue the student visa by email.
Visa for Interns - If the internship is a practical one within the framework of higher education, the student can go in person to the Passport Office mentioned above to file the application.
Health requirements for traveling to Mauritius
To date, more than 90% of the island's population has received 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, and approximately 2/3 of adults over the age of 18 have received their booster dose.
This has allowed Mauritius to fully and safely open its doors to all travelers. As a result, as of July 1, 2022, foreign visitors no longer need to be tested or self-isolate to stay in Mauritius.
Application for extension of stay in Mauritius
With the gradual lifting of restrictions for foreign travelers, non-citizens with visas, residence permits or occupation permits must again comply with the conditions for extension of stay. As for visitors (tourists), they are still subject to the maximum legal duration of stay in Mauritius of 3 months, with the possibility of extension of stay with the Passport and Immigration Office. The extension can not exceed 3 months. The maximum duration of stay (first 3 months 3 months of extension) is granted during a calendar year.
Other important formalities for foreigners traveling to Mauritius
Registration and consular registration when settling in Mauritius
As soon as you obtain your resident permit in Mauritius, it is essential to register your presence in the country with the embassy or consulate of your country of origin in Mauritius.
Registration on the electoral roll when settling in Mauritius
Depending on your nationality, registering at your Embassy or Consulate would automatically register you on the electoral roll to continue exercising your civic rights from Mauritius.
Safety of foreign residents in Mauritius
As elsewhere in the world, petty crimes and burglaries occur in Mauritius, especially in busy areas such as Port Louis, Grand Bay and Flic en Flac.
Nevertheless, the majority of crimes reported to the authorities in Mauritius are non-violent, apart from a few rare cases, serious enough to make the news headlines from time to time.
Safety tips for visitors and residents of Mauritius:
- Be careful with your bags and valuables in popular areas;
- Keep separate copies of important documents, such as passports;
- Check and upgrade the security of your accommodation, including your hotel room, if you notice any deficiencies;
- Avoid walking alone at night on beaches or in poorly lit areas, especially in the back alleys of Port Louis' business district.
- Always be careful when withdrawing money from ATMs;
- Always have your local police station contact numbers handy.
Useful addresses and link :
Passport & Immigration Office
Passport & Immigration Office - Sterling House 9-11, Lislet Geoffroy Street - Port Louis
Phone: (230) 210 9312 - Fax: (230) 210 9322
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: passport.govmu.org
Airport Passport & Immigration Office
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport,
Plaisance,
Plaine Magnien
Phone: (230) 637 3720/(230) 637 4108
