Things to consider before coming to Mauritius

CLOTHES
On the coast irrespective of the time of the year, you will need light and thin clothes, particularly cotton clothes. However, warmer clothes will be advisable during the evenings, especially on the central plateau.It is also important to note that the majority of the hotels in Mauritius will require their male guests to wear trousers and shirts for dinner in the restaurants. It is also advisable that you bring along your sports shoes since there are a variety of leisure activities offered in Mauritius including quad biking, hiking and biking among others. However, if you miss any of these essential clothing you can still purchase them in Mauritius as shops in Port Louis and Curepipe have a wide range of clothes.

CURRENCY
The currency of Mauritius is the Mauritian Rupees (Rs), where Rs 1.00 = 100 cents. There are a number of international and local banks available. Also, there are several Automatic Teller Machines (“ATM”) available around the island. The banking hours are normally 09:00 – 15:00 from Monday to Friday and there are a few banks which are opened on Saturday (09:00 – 11:00). They are closed on public holidays and Sundays. You will be able to change foreign currency at banks and foreign exchange counters but you will usually be required to present your passport. Some hotels also provide for foreign currency exchange services. It is also important to note that payment by credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express Card, are accepted in Mauritius.
TIPPING
Tipping is not compulsory in Mauritius.
DRIVING
In Mauritius, we drive on the Left-Hand and we give way to the right (the British Driving system).
ELECTRICITY
The voltage used in Mauritius is 240 volts and the power sockets use the British Three Pin standard and the Two Pin. If you bring electrical appliances with you then you are advised to bring along an adaptor.
INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY CALLING CODE:
+230
HEALTH & SAFETY
Measures have been taken by the Government so as to better ensure the safety and security of its population as well as its visitors. CCTV cameras have been introduced in Flic- en-Flac. They were then installed throughout Grand Baie, Pereybere and up to Grand Gaube. Also, the hotels in Mauritius have security posted at their entrance as well as throughout the hotel.
There are several public and private hospitals as well as medical clinics around the island. They offer high quality services and a variety of healthcare facilities. It is important to note that treatment at public hospitals is free of charge unlike treatment at private hospitals and medical clinics. Also, most hotels now provide medical assistance to its guests.
There is no requirement for vaccination except for people coming from yellow fever infected zones or yellow fever vulnerable areas. These people are required to present their vaccinations certificate at the disembarkation zone.
Temporary Measure – Ebola
With the outbreak of the Ebola Virus in West African countries, all foreign nationals who have visited one or more of the three countries affected by Ebola Virus Disease namely Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia during the last 21 days as from the date of their travel to Mauritius will temporarily not be allowed entry in Mauritius.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Categories of persons who are exempted from Visa
The following are exempted from Visa Regulations:-
The child or stepchild or lawfully adopted child of persons referred to at (a) and (b) above;
Citizens of Mauritius;
Persons who are residents of Mauritius under the Immigration Act;
The Spouse of a citizen of Mauritius;
Persons who intend to remain in Mauritius only during the stay of a vessel by which they arrive and depart.
Holders of Laissez-passer issued by the United Nations, South African Development
Community (SADC) or from other internationally recognized organizations, and;
Crew of a vessel travelling on duty or in transit to join another vessel;
Holders of Diplomatic Passports other than those issued by the Government of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen;
Who Needs a Visa?
All persons coming from countries which are not exempted from visa requirements -Please refer to Visa Requirement Country-wise (See below).
All persons coming to Mauritius for purposes other than Tourism, Visit or Business need to apply for a visa/permit before undertaking any travel.
S/No | Country | Requirement |
---|---|---|
1 | Afghanistan | Visa required prior to travel. |
2 | Albania | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
3 | Algeria | Visa for two weeks on arrival |
4 | Andorra | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
5 | Angola | No visa required |
6 | Antigua and Barbuda | No visa required |
7 | Argentina | No visa required |
8 | Armenia | Visa for sixty days |
9 | Australia | No visa required |
10 | Austria | No visa required |
11 | Azerbaijan | Visa for sixty on arrival |
12 | Bahamas | No visa required |
13 | Bahrain | No visa required |
14 | Bangladesh | Visa required prior to travel |
15 | Bardabos | No visa required |
16 | Belarus | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
17 | Belgium | No visa required |
18 | Belize | No visa required |
19 | Benin | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
20 | Bhutan | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
21 | Bolivia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
22 | Bolivia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
23 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
24 | Brazil | No visa required |
25 | Brunei Darussalam | No visa required |
26 | Bulgaria | No visa required |
27 | Burkina Faso | Visa for sixty days in arrival |
28 | Burundi | No visa required |
29 | Cambodia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
30 | Cameroon | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
31 | Canada | No visa required |
32 | Cape Verde | No visa required |
33 | Chile | No visa required |
34 | China | No visa required |
35 | Colombia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
36 | Comoros | Visa for two weeks on arrival |
37 | Congo (Brazzaville) | No visa required |
38 | Central African Rep. | Visa for sixty days in arrival |
39 | Democratic Rep. of Congo | No visa required |
40 | Costa Rica | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
41 | Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Visa for sixty days in arrival |
42 | Croatia | No visa required |
43 | Cuba | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
44 | Cyprus | No visa required |
45 | Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) | No visa required |
46 | Denmark | No visa required |
47 | Djibouti | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
48 | Dominica | No visa required |
49 | Dominican Republic | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
50 | Ecuador | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
51 | Egypt | No visa required |
52 | El Salvador | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
53 | Equatorial Guinea | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
54 | Eritrea | Visa for sixty days in arrival |
55 | Estonia Republic | No visa required |
56 | Ethiopia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
57 | Fiji | No visa required |
58 | Finland | No visa required |
59 | France | No visa required |
60 | Gabon | No visa required |
61 | Gambia | No visa required |
62 | Georgia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
63 | Germany | No visa required |
64 | Ghana | No visa required |
65 | Greece | No visa required |
66 | Grenada | No visa required |
67 | Guinea | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
68 | Guinea Bissau | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
69 | Guatemala | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
70 | Guyana | No visa required |
71 | Haiti | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
72 | Honduras | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
73 | Hong Kong | No visa required |
74 | Hungary | No visa required |
75 | Iceland | No visa required |
76 | India | No visa required |
77 | Indonesia | Visa required prior to travel |
78 | Iran | Visa required prior to travel |
79 | Iraq | Visa required prior to travel |
80 | Ireland | No visa required |
81 | Israel | No visa required |
82 | Italy | No visa required |
83 | Jamaica | No visa required |
84 | Japan | No visa required |
85 | Jordan | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
86 | Kazakhstan | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
87 | Kenya | No visa required |
88 | Kiribati | No visa required |
89 | Korea (South Republic) | No visa required |
90 | Korea (North) | Visa is required prior to travel |
91 | Kuwait | No visa required |
92 | Kyrgyzstan Rep. | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
93 | Laos | Visa required prior to travel |
94 | Latvia | No visa required |
95 | Lesotho | No visa required |
96 | Lebanon | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
97 | Liberia | Visa for sixty days |
98 | Libya | Visa required prior to travel |
99 | Liechtenstein | No visa required |
100 | Lithuania | No visa required |
101 | Luxemburg | No visa required |
102 | Macau SAR | No visa required |
103 | Macedonia (ex Yugoslav Rep) | Visa for sixty days in arrival |
104 | Madagascar | Visa for two weeks on arrival |
105 | Malawi | No visa required |
106 | Malaysia | No visa required |
107 | Maldives | No visa required |
108 | Mali | Visa required prior to travel |
109 | Malta | No visa required |
110 | Mauritania | Visa sixty days on arrival |
111 | Marshall Island | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
112 | Mexico | No visa required |
113 | Micronesia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
114 | Moldova | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
115 | Monaco | No visa required |
116 | Mongolia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
117 | Morocco | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
118 | Mozambique | No visa required |
119 | Myanmar (Burma) | Visa for two weeks on arrival |
120 | Namibia | No visa required |
121 | Nauru | No visa required |
122 | Nepal | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
123 | Netherlands | No visa required |
124 | New Zealand | No visa required |
125 | Nicaragua | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
126 | Niger | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
127 | Nigeria | Visa for two weeks on arrival |
128 | Norway | No visa required |
129 | Oman | No visa required |
130 | Pakistan | Visa required prior to travel |
131 | Palau | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
132 | Palestinian State | Visa required prior to travel |
133 | Panama | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
134 | Papua New Guinea | No visa required |
135 | Paraguay | No visa required |
136 | Peru | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
137 | Philippines* (See note 1) | Visa required prior to travel |
138 | Poland | No visa required |
139 | Portugal | No visa required |
140 | Romania | No visa required |
141 | Rwanda | No visa required |
142 | Russian Federation (Russia) | No visa required |
143 | Saharawi Republic | Visa required prior to travel |
144 | Samoa (Western) | No visa required |
145 | San Marino | No visa required |
146 | Sao Tome & Principe | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
147 | Saudi Arabia | No visa required |
148 | Senegal | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
149 | Seychelles | No visa required |
150 | Sierra Leone | No visa required |
151 | Serbia | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
152 | Singapore | No visa required |
153 | Slovenia | No visa required |
154 | Slovakia | No visa required |
155 | Solomon Islands | No visa required |
156 | Somalia | Visa required prior to travel |
157 | South Africa | No visa required |
158 | Spain | No visa required |
159 | Sri Lanka * (See note 1) | Visa required prior to travel |
160 | St Kitts and Nevis | No visa required |
161 | St Lucia | No visa required |
162 | St Vincent & Grenadines | No visa required |
163 | Suriname | No visa required |
164 | Sudan | Visa required prior to travel |
165 | South Sudan | Visa required prior to travel |
166 | Syria | Visa required prior to travel |
167 | Swaziland | No visa required |
168 | Sweden | No visa required |
169 | Switzerland | No visa required |
170 | Tajikistan | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
171 | Taiwan | Visa required prior to travel |
172 | Tanzania | No visa required |
173 | Tchad | No visa required |
174 | Thailand | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
175 | Timor-Leste | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
176 | Togo | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
177 | Tonga | No visa required |
178 | Trinidad & Tobago | No visa required |
179 | Tunisia | No visa required |
180 | Turkey | No visa required |
181 | Turkmenistan | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
182 | Tuvalu | No visa required |
183 | Uganda | No visa required |
184 | Ukraine | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
185 | United Arab Emirates | No visa required |
186 | United Kingdom | No visa required |
187 | United States of America | No visa required |
188 | Uzbekistan | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
189 | Uruguay | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
190 | Vanuatu | No visa required |
191 | Vatican | No visa required |
192 | Venezuela | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
193 | Vietnam | Visa required prior to travel |
194 | Yemen | Visa required prior to travel |
195 | Yugoslavia (Serbia & Montenegro) | Visa for sixty days on arrival |
196 | Zambia | No visa required |
197 | Zimbabwe | No visa required |
General Information
Any person who wishes to seek employment or to engage in any gainful occupation in Mauritius will not be allowed to enter Mauritius unless he is the holder of a valid residence permit and a work permit issued by the Mauritian Authorities.
Non-citizens travelling to Mauritius without a visa (if required) may be repatriated to their country of origin or residence at the transporting carrier’s cost.
A non-citizen coming to get married to a Mauritian should fulfil the requirements under the Civil Status Act.
Non-citizens travelling to Mauritius as tourists/visitors are not allowed to engage in any gainful activities or apply for an extension of visa to follow studies/training courses.
Non-citizens coming to Mauritius for business may apply for an Occupation Permit from the Passport and Immigration Officer through the Board of Investment as Investor, Self- Employed, and Professional.
Any person who stays in Mauritius after the expiry of the period for which he obtained a visa or entry permit, as the case may be, shall commit an offence and shall be liable for prosecution by a Court of Law.
Non-Citizens coming to celebrate their marriage in Mauritius should comply with the requirements of the Civil Status Act.
Prospective students are advised to travel to Mauritius only after their application for study/training in Mauritius has been approved.
Customs procedures at the Airport or the Port
- Use the Green Channel if you have neither dutiable nor prohibited or restricted goods in your possession or any goods in excess of the allowance which is liable to duty, excise duty and taxes or any currency or Bearer Negotiable Instrument of an amount of not more than 500,000 rupees or its equivalent in any foreign currency.
- Use the Red Channel if you have goods to declare.
- No duty is leviable on your necessary and appropriate wearing apparel and personal effects which have been in use.
- If you are 18 years or above, you are also allowed free of duty:
a. Tobacco (including cigars and cigarettes) not exceeding 250 grams.
b. Spirits not exceeding 1 litre and
c. Wine, ale or beer not exceeding 2 litres.