The Island of Mauritius is considered a small hidden gem on the eastern coast of Africa. The island has everything you could ask for. Breathtaking beaches, friendly people, beautiful nature, affordable prices, and delicious food are just a few reasons you should visit the breathtaking Island of Mauritius.
Anyone who wants to visit Mauritius and know more about the island can read the article below. Here you will find everything you need to know.
Who Needs a Visa for Mauritius?
Citizens of the following countries do not need a visa to enter and visit Mauritius for 90 days:
- All EU citizens
- Hong Kong
- San Marino
- Angola
- Iceland
- Saudi Arabia
- Antigua and Barbuda
- India
- Seychelles
- Argentina
- Israel
- Sierra Leone
- Australia
- Jamaica
- Singapore
- Bahamas
- Japan
- Solomon Islands
- Bahrain
- Kenya
- South Africa
- Barbados
- Kiribati
- Sierra Leone
- Belize
- South Korea
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Benin
- Kuwait
- Saint Lucia
- Botswana
- Lesotho
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Brazil
- Liechtenstein
- Suriname
- Brunei
- Macau
- Switzerland
- Burundi
- Malawi
- Tanzania
- Canada
- Malaysia
- Tonga
- Cabo Verde
- Maldives
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Chad
- Mexico
- Tunisia
- Chile
- Monaco
- Turkey
- China
- Mozambique
- Tuvalu
- Republic of the Congo
- Namibia
- Uganda
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Nauru
- Ukraine
- Dominica
- New Zealand
- United Arab Emirates
- Egypt
- Norway
- United Kingdom
- Eswatini
- Oman
- United States
- Fiji
- Papua New Guinea
- Vanuatu
- Gabon
- Paraguay
- Vatican City
- Gambia
- Qatar
- Zambia
- Georgia
- Russia
- Zimbabwe
- Ghana
- Rwanda
- Grenada
- Samoa
Other Visa Exemptions
Here are some other nations that are allowed to enter and stay in Mauritius for 90 days without a visa:
- Interpol Passport holders travelling on duty.
- Spouses and children under the age of 14of nationals and residents of Mauritius.
- Laissez-Passer holders issued by the United Nations or any other internationally recognised organisation.
- Diplomatic passport holders of any country (if not already exempted), except for:
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Libya
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Yemen
- Afghanistan
- Libya
- Somalia
- Bangladesh
- Laos
- South Sudan
- Guyana
- Mali
- Sudan
- Iran
- North Korea
- Syria
- Iraq
- Pakistan
- Yemen
- Kosovo
- Palestine
How to Apply for a Mauritius Visa?
There are three options on how you can apply for a Mauritius visa:
- Visa on arrival.
- At the embassy or consulate of Mauritius.
- Apply Online.
Visa on Arrival
A visa on arrival is valid for everyone, so everyone who wants to enter Mauritius can apply for a visa on arrival. A visa on arrival is valid for a maximum of 60 days.
Holders of the following passports can apply for a visa on arrival, but the validity of their visa is two weeks maximum:
- Algeria
- Comoros
- Madagascar
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
At the Embassy or Consulate of Mauritius
To apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate of Mauritius, follow these steps:
- Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Mauritius in your home country and book a visa appointment.
- Fill out the Mauritius visa application form and sign it at the end. Do not leave any blank spaces.
- Gather all the required documents. See ‘Mauritius Visa Requirements’ for further information.
- Submit the documents to the embassy or consulate of Mauritius.
- Finish the applicable visa fee payment and attach the receipt to your visa application. The Embassy of Mauritius will inform you regarding the amount of your visa application fee payment you must finish.
- Wait until you receive a response from the embassy or consulate of Mauritius with your visa application result.
Apply Online
Applicants who can not apply for a Mauritius visa at the port of entry, or the embassy or consulate of Mauritius can apply for a visa online. However, they need to contact the embassy of Mauritius through their official email address piovisa@govmu.org and be informed about the application process and the required documents they must submit.
Mauritius Visa Requirements
To apply for a Mauritius visa, submit the following documents:
- A passport. Passport should be valid for at least six months after the return date. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.
- A passport-sized photo. Photo should be in line with Mauritius visa photo requirements and should be taken within the last three to six months.
- A copy of previous visas (if any).
- A copy of your residence permit (applicable to applicants not residing in their home country). The residence permit must be valid for at least three months after leaving Mauritius.
- A bank statement document for the last three months. This document must prove that you are financially stable and can financially support yourself in Mauritius.
- A flight ticket or a document that proves that you have booked your flights.
- A travel itinerary.
- A accommodation proof such as a hotel reservation, a rental agreement or a letter of invitation.
- A fee payment receipt.
- A marriage certificate (if applicable).
- A birth certificate (if applicable).
- A work contract (if applicable).
Minor applicants must submit these documents:
- A letter of consent from both parents.
- A copy of the birth certificate of the applicant.
- A copy of both parent’s passports.
Note: Other documents may be required depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Remember that missing, incomplete or incorrect information can lead to your visa being refused.
Mauritius Visa Processing Time
A Mauritius visa processing time is approximately five working days if the application fulfils all of the requested requirements. The processing time can be extended if the applicant provides missing, incomplete, or incorrect information.
The applicants are required to apply for at least one month before travelling to Mauritius.
Duration of a Mauritius Visa
The duration of a Mauritius visa depends on how long the embassy of Mauritius issues the visa. The embassy will inform the applicant of their visa duration once it is issued.
Mauritius Visa Types
Here are all the Mauritius visa types you can apply for depending on the purpose of your visit to the country:
- Tourist visa. A tourist visa is issued to applicants who want to enter the country for visits, tourism, and sightseeing purposes.
- Transit visa. A transit visa is issued to foreigners who must transit through Mauritius to their final destination. The transit visa is valid for a maximum of three days.
- Student visa. A student visa is issued to international students who want to study in Mauritius.
- Temporary work visa. A temporary work visa is issued to applicants who want to work in Mauritius for a temporary period.
- Spouse/partner visa. This type of visa is issued to spouses/partners who want to enter the country to visit their partners. Their spouse/partners must be residents in Mauritius or citizens of Mauritius.
- Business visa. A business visa is issued to applicants who want to work in Mauritius.
- Marriage visa. A marriage visa is issued to applicants who wish to have a partnership wedding based on a proven relationship with a citizen or resident of Mauritius. This type of visa is issued for a longer period.
Mauritius Residence Permit
Applicants who want to stay longer in Mauritius must apply for a residence permit. A residence permit application must be submitted to Mauritius’s Passport and Immigration Office.
The passport and immigration office issues residence permits depending on your stay in the country.
Why Should You Visit Mauritius?
Here are the top reasons why you should choose to visit Mauritius at least once in your life:
- The perfect honeymoon and wedding destination. Many couples choose Mauritius to spend their honeymoon or their wedding. The country was awarded in 2013 as one of the best world travel destinations. The best time to visit Mauritius is between September to October.
- Beautiful, unique beaches. The beaches of Mauritius are one of a kind. There are different types of beaches you can go to; the beaches have white sand with coconut and palm trees.
- You can watch dolphins swimming. Visitors can see dolphins everywhere they go in Mauritius. You can also swim with dolphins and whales, an unforgettable experience.
- It is very affordable. Mauritius Island is a very affordable place for everyone. An approximate amount a tortoise can spend throughout the day is $50. You can also finish the payment with a credit card, so you will not need to carry cash all the time.
- The locals are very friendly. The locals are very friendly and will try to help you anytime.
- It has many beautiful, unique places. You must visit these unique places in Mauritius:
- Ile aux Cerfs.
- Le Morne Brabant.
- Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark.
- Black River Gorges National Park.
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden.
- Grand Bassin.
- Flic En Flac Beach.