Traveling to Mauritius

What to do before you leave, checked against official sources.

Country

Passport

No visa needed

With a US passport, you can stay in Mauritius for up to 60 days without a visa.

Visa-free for up to 60 days. Return ticket and proof of funds required.

Entry and visa

Visa depends on your nationality, return ticket required

Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality. Check with the passport selector above or with a Mauritius embassy.
For French travelers: no visa is needed for a stay of less than 3 months.
The exact length of your stay is set on arrival by the immigration services, who may shorten it.
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay. A return ticket is required. You may also be asked for proof of accommodation and of funds, namely 100 US dollars per day.
Before departure, fill in the Mauritius All in One Travel Form online at safemauritius.govmu.org.
For French travelers living in Réunion: you can come as a tourist for more than 2 nights with just your valid national ID card, until June 30, 2027.
E-cigarettes, CBD and rolling papers are banned, even for personal use. Opioid medicines must be declared at customs together with their prescription.
For travelers returning to France: bringing back certain animal products is prohibited there because of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks.

No malaria, watch out for dengue and measles

Yellow fever: the certificate may be required of travelers coming from a country where the disease is present. It is not required if you arrive directly from a country where it is absent.
Reminder: since 2016, a single dose is valid for life for most adults, and so is the certificate (WHO). A second dose is recommended before a new trip if you were vaccinated before the age of 2, during pregnancy, or if you live with HIV or a weakened immune system. Keep your yellow booklet (international certificate of vaccination) with your passport, and ask the vaccination center if in doubt.
There is no malaria in Mauritius.
Update your routine vaccines, especially measles if you were born after 1980: many cases have been reported since 2018. Hepatitis A is recommended for everyone. Typhoid, hepatitis B, dengue and chikungunya are worth discussing depending on your trip.
Protect yourself from mosquitoes against dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Pregnant women should see a doctor before leaving.
Drink only sealed bottled or purified water.
Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation is essential. Your embassy does not pay for them.

Mauritian rupee, taxis without meters

The currency is the Mauritian rupee. France Diplomatie (the French foreign ministry's travel advice) gave 1 euro = 55.15 rupees as of June 3, 2026, as a guide.
On arrival, you may be asked to prove funds of 100 US dollars per day.
Taxis generally have no meter: ask the fare before you set off.
Bringing in an e-cigarette or rolling papers can lead to a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 rupees, or even prison.

Safe country, protests reported in October 2026

According to the French foreign ministry (France Diplomatie), the whole country is at normal vigilance. No area is advised against.
Since October 13, 2026, France Diplomatie has reported spontaneous protests and social unrest in some localities, with roads closed and transportation disrupted. Avoid gatherings and follow the local media.
Assaults remain rare but have been rising since 2025, and burglaries are frequent. Avoid isolated places and leave nothing visible in a parked car.
Strong currents regularly cause drownings. Obey swimming bans and choose insured water sports operators.
The cyclone season runs from November to April. The authorities may order people to stay indoors for 2 to 3 days: keep water, batteries and food supplies on hand.
Drug offenses are very severely punished, with sentences of 15 to 20 years in prison. According to France Diplomatie, around twenty French nationals are being held for trafficking.
Useful numbers: police 999 or 112, fire department 995 or 115, ambulance (SAMU) 114.
Also check the travel advice from your own government, which may be stricter.
For French travelers: French Embassy, +33 3 59 39 71 85.

Creole, French, English, driving on the left

Creole, English and French are widely spoken. English and French serve as official languages, though neither is written into the Constitution.
Plugs are type G (as in the United Kingdom) and type C/E, at 230 V and 50 Hz. An adapter can be useful.
Mauritius is on UTC+4: 3 hours ahead of Paris in winter, 2 hours ahead in summer.
The country calling code is +230.
Traffic drives on the left. An international driving permit is recommended. For French travelers, the French license is accepted for a tourist stay. Zero tolerance for drinking and driving.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in October 2023, but society remains fairly conservative. Ask people for permission before photographing them.

Drier from May to December, cooler from June to September

The southern summer, from December to early April, is hot and humid, with about 29 °C during the day and 24 °C at night in February.
The wettest period runs from late December to late April. February is the wettest month, with about 117 mm.
The drier period runs from late April to late December, and June is the driest month.
The southern winter, from mid-June to September, is cooler: in August, about 24 °C during the day and 19 °C at night.
The cyclone season runs from November to April: keep an eye on the weather during your stay.
The national holiday (Independence Day) is March 12.

Rules can change without notice: before you leave, always check with the embassy of Mauritius and your own government's travel advice.