Mauritius Entry Requirements 2026: Tourist Fee, All-in-One Travel Form, Visa & Arrival Guide

Two things changed for travellers to Mauritius in recent months, and both catch people out. A tourist fee of €3 per person per night took effect on 1 October 2025 — it is not an arrival tax, it is charged by your accommodation, and most booking confirmations do not include it. Separately, the All-in-One Travel Digital Form has consolidated the old paper health, immigration and customs declarations into a single online submission that every arriving passenger must complete, including infants. It is free through the official portal, and a growing number of look-alike sites charge for it.

This guide sets out who needs a visa and who does not, how to complete the travel form correctly, how the tourist fee actually works and who is exempt, the documents immigration officers expect to see, current customs allowances and prohibitions, and what happens between the aircraft door and your transfer at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport.

Visa Pathways & Who Needs What

Mauritius operates a three-tier system: visa-free entry for a substantial list of nationalities, visa on arrival for a smaller group, and advance application for everyone else.

Visa-free entry

Passport holders from the United Kingdom, the European Union and Schengen states, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and many others enter without a visa for tourism. The permitted duration is where published sources diverge, so treat any single figure with caution. Mauritian immigration practice commonly grants up to 90 days per visit, subject to annual ceilings of 120 days in a calendar year for business purposes and 180 days in a calendar year for tourism. Some commercial visa services state shorter figures of 60 days for certain nationalities.

The duration granted is at the discretion of the immigration officer and is stamped in your passport on arrival. Check your own nationality against the official list before you book — the figures above describe the general framework, not a guarantee for any individual passport.

Visa on arrival

A separate group of nationalities may obtain a visa at the border, typically for 60 days or 14 days depending on the country. Taiwanese passport holders, whose documents are not otherwise recognised for entry, may be granted a 60-day visa on arrival. Holders of unrecognised travel documents, stateless persons and refugees must obtain an entry visa in advance.

Advance application required

If your nationality appears on neither list, apply through a Mauritian embassy, consulate or the Passport and Immigration Office before travel. Advance application is also the route for purposes beyond ordinary tourism. The Passport and Immigration Office operates distinct categories: a tourist visa permitting a maximum of six months in a calendar year granted case by case; a business visa allowing up to 120 days per calendar year with no single stay exceeding 90 days and no remuneration in Mauritius; and a social visa of up to 45 days for those sponsored by socio-cultural organisations for religious or social activity. Work, study and long-stay categories run through separate permit processes, with investor, self-employed and professional applicants routed via the Economic Development Board.

The All-in-One Travel Digital Form

The All-in-One Travel Digital Form replaced the stack of paper cards that arriving passengers used to fill in on the aircraft. A single submission now covers the health declaration, immigration disembarkation details and customs declaration.

Who must complete it. Every arriving passenger, regardless of nationality, length of stay or purpose of travel. This includes children and infants, each of whom needs their own submission. Airline crew are covered by the same requirement.

When. Complete it online before you fly. Airlines routinely check for the generated QR code at check-in or boarding, and presenting a completed form on arrival is what keeps you out of the slow queue. Submissions are accepted from a set window ahead of arrival — reported as up to 30 days in advance, though this should be confirmed on the portal itself. Completion at the airport is possible in some circumstances but adds time at exactly the point you least want it.

Where. The official portal is [safemauritius.govmu.org](https://safemauritius.govmu.org/). This is the only route you need.

The form is free. There is no government charge to access, complete or submit it. A number of impersonator sites have appeared, ranking well for searches such as "Mauritius travel form 2026" and charging a "processing" or "unlock" fee for a document the government issues at no cost. If a site asks for payment to submit the form, it is not the official portal. Check the .govmu.org domain before entering any personal data.

What to have to hand before you start. Allow roughly ten minutes per traveller and gather in advance: passport details exactly as printed, including number and expiry; flight number and arrival date; the full address of your first accommodation, including the establishment's name; contact telephone number and email; and details of countries visited recently if asked. Entering a name that does not match the passport is the most common cause of problems at the counter.

After submission. You receive a confirmation email and a downloadable PDF carrying a QR code. Save it to your phone and screenshot it, so it is available without a data connection, and consider printing a copy. This QR code is what health and immigration officers scan on arrival.

Tourist Fee: Current Rules & Payment

A tourist fee applies in Mauritius and has done since 1 October 2025. The common misconception — that it is an arrival tax collected at the airport or added to your airfare — is wrong, and the distinction matters for budgeting.

The amount. €3 per tourist, per night, for each night stayed in registered tourist accommodation. It was introduced through amendments to the Tourism Authority Act as a 2025–2026 budget measure.

Who pays. Tourists aged 12 and above. A couple staying seven nights therefore pays €42 in total, on top of the room rate.

How it is collected. Not at the airport and not through your airline. Hotels, guesthouses, tourist residences and domaines registered under the Tourism Authority Act charge it directly, then remit collections monthly to the Mauritius Revenue Authority. Most properties do not include it in advertised rates or online booking totals, so expect it as a separate line at check-in or check-out. Some establishments offer online payment in advance. It applies to late check-ins and early check-outs alike.

Exemptions. Tourists under 12; guests staying free of charge; residents of Mauritius; Mauritians living abroad holding a Mauritian passport; and holders of a valid Premium Visa or Residence Permit. Carry your passport, and residence permit or Premium Visa documentation if claiming an exemption; for children, the date of birth in the passport is sufficient.

Confirm the current rate and exemption list with the Mauritius Revenue Authority at mra.mu, and ask your property directly whether the fee is included in your booking total.

Passport Validity & Required Arrival Documents

Published guidance on passport validity is inconsistent, which is unhelpful for a requirement that determines whether you board at all. Some commercial visa services state that a passport valid for the period of intended stay, with one blank page, is sufficient. Others state the more conservative standard of six months' validity beyond your intended departure date, with two blank pages. Apply the six-month rule. It satisfies both readings, and airlines apply the stricter interpretation at check-in. [verify current passport validity requirement at official source before publication]

Immigration officers may ask to see any of the following, and are within their rights to refuse entry if they are not produced:

- A valid passport meeting the validity standard above, with blank pages for stamps

- A confirmed return or onward ticket departing within your permitted stay

- Proof of accommodation — a confirmed hotel booking, rental reservation, or a letter from your host with their address and contact details

- Proof of sufficient funds — Mauritian law requires visitors to hold funds covering their stay, widely reported as a minimum of US$100 per day, evidenced by bank statement or credit card [verify current figure at official source]

- The completed All-in-One Travel Digital Form, in QR code form

- Onward documentation where your next destination requires a visa

For non-tourist categories, bring the supporting evidence for that purpose: business travellers should carry an invitation or company letter; those visiting family should have the host's details and address; students and long-stay applicants should travel with their permit documentation rather than expecting to explain it at the counter.

Customs Regulations & the Arrival Process

Duty-free allowances

Passengers aged 18 and above may import tobacco and alcohol free of duty, excise duty and taxes under one of three options — you must choose one, and cannot combine or trade across them. The allowances below took effect on 1 September 2025:

- Option A: 250g tobacco, 2 litres spirits, 4 litres wine, ale or beer

- Option B: 250g tobacco, 3 litres spirits, no wine, ale or beer

- Option C: 250g tobacco, no spirits, 6 litres wine, ale or beer

The 250g tobacco figure equates to roughly 200 cigarettes and covers cigars and other tobacco products combined. A separate general goods allowance applies, quoted by the Mauritius Revenue Authority as Rs 30,000 or Rs 15,000 depending on the passenger category. [verify which general allowance applies to non-resident visitors] Anything purchased in a duty-free shop counts towards these limits.

Prohibited and restricted items

Several prohibitions surprise visitors, and one in particular:

- Electronic cigarettes and vaping products are banned outright. The Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) Regulations 2022 prohibit the manufacture, import, distribution and sale of e-cigarettes, e-liquids with or without nicotine, devices, pods, coils and accessories, with no exemption for personal use. Heated tobacco products such as IQOS and nicotine pouches fall under the same ban. Customs actively seize these at the airport. Reported penalties run to fines and possible imprisonment. [verify current penalty range at official source]

- Prescription medication must travel in original packaging with the prescription; an English translation is advisable for anything containing controlled substances. Certain medicines are prohibited outright regardless of prescription.

- Currency. There is no limit on what you may bring, but you must declare cash, bearer negotiable instruments, precious stones and metals, jewellery or high-value items such as artworks where the total exceeds Rs 500,000 or its foreign-currency equivalent, stating origin and intended use.

- Also controlled or prohibited: weapons and ammunition, agricultural and food products, wildlife products, pharmaceutical products and illicit drugs, and any goods imported for commercial sale.

At the airport

Arrivals at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) are straightforward but can be slow when several long-haul flights land together. Expect health screening where your QR code is scanned, then immigration, where the officer checks your passport, form and supporting documents and applies an entry stamp. Passport control can take 40 to 60 minutes at peak, under 15 off-peak. Baggage reclaim sits in the same hall.

Then choose your channel. Use the green channel if you carry nothing dutiable, prohibited or restricted, nothing above your allowance, and no currency or valuables above the Rs 500,000 threshold. Use the red channel for anything else. If you are unsure, use the red channel — declaring costs you a conversation, whereas being found with an undeclared item costs considerably more.

Airport Transfers & First Steps After Landing

The airport sits in the south-east, roughly 65 to 75km from the northern resort areas and about 45 to 55km from the west coast. Allow an hour to an hour and twenty minutes to Grand Baie or Trou aux Biches, 45 minutes to an hour to Flic en Flac or Port Louis, and 10 to 20 minutes for Blue Bay and Mahébourg.

Official taxis operate from an NTLA-licensed rank immediately outside arrivals, working to a published fare list grouped by coast and resort rather than by meter. Indicative fares reported in 2026 run from around €18 (Rs 1,000) to Blue Bay, €35–45 to Port Louis, €35–55 to Flic en Flac and €40–65 to Grand Baie, with wide variation between sources. [verify against the current posted NTLA fare list before publication] Expect a surcharge of around 10% for card payment and 10–20% for arrivals between 23:00 and 05:00. Agree the fare before the vehicle moves.

Pre-booked private transfers meet you inside the terminal with a name board and track your flight, which matters on a delayed arrival. Book through your hotel or a licensed operator. Be aware that taxi touts approach passengers immediately outside arrivals; a pre-booked driver will be holding your name.

Public buses serve the airport but involve connections via Curepipe or Port Louis, take several hours to reach the west or north, and are unsuited to large luggage or late arrivals. There is no rail link and no airport express service.

Money and connectivity. ATMs and currency exchange counters operate in the arrivals hall. Mauritian rupees are useful immediately for taxis and tips. Local SIM cards and tourist data packages are sold at operator desks in the terminal; bring your passport, as registration is required.

Official Sources & Last Reviewed Date

Verify every detail in this article against the primary sources before you travel:

- Passport and Immigration Office — visa categories, entry requirements, recognised travel documents: passport.govmu.org

- All-in-One Travel Digital Form (official portal) — free submission: safemauritius.govmu.org

- Mauritius Revenue Authority — Tourist Fee — rate, scope and exemptions: mra.mu/index.php/eservices1/tourist-fee

- Mauritius Revenue Authority — Customs, Travellers — allowances, declarations, channels: mra.mu/customs1/travellers/allowances

- Government of Mauritius portal — ministries including Tourism: govmu.org

Last Reviewed: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to visit Mauritius in 2026?

Probably not, if you hold a UK, EU, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or South African passport, among many others — these nationalities enter visa-free for tourism. A separate group receives a visa on arrival, typically for 60 or 14 days. Everyone else must apply in advance through a Mauritian embassy or the Passport and Immigration Office. Check your specific nationality at passport.govmu.org before booking, as the list and permitted durations change.

What is the Mauritius All-in-One Travel Form and do I have to complete it?

It is a single online submission that replaced the separate paper health, immigration and customs declarations. Yes, it is required for every arriving passenger regardless of nationality, including children and infants, each of whom needs their own form. Complete it at safemauritius.govmu.org before you fly and save the QR code you receive. Airlines commonly check for it at boarding.

Is there a tourist fee to enter Mauritius?

There is a tourist fee, but it is not an entry fee. Since 1 October 2025, tourists aged 12 and above pay €3 per person per night for each night in registered tourist accommodation. Hotels, guesthouses and tourist residences collect it directly and remit it to the Mauritius Revenue Authority. It is usually charged separately at check-in or check-out rather than included in your booking total.

How long must my passport be valid for Mauritius entry?

Guidance varies between sources, with some stating validity for the period of stay and others six months beyond your departure date. Travel on the six-month standard: it satisfies both interpretations and matches what airlines apply at check-in. Ensure you also have blank pages for entry and exit stamps — two is the safest assumption.

What documents do I need to enter Mauritius?

A valid passport, a confirmed return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation for your stay, evidence of sufficient funds, and the completed All-in-One Travel Digital Form QR code. Mauritian law requires visitors to hold funds covering their stay, commonly cited as US$100 per day. Business, family-visit and study travellers should carry supporting documentation for that purpose.

Can I pay the tourist fee on arrival?

No — there is nowhere at the airport to pay it, because it is not collected at the border. Your accommodation charges it, either in advance online where the property offers that, or at check-in or check-out. Ask your hotel before you travel whether it is included in your booking total, as most advertised rates exclude it.

What are the customs allowances for Mauritius?

Passengers aged 18 and over choose one of three options: 250g tobacco plus 2 litres of spirits plus 4 litres of wine, ale or beer; 250g tobacco plus 3 litres of spirits; or 250g tobacco plus 6 litres of wine, ale or beer. You cannot mix options. A general goods allowance also applies, and cash or valuables exceeding Rs 500,000 must be declared. Electronic cigarettes and vaping products are banned entirely, including for personal use.

How do I get from the airport to my hotel in Mauritius?

Take an NTLA-licensed taxi from the official rank outside arrivals, or arrange a pre-booked private transfer that meets you inside the terminal. Journey times run from 10 to 20 minutes to Blue Bay, around 45 minutes to an hour to Flic en Flac and Port Louis, and an hour to an hour and twenty to Grand Baie. Buses serve the airport but require connections and are impractical with luggage. Agree any taxi fare before setting off, and expect surcharges for card payment and late-night arrivals.

Where do I find the official Mauritius entry requirements?

The Passport and Immigration Office at passport.govmu.org is the authority on visas and entry. The All-in-One Travel Digital Form is at safemauritius.govmu.org, free of charge. Customs allowances and the tourist fee are published by the Mauritius Revenue Authority at mra.mu. Treat any site charging a fee to submit the travel form as unofficial.

What happens if my entry documents are incomplete at the airport?

If you have not submitted the travel form, you may be directed to complete it before proceeding, which adds delay. Missing proof of onward travel, accommodation or funds gives the immigration officer grounds to question you and, in principle, to refuse entry. Problems more often begin earlier: airlines can decline to board passengers whose passport validity falls short or who lack a required visa. Resolve any gap before you reach the airport.

Is the All-in-One Travel Form the same as a visa?

No. The form is an arrival declaration covering health, immigration and customs information, and completing it confers no right of entry. If your nationality requires a visa, you still need one. Conversely, if you are visa-exempt, you still must complete the form.