Quick Facts

A foreign national wishing to enter Mauritius must obtain a visa unless he or she is:

a citizen of one of the countries not requiring a visa for visits of up to 90 days.
a citizen of one of the countries eligible to obtain a visa on arrival valid for up to 60 days.
a citizen of one of the countries eligible to obtain a visa on arrival valid for up to 14 days.

All visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay (minimum of USD 100 per day), confirmed hotel reservation, and documents required to travel to their onward destination. Business visits may not exceed 120 days within one calendar year and a maximum stay of 180 days in total (tourism and business) is granted within one calendar year.

The official website of Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)

The local currency is Mauritian Rupees (MUR). We also accept Euros, Dollars and Pounds (on hotel premises only).

Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.

MUR 1.00 equals:

Hotel and resort establishments apply 15% VAT plus 0% - 80% Duties.

Tipping in Mauritius is discretionary. However, tips are always appreciated among service staff in Mauritius.

Bank Hours
Monday to Thursday: 9am - 3pm
Friday: 9am - 5pm
Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays

Office Hours
Normal working hours in Mauritius are 9am - 5pm

Shop Hours
Shopping hours in the main towns range from 9.30am to 5.30pm (Monday - Saturday). Some shops are open until 12noon on Saturdays and Public Holidays.

Large shopping malls such as Bagatelle or La Croisette are usually open from 9.30am to 8.30pm.

Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended that will cover visitors for overseas medical costs. Your doctor or travel clinic is the trustworthy source of information about preventive measures, immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas.

Mauritius has free public medical facilities and a lot of the visitors choose to seek treatment with private doctors or at private clinics. Generally, upfront payment is required.

While majority of the hospitals and clinics are able to treat patients in the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation by commercial airline (usually to South Africa and at considerable expense) may be necessary for complex cases.

There is only one decompression chamber in Mauritius, which is located at Victoria Hospital in Vacoas.

The mosquito-borne illnesses Dengue fever and Chikungunya fever occur occasionally in Mauritius. The risk of malaria is considered very low. It is recommended that you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including using insect repellent at all times.

It is advisable to drink bottled water and avoid raw and undercooked food. Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

Mauritius has a very relaxed dress code, which is ideal for the tropical climate.

In the evenings, gentlemen are expected to wear long trousers and sometimes tailored shirts in hotel restaurants. For ladies, smart casual clothing is preferred.

For the daytime, beach and casual wear is acceptable. Nudism is not welcome. In the winter months (June - September), you may need a light cover-up for the cooler evenings.

Visitors are requested to dress appropriately (no shorts, mini-skirts etc.) when visiting religious shrines, and to remove shoes when entering temples and mosques.

The sun is very strong and, even on overcast days, guests should take care to cover up and use high factor sun protection. A hat and sunglasses are recommended.

The weather is ideal year-round for holidaying on Mauritius. The temperature on the coastal areas varies between 22C in winter and 34C in summer. Sea temperatures vary between 22C and 27C.

The western and northern regions are warmer and relatively drier than the east and the south. July and August are the months with frequent rainfall, and cyclones tend to occur from December to February.