Almost every visitor arrives by air at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, in the south-east of the island near Mahébourg. This guide covers what to sort out before you fly, what happens on arrival and how to reach your hotel. Entry rules depend on your nationality and can change, so read the official pages linked below for your own passport before you book.

Before you fly

Passport and visa. The Passport and Immigration Office sets the entry rules. Every visitor needs a passport valid beyond the length of the stay, a return or onward ticket, enough money for the stay and a confirmed place to stay (a hotel booking or a host). Visitors may not work without a permit.

Many nationalities don't need a visa for a holiday. Passports issued by European Union countries are exempt, for example, and the UK government says British citizens can visit for up to 60 days without one. Other nationalities need a visa before travelling. Check your own country on the Passport and Immigration Office's visa page. The office says visas and extensions of stay are free of charge. At the border, the immigration officer decides how long you may stay and stamps the end date in your passport.

The All-in-One travel form. Fill in the Mauritius All-in-One Travel Form online before you travel. It is free. The government site is the only official way to fill it in, and Airports of Mauritius warns that third-party sites charging for it are not endorsed. The form produces a PDF with a QR code: print it and show it to officials on arrival. If you haven't filled it in, you'll be asked to complete a paper disembarkation card at the airport.

Health requirements. There is no yellow fever in Mauritius. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is still required from travellers aged one or over who arrive from countries that Mauritius lists as having a yellow fever risk. Check the Ministry of Health's list if you are travelling from Africa or South America. Dengue and chikungunya, both spread by mosquitoes, occur on the island. Pack insect repellent and use it during the day as well as at dusk.

Travel insurance. Private healthcare is good but can be expensive, and serious cases may need evacuation to Réunion or South Africa. Make sure your policy covers medical treatment and repatriation. For trips between January and March, cover for cyclone delays is worth having too (see Best time to visit Mauritius).

What you can bring in

The Mauritius Revenue Authority sets the duty-free allowances. Travellers aged 18 or over may bring in 250 g of tobacco and one of these alcohol options:

  • 1 litre of spirits and 2 litres of wine, ale or beer
  • 2 litres of spirits
  • 4 litres of wine, ale or beer

Foreign visitors may also bring in other goods worth up to Rs 15,000 duty-free, as well as their clothes and personal belongings. Declare anything over these limits, and anything that might be restricted, at customs. Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry long prison sentences, even for small amounts and in transit. Pack your own bags and never carry anything through customs for someone else.

Arriving at the airport

After landing you pass health checks and immigration, then collect your bags on Level 1 and go through customs. Car hire desks are on Level 0. The airport operator's arrival page shows the steps.

Many hotels arrange airport transfers, so ask yours when you book. Otherwise, you can take a taxi from the airport or pick up a hire car from one of the car hire firms at the airport. Agree the taxi fare before you set off. Getting around Mauritius covers driving, taxis, buses and the Metro Express.

How long the drive takes

The airport is in the south-east, so most beach areas are about an hour's drive away. These are typical driving times with light traffic, worked out from the road network. Allow more at rush hour and around Port Louis.

  • Mahébourg and Blue Bay: about 5 to 10 minutes
  • Bel Ombre and the south coast: about 50 minutes
  • Port Louis: about 40 minutes
  • Flic en Flac and Tamarin, on the west coast: about 45 minutes
  • Trou d'Eau Douce and Belle Mare, on the east coast: about 50 to 55 minutes
  • Grand Baie and Trou aux Biches, in the north: about 55 minutes
  • Le Morne: about 1 hour

Going on to Rodrigues

Rodrigues has no direct international flights. Most visitors fly to Mauritius first and connect with Air Mauritius to Plaine Corail Airport on Rodrigues. Getting to Rodrigues covers the flight, the ferry and getting around the island.

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