Before you fly: entry requirements and practical details for Mauritius

Citizens of the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and many other countries enter Mauritius without a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days (60 days for some nationalities). Immigration asks for a passport valid for at least the length of the stay, with six months' validity recommended, a return or onward ticket, and the address of your accommodation, which we send you with the booking confirmation. Check the official list for your nationality before booking flights; rules are stable but they are not ours to guarantee.

Mauritius has replaced the paper landing card with an online form, the Mauritius All-in-One Travel Form, to be completed before departure on the government website. It takes a few minutes per traveller and asks for passport details, flight, accommodation address and a health declaration. Keep the confirmation on your phone for arrival. There is no fee, and nobody needs to pay a third party to fill it in.

The currency is the Mauritian rupee. In 2026 one euro is worth roughly 50 rupees and one pound about 60, which makes mental arithmetic easy. ATMs are everywhere in Grand Baie and accept foreign cards; withdrawing in rupees from an ATM is cheaper than changing cash at the airport. Visa and Mastercard are taken in supermarkets, restaurants and shops; markets, beach vendors, small taxis and some dive boats want cash. There is no need to arrive with rupees; the airport has ATMs after customs.

The villa has fibre internet and wifi throughout. For the road, a local SIM from Emtel or my.t costs a few euros at the airport or in Grand Baie, with generous data; eSIMs for Mauritius are also sold online before departure. EU roaming does not apply, so switch data roaming off until you have a plan. Sockets are 230 volts, with both the British three-pin type G and the European two-pin type C found in the house; bring an adapter for whichever you do not have. The time zone is UTC+4, three hours ahead of Paris in winter and two in summer.

English is the official language, French is spoken by almost everyone and Mauritian Creole is the everyday language. You will manage in either English or French everywhere in the north. Mauritians are warm and informal; a greeting before a question is normal and appreciated. Dress is relaxed, but swimwear stays on the beach, and shoulders are covered in temples and mosques. Tipping is not compulsory; five to ten percent in restaurants where service is not included, a hundred rupees or so for drivers and porters, and something for the housekeeper at the end of the stay are the custom.

No vaccinations are required for arrivals from Europe. Tap water is treated and safe for brushing teeth; most visitors drink bottled or filtered water. Mosquito repellent is useful at dusk, particularly from December to April. The sun is the real risk, even under cloud. Pharmacies are well stocked and the pharmacists speak French and English; private clinics in Grand Baie and the hospital at Pamplemousses are twenty minutes from the villa. Travel insurance that covers medical repatriation is sensible for any long-haul trip. Mauritius is a safe country; the usual care with valuables on the beach and in cars is enough. Emergency numbers: 999 for police, 114 for an ambulance.

Summer runs from November to April, hot and humid at 28 to 33 degrees with short afternoon showers; winter from May to October, dry and around 24 to 26 by day, cooler in the evening. Pack light clothes, a long-sleeved shirt for the evenings, one warmer layer for July and August, reef shoes, a hat, high-factor sunscreen and a rash vest for the children. The villa has beach towels, so there is no need to bring your own. Flight time from Paris or London is about eleven to twelve hours, direct.