Living in Mauritius
Information for British citizens moving to or living in Mauritius, including guidance on residency, healthcare and driving.
This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Mauritius. Read about how the British High Commission Port Louis can help.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Mauritian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: a guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date: follow UK in Mauritius on Facebook.
Before you go
See our travel advice for Mauritius for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
Coronavirus
For the latest information, visit our travel advice.
See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements for Mauritius in our travel advice.
Passports and travel
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Mauritius.
Check the Mauritius travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Healthcare in Mauritius
Mauritius does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom and visitors to Mauritius are advised to apply for travel/medical insurance ahead of their arrival. See our travel advice section.
Healthcare is easily available at a reasonable price. Foreign nationals can attend a local public hospital but would be expected to pay for treatment. Public hospitals are of a relatively good standard but are not often equipped to deal with more illnesses that are serious. Private hospitals Apollo Bramwell and Darné Clinic have better equipment and facilities and are favoured by foreign nationals. See List of hospitals and clinics in Mauritius.
A number of procedures are not available in Mauritius and in some serious cases you may have to be medically evacuated outside of Mauritius.
Ambulance services are available in Mauritius but they can be unreliable.
UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.
Medicine
If you are on a prescription for any medication, you should ensure you have a supply of it, or are able to obtain it when in Mauritius. Certain medicines may not be available in Mauritius (including major brands readily available in the UK), and you may be prohibited from taking them into the country. You should consult your GP before travelling to Mauritius to find out about any alternative medication.
Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/can-i-take-my-medicine-abroad/.
Working in Mauritius
If you are planning to move to Mauritius and work, you may need a visa. Read the Mauritius government’s guidance on working in Mauritius as a foreign national and how to get a visa.
Employment opportunities are available for foreign nationals, mainly in the private and offshore sectors although the rate of unemployment in the country is quite high.
UK qualifications are recognised in Mauritius. Foreign nationals require a work or occupation permit to work or remain in the country as investors. Further information on work/residence and occupation permits can be found on the Mauritian Passport and Immigration Office website.
Studying in Mauritius
In Mauritius, education is free and mandatory for students up to the age of 16. Teaching is conducted in English, as well as Créole and French. The official business language is English and exams papers are conducted in English.
English, Mauritian Créole and French is spoken by the local population and at school.
There are many fee-paying private schools and entry is subject to registration and tuition fees, which can be expensive.
Local and fee-paying nursery schools and crèches are also widely available around Mauritius.
For further information, visit the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology website.
Tax
You should get professional advice on paying tax in Mauritius. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Mauritius.
Read guidance on:
- tx if you leave the UK
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
- paying national insurance to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances
Benefits
Social security pensions are available for Mauritian nationals only. Foreigners living in Mauritius are not entitled to social security pensions unless they meet certain requirements. For more information, visit the Ministry of Social Security and National Solidarity website.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Pensions
Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and you are claiming or waiting to claim your UK State Pension.
If you retire in Mauritius, you can claim your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre for further information.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service’, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Money and banking
You can contact any local bank in Mauritius for eligibility into opening an account. Each bank has their own specific rules and regulation.
Accommodation and buying property
For information on acquiring property, visit the Economic Development Board Mauritius website for information.
Driving in Mauritius
Read the guidance on what actions you must take to drive legally in Mauritius.
See [Driving abroad](https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad].
If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (eg the DVLA).
See guidance for travelling by road in Mauritius.
If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk.
The British High Commission cannot issue or renew a UK driving licence. Contact the DVLA for information about renewing a licence or applying for a new license.
Mauritius being a former British colony and part of the Commonwealth, driving is on the left and the traffic code and traffic laws are mostly the same as in the UK. Care should be taken, as driving standards are not the same as in the UK. In some areas, poorly lit roads can cause accidents. People tend to drive carelessly and sometimes do not respect the speed limits.
Foreigners can drive in Mauritius. See further information about driving and international driving licences.
Roads are in fairly good condition although they can be narrow in some areas. Driving on the motorway is easy and relatively safe.
When hiring a car, foreigner nationals must make sure the car is properly insured.
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Mauritius, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
For voting rights in Mauritius, visit the Office of the Electoral Commissioner Mauritius.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Mauritius, you should register the birth with local authorities. You can then register with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate.
If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register the birth with UK authorities to apply for a British passport.
Deaths
If someone dies in Mauritius read our guidance on:
- what to do if someone dies abroad
- bereavement guidance for Mauritius
- English-speaking funeral directors in Mauritius
Marriage and civil partnership
Find out how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
You can also contact the Civil Status Office in Mauritius who deal with marriages.
Pets
Each country will have its own regulations on importing pets. For Mauritius, you can contact the Mauritian Veterinary services.
Emergencies
Dial the 999 or 148 for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, or:
- to report a missing child in Mauritius, contact the Child Development Unit
- if you have been the victim of a rape or sexual assault in Mauritius, read the information for victims of rape and sexual assault in Mauritius
- list of English-speaking lawyers in Mauritius can also be contacted for legal advices
- if you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British High Commission Port Louis
- read guidance on international parental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this
Returning to the UK
Read guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.
Updates to this page
Last updated 24 April 2023 + show all updates
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Reviewed and updated guide in full.
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Minor changes
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First published.