How to Get Around Mauritius

Getting Around

Mauritius is small, its main roads are good and its interior is worth a car, driven on the left: a foreign licence is valid for up to four weeks by the Canadian advisory, an international permit after that; the country has a zero-tolerance policy for drinking and driving, with heavy fines, imprisonment and licence suspension; secondary roads are narrow, uneven, poorly lit and often bordered by deep ditches without guardrails, and emergency and roadside assistance is limited. After an accident, stay at the scene and report it to the police on 230-208-1212, or drive to the nearest station if you feel unsafe. Buses run everywhere cheaply, and taxis are negotiated; neither operator published a fare that a scripted request could read, so none is given.

Arrival is by air at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport in the south-east, where the All in One travel form must already have been completed online and printed with its QR code, and where ATMs and exchange desks sit as you leave baggage reclaim -- the tourism board says the rate is better on the island than at home. Sixty days without a visa for British and many other passports, an onward ticket to show, a stamp with the end date of the permitted stay, and a possible blood test for arrivals from malaria countries are the border; Rodrigues is a domestic flight.

Verified against Global Affairs Canada, September 2026.

Entry

British passport holders, and the nationalities on the passport office's exemption list, may visit for up to 60 days without a visa; a border official stamps the passport with the end date of the permitted stay, and proof of onward or return travel is required. The passport must be valid for the duration of the stay with one blank page. The Mauritius All in One travel form must be filled in online before arrival and printed with its QR code; those who have not are given a disembarkation card at the airport. Arrivals from countries where malaria is common may be asked for a blood sample; non-Mauritians who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or South Sudan in the previous 21 days are refused entry unless they hold a permit or business or student visa. The airport warns that the only legitimate form site is safemauritius.govmu.org.

Roads

Traffic drives on the left. A foreign licence is valid for four weeks, then an International Driving Permit or a Mauritian licence; the driving age is 18, 17 for motorcycles. Zero tolerance for drink-driving. Roads vary: narrow, uneven, poorly lit, deep ditches, no guardrails, stray livestock, missing signs, pedestrians in the road, high beams; local driving can be reckless; roadside assistance is limited. Accidents: remain at the scene, report to the police on 230-208-1212, or go to the nearest station if unsafe.

Money

The rupee, MUR, 100 cents, used nowhere else; ATMs and exchange desks at the airport as you exit baggage reclaim, and a better rate on the island than abroad. Theft is frequent at or near street ATMs.

Emergency numbers

Police 999 or 112, medical assistance 114, firefighters 995 or 115; the tourist police also on 999. There is no Canadian government office in Mauritius; more complex medical cases may be evacuated to Réunion or South Africa.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Traffic drives on the left; a foreign licence is valid for four weeks; driving age 18, motorcycles 17; after an accident remain at the scene and report to the police on 230-208-1212; zero tolerance for drink-driving with fines, imprisonment and licence suspension; roads narrow, uneven, poorly lit with deep ditches and limited roadside assistance, Traffic drives on the left; a foreign licence is valid for four weeks; driving age 18, motorcycles 17; after an accident remain at the scene and report to the police on 230-208-1212; zero tolerance for drink-driving with fines, imprisonment and licence suspension; roads narrow, uneven, poorly lit with deep ditches and limited roadside assistance, Canada advises normal security precautions; petty crime is more frequent in Port Louis, Flic en Flac and Grand Baie at night, in markets and public beaches, hotel rooms and at street ATMs; violent crime is rare and tourists are usually not targeted, Emergency numbers: police 999 or 112, medical assistance 114, firefighters 995 or 115; there is no Canadian government office in Mauritius (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Passport valid for the stay with one blank page; up to 60 days without a visa for British passports, the passport stamped with the end date, proof of onward travel required; the All in One travel form must be completed online before arrival and printed with its QR code; arrivals from malaria countries may be asked for a blood sample; arrivals from DRC or South Sudan within 21 days are refused unless permit holders, Passport valid for the stay with one blank page; up to 60 days without a visa for British passports, the passport stamped with the end date, proof of onward travel required; the All in One travel form must be completed online before arrival and printed with its QR code; arrivals from malaria countries may be asked for a blood sample; arrivals from DRC or South Sudan within 21 days are refused unless permit holders, Health risks include dengue, schistosomiasis and chikungunya; stonefish stings are rare but can be fatal and many hotels stock anti-venom; good private healthcare is available but expensive and complex cases may be evacuated to Réunion or South Africa; tranquillisers, hypnotics, narcotics and strong painkillers need prior authorisation (September 2026).
Checked against Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority — The Mauritian rupee is used nowhere else, divides into 100 cents, exchanges at a better rate on the island, and ATMs and exchange desks sit at the airport exit; the best time to visit is April to December; English is official and French and Creole are spoken, The Mauritian rupee is used nowhere else, divides into 100 cents, exchanges at a better rate on the island, and ATMs and exchange desks sit at the airport exit; the best time to visit is April to December; English is official and French and Creole are spoken (September 2026).