Cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Mauritius, and Mauritanian authorities have imposed entry bans for a number of confirmed cases. Norway is not yet on the list. For more information about coronavirus and incision, see the section Health.
Safety
Most trips to Mauritius are made without special problems.
Norway is represented by an honorary consulate in Riche Terre. The responsible Norwegian embassy for Mauritius is the embassy in Maputo.
The risk of terrorist incidents in Mauritius is considered low. The crime in Mauritius is low, but theft, assault and rape occur. At the request of the police, one may be required to show identification. It is therefore encouraged to carry a copy of the passport and keep the original in a safe place.
It is important to take precautions such as:
- Use a safe for storing passports, travel documents, valuables and money and keep copies separately from the originals
- Be vigilant and take good care of your handbag, camera etc. at popular tourist spots such as Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac
- Avoid walking alone after dark in the desert in desolate places and places without lighting (beaches, back streets and the like).
In an emergency, contact Police de Tourisme at telephone number: 210 3894 during working hours. After 16:30, tel: 213 7979.
Drug crime is severely punished in Mauritius. Smuggling can give up life in prison. It is also illegal to import and order cigarette paper.
It is a left-hand drive in Mauritius. International driver’s licenses are not mandatory in Mauritius and foreign driver’s licenses are accepted as long as they are issued by relevant authorities. Minor accidents often happen. Also be careful when driving in the dark – pedestrians and motorcyclists without light pose a traffic hazard.
Homosexuality is not prohibited by law, but Mauritius criminalizes sodomy regardless of sexual orientation. There are laws that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The cyclone season is between November and May. Most tourist hotels will have well-established security routines if cyclones occur. Travelers are also encouraged to follow current weather forecasts.
Norwegian citizens staying for a shorter or longer period of time in Mauritius are encouraged to register at www.reiseregistrering.no. Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.
Local emergency numbers: Ambulance 114, police 999.
In crisis and emergency, the public can contact the embassy in Maputo at emb.maputo@mfa.no or +258 21 48 01 00. Outside the embassy’s opening hours, the public can contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center.
Tel: +47 23 95 00 00 or by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegian citizens do not need a visa to enter Mauritius. Upon arrival, you will receive a stamp in the passport that allows stays of up to 90 days. To get this required:
- passport valid after departure date from Mauritius
- return ticket
- enough money to support yourself (enough to show valid credit/debit card) and confirmed booking for accommodation.
Anyone missing one of the parts will be rejected.
If you are going to study or work in Mauritius, be sure to obtain a work/ residence permit in advance.
For the latest updated information on entry rules to Mauritius, travelers are encouraged to check with Mauritius’ nearest embassy.
It is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that travel documents are valid.
Emergency passports are accepted when traveling to and from Mauritius, but it is important to check that you do not travel via another country that does not accept these.
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): There are confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Mauritius. The Mauritanian authorities have imposed entry bans for a number of countries with confirmed cases. Norway is not yet on the list. Mauritius has introduced mandatory quarantine for all travelers from the affected countries. The quarantine is set to last for 14 days. The embassy will update the websites as soon as further information is received.
Norwegians staying in Mauritius should keep abreast of the development of the corona virus. Follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation.
You can find more information and guidance from the Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. See also UD’s answers to frequently asked questions about travel and coronavirus.
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The general health situation in Mauritius is good, and there are health services with good standards in the country.
There are good, private doctors and hospitals in Mauritius, and most major hotels will have a doctor available.
The Chikungunya virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, is mainly a problem in the warm season, October ¨C May. Precautions should be taken throughout the year so as not to get infected. The mosquitoes are active both night and day. Read more on the Public Health Institute’s page about the Chikungunya virus.
There is no danger of malaria in Mauritius, but upon arrival from an infected area may be required to have a blood test. All visitors from areas with yellow fever need a yellow fever vaccination card. Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for travelers to Mauritius.
For more information on recommended vaccines and other health information, see the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Practical information
According to allcitycodes, the area code for calls from Norway to Mauritius is +230. The telephone network is stable, and the time difference between Norway and Mauritius is three hours at the Norwegian winter time, and two hours at summer time.
The current is at 220 volts. There is stable telephone coverage throughout Mauritius, including on the island of Rodrigues. The Internet domain of Mauritius is.mu
Currency in Mauritius is Mauritanian Rupee (MUR). As of January 2017, NOK 1 = approx. 4.23 MUR. Ordinary cards like American Express, Diners, MasterCard and Visa can be used in banks, ATMs, in hotels, in restaurants and shops.
15% VAT is usually included on invoices for goods and services. Tips on restaurants/hotels are common.
Some hotels have dress codes that require long pants and a collar shirt in the restaurants in the evening.
Stores are usually open Monday-Saturday: 09: 30-17: 30, some stores are also open until 12:00 on Sundays.
Mauritius has 15 official holidays. Seven of these are fixed, while eight are movable. For 2017, the dates are as follows: 1-2. January – New Year, January 28 – Chinese New Year, February 1 – Abolition of Slavery, February 24 – Maha Shivaratree, March 12 – National Day, March 29 – Ugaadi, May 1 – Workers’ Day, June 26 – Eid -Ul-Fitr (tentatively), August 26 – Ganesh Chaturthi, October 19 – Diwali, November 1 – All Saints Day, November 2 – Arrival of Indentured Laborers, December 25 – Jul.
In Mauritius you drive on the left side of the road. International driver’s licenses are not mandatory in Mauritius and foreign driver’s licenses are accepted if issued by relevant authorities.
Although the official language of Mauritius is English, French is more widely used. In addition, Creole (Mauritian Creole), bujpuri, Tamil, Hindi and Urdu are spoken.
Mauritians are Hindus (52 percent), Muslims (17 percent), Christians (30 percent) and others (one percent).