Customs formalities in Mauritius
Let's start by reviewing the role of customs in Mauritius. Among the missions of this authority, there is the collection of customs duties and the control of the circulation of goods. As far as expatriation is concerned, the customs control the importation of animals, vehicles, personal effects and products.
What documents are required for the importation of personal goods to Mauritius?
Once your container arrives in Mauritius, you will be contacted by the Mauritius Revenue Authority to complete the legal formalities. You will need to present:
- Your passport;
- Your Occupation Permit or pre-approval document;
- The list of imported goods (Packing List);
- Declaration of value of goods;
- Carrier's invoice;
- Any other relevant document/permit required by local authorities (veterinary, agriculture, health, etc.).
Time frame for the recovery of the goods in Mauritius
Regarding the recovery of personal property upon arrival in Mauritius, when all requested documents are submitted in a timely manner and all possible fees are paid, it takes:
- 4-5 business days for ocean freight;
- 1-2 business days for air freight.
Good to know:
If you are unable to present your Occupation Permit or approval document, the authorities will ask you to deposit a bank guarantee until you can do so. They may also require a deposit to clear your goods through customs.
Good authorized, prohibited or subject to authorization in Mauritius
As elsewhere in the world, some products are allowed to be imported, while others are prohibited or subject to official authorization. To ensure that shippers comply with the law, all shipments of goods, including household goods, by sea and air are subject to a thorough customs inspection before being released to the owner by Mauritian Customs.
Duty-free and import clearance-free goods
Apart from appropriate clothing and personal effects, foreign nationals traveling to Mauritius are allowed to import freely and tax-free personal items already in use, namely:
- A portable musical instrument;
- A personal music player, MP3 and/or image recorder;
- A portable radio receiver;
- A portable video camera;
- A camera;
- One bicycle;
- One windsurfing board and up to 3 matching sails;
- Fishing equipment (excluding any type of underwater fishing weapon);
- Diving equipment, golf.
The above items must be re-exported within 6 months of importation. If not, duties and taxes will be due.
Products subject to authorization in Mauritius
The following products need an authorization to be imported to Mauritius:
- Seeds, plants, fresh fruits and flowers (import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture);
- Fresh product;
- Weapons of war, hunting or fishing and ammunition used in a professional context, with proof of use.
Good to know:
Flower boxes sold at airports have a phytosanitary certificate authorizing their import/export.
Unless used in a professional context, weapons (war, hunting, underwater fishing) as well as ammunition, are prohibited from being imported into Mauritius.
Products prohibited for import to Mauritius
The following products are prohibited for import to Mauritius:
- Sugar cane, invertebrates and micro-organisms;
- Drugs and certain medicines (unless an official prescription is presented);
- Underwater fishing guns;
- Water scooters;
- Drugs and psychotropic substances;
- Toy guns with projectiles;
- Laser penlights;
- Obscene publications, films or videos;
- Ammunition and explosives;
- Counterfeit or fake products;
- Live or stuffed animals (through taxidermy);
- Products subject to authorization;
- Products of animal origin.
Important:
Drugs in all forms are prohibited, their importation is illegal, and trafficking is severely punished by law. Soft drugs are not legal in Mauritius. The possession of rolling papers is also prohibited.
Failure to declare prohibited products or products subject to prior authorization to customs is a serious offense; offenders are liable to a fine or even imprisonment, and the products are immediately seized.
Authorized duty-free products in Mauritius
The MRA reminds that passengers aged 18 and above arriving in Mauritius or Rodrigues by an international flight benefit from an exemption from customs duties, excise duties and value-added tax (VAT) and can opt for one of the formulas listed below, applicable until December 31, 2022:
- 250 g of tobacco (cigars and cigarettes) 2 liters of spirits 6 liters of wine or beer;
- 250 g of tobacco (cigars and cigarettes) 5 liters of spirits;
- 250 g of tobacco (cigars and cigarettes) 10 liters of wine or beer;
Bringing pets to Mauritius
The importation of pet animals to Mauritius is subject to the presentation of an import permit issued by the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Agribusiness and Fisheries. The animals are placed in quarantine for a period of at least 5 working days while the costs of accommodation and food remain the responsibility of their owners.
Documents to be presented:
- Pet animal's passport;
- Vaccination booklet;
- The health certificate issued by an approved veterinarian in the country of residence before arrival in Mauritius.
Concerning travel conditions, the rules have changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. If some animals could travel in the cabin in the past because, for example, of their small size, nowadays they must be placed in the hold during the entire flight.
This option has a price, for example, € 350 for animals coming from France to Mauritius and weighing 32 kg, including the cage at the time of check-in. It also requires the owner to contact the airline well in advance to arrange for the pet's travel.
Delivery of orders in Mauritius from abroad
It is possible to order online from Mauritius. Most foreign merchants deliver on the island. So, how to receive deliveries safely, and in what conditions?
E-commerce websites that deliver to Mauritius
Regarding the leading online sales platforms such as Amazon, Ali Express, or eBay: the first one is a UPS partner, and the second and third send the packages directly by post to the customers' homes. However, you should note that some products are not deliverable, so check all the details directly on the website concerned. For those who do not deliver in Mauritius or who charge very high shipping costs, you have the option of using other shipping companies.
Shipping companies in Mauritius
Currently, Mauritius has several key shipping companies that will allow you to receive your orders safely. The main ones are:
- Mauritius Post;
- DHL Express;
- FedEx;
- UPS Express (represented locally by the company Velogic);
- TNT.
Customs fees
Any item received with a declared value of less than € 60 (about Rs 2,400) is exempt from taxes. For alcohol, it will cost approximately € 20 (about Rs 800) per liter VAT on a value determined by customs.
Good to know:
Mauritius has a secure framework for online shopping. Indeed, e-commerce operates in accordance with the Electronic Transactions Act of 2000.
Useful addresses and links:
Customs Department, Port Louis
Phone: (230) 202 05 00 / 01
Web: www.mra.mu
Department of Agriculture, Réduit
Phone: (230) 401 28 00
Fax: (230) 464 8749
Web: govmu.org
Senior Staff directory - Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security
