Relocating to Mauritius

Good to know:

Most houses or apartments for rent in Mauritius are furnished and equipped with appliances.

How to get to Mauritius?

Mauritius enjoys excellent international connectivity, with 21 airlines, including the national carrier Air Mauritius, linking the island to numerous airports worldwide. It is therefore not surprising that many travelers choose this exceptional destination each year.

The country's sole international gateway, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) Airport, located in the southeast of the island, handles about 1,200 international flights per month, or just over 280 flights per week. This dynamic infrastructure makes Mauritius a favored destination for tourists, business travelers, and expatriates.

Meanwhile, Plaine Corail Airport serves Rodrigues Island but is limited to domestic flights from Mauritius. Mauritius is also connected to the island of Réunion, also known as Ile Sœur, via direct flights operated by Air Austral. For flight schedules or detailed service information, visit the official airport website or the airlines' pages.

Major airlines operating to Mauritius

Here is the list of airlines serving Mauritius, along with the number of routes they operate to the country:

• Air Mauritius (MK) – 13 routes
• Emirates (EK) – 14 routes
• British Airways (BA) – 3 routes
• Neos (NO) – 3 routes
• Corsair (SS) – 2 routes
• Edelweiss Air (WK) – 2 routes
• Air Austral (UU) – 2 routes
• Turkish Airlines (TK) – 2 routes
• Iberojet (EVE) – 1 route
• South African Airways (SA) – 1 route
• Kenya Airways (KQ) – 1 route
• Saudi Arabian (SV) – 1 route
• Condor (DE) – 1 route
• Austrian (OS) – 1 route
• Lufthansa (LH) – 1 route
• KLM (KL) – 1 route
• Air France (AF) – 1 route
• Air Belgium (AB) – 1 route
• FlySafair (FA) – 1 route
• Air Seychelles (HM) – 1 route
• Air Madagascar (MD) – 1 route

Direct flights from Europe

• Air Mauritius: year-round flights from Geneva (GVA), Saint-Denis (RUN), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), and Paris (CDG)
• Edelweiss Air: year-round flights from Zurich (ZRH)
• Austrian (Star Alliance): year-round flights from Vienna (VIE)
• Condor: year-round flights from Frankfurt (FRA)
• Eurowings: year-round flights from Frankfurt (FRA)
• Corsair: year-round flights from Saint-Denis (RUN) and Paris Orly (ORY)
• Air Austral: year-round flights from Saint-Denis (RUN)
• British Airways (Oneworld): year-round flights from London Gatwick (LGW)
• Air France (SkyTeam): year-round flights from Paris (CDG)
• Air Belgium: year-round flights from Brussels (BRU)
• Neos: seasonal flights from Milan Malpensa (MXP) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO)
• Evelop Airlines: seasonal flights from Madrid (MAD)
• Aeroflot (SkyTeam): seasonal flights from Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO)
• ITA Airways (AZ): direct connection between Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and SSR Airport (MRU)
• Discover Airlines (4Y): direct flight between Frankfurt (FRA) and Mauritius (MRU)
• Aegean Airlines (A3): regular flights between Athens (ATH) and Plaisance (MRU), three rotations a week

Direct flights from the Middle East and Western Asia

• Emirates: year-round flights from Dubai (DXB)
• Saudi Arabian (SkyTeam): year-round flights from Jeddah (JED)
• Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance): year-round flights from Istanbul (IST)

Non-stop flights from India / South Asia

Air Mauritius offers year-round flights from Mumbai (BOM) and New Delhi (DEL) to Mauritius.

Vistara offers seasonal flights from Mumbai (BOM) to Mauritius.

Non-stop flights from East Asia

Currently, only Air Mauritius offers non-stop flights from East Asia to Mauritius. The Mauritian airline operates the route to Mauritius year-round from Hong Kong.

Direct flights from Southeast Asia

Air Mauritius is currently the only airline offering direct flights from Southeast Asia to Mauritius. They operate year-round from Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Direct flights from Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, and the Pacific

Air Mauritius is currently the only airline offering direct flights from Oceania to Mauritius. They operate year-round from Perth (PER).

There are no direct flights from the following destinations to Mauritius:

• North America: United States, Canada, Mexico
• South America
• Central America
• Caribbean
• East Asia (including China)
• Central Asia

Is it necessary to hire an international mover when relocating to Mauritius?

It's perfectly normal to want to handle the transport of your belongings when moving, but the situation is different when it comes to an international move, in other words, an expatriation. But the question remains: do you really need an international mover? Consider the following preliminary questions:

• Are you moving alone or with your family?
• Do you plan to take all your belongings?
• What is the volume to be transported?

An expert in international moving can dispatch an agent to your home to assess the volume to be transported and determine the best solution (container, pallets per cubic meter, or trunks). This simple service will provide you with all the peace of mind needed if your expatriation involves your family and if you plan to send all your belongings.

Different types of freight for relocating to Mauritius

Depending on your budget, the volume of goods to be shipped, and your preferences, you can choose between air freight and sea freight. Let's see how each solution can meet your needs and their advantages and disadvantages.

Air freight

Shipping by air is more expensive: up to about 16 times higher than sea freight. To determine the total bill, carriers consider the volumetric weight, that is, the chargeable dimensional weight or gross weight of the shipment.

On the other hand, expatriates benefit from a fast process execution and a safer delivery, which generally ranges from a few days to 10 days.

Moreover, the shipment of certain goods by air freight requires the production of a certificate or official authorization, customs of the country of origin and the country of destination, and other third-party authorities. For example, sending telecommunications equipment by air freight requires written authorization from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), depending on the country of origin.

Calculating volumetric weight

Calculate the volumetric weight of your goods by multiplying for each package: (Width × length × height) / 5,000.

Sea freight

Sea freight becomes more financially attractive if you want to ship all your belongings, including heavy goods, and if additional costs for handling goods from the departure country and upon arrival, or for customs clearanc,e need to be added.

Sea freight is also the most environmentally friendly solution, knowing that for 1,000 kg of air freight, a modern cargo plane (B747) emits an average of 500 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometer. By sea on a modern container ship, this figure is reduced to 15 grams per kilometer.

On the other hand, the waiting time between shipment and receipt of goods can be 4 to 5 weeks and up to 70 days.

Depending on the volume to be moved, you can choose between 2 sea freight options:

Full Container Load (FCL): This involves renting a container for your own use, without having to share space with others. Containers usually measure over 30 m³.

Less Container Load (LCL): This involves sharing a sea container with one or more people. The price is divided according to the number of tenants. This option is interesting if the volume to be moved is not too large.

Finally, shipping containers are available in various sizes:

• 10 m³
• 20 m³
• 30 m³
• 40 m³ and more

Choosing the carrier 

Preferably choose an international carrier referenced with professional associations like FIDI (International Federation of International Movers), having a structured network and a local partner to facilitate customs clearance formalities and final delivery. This choice will ensure a safe move.

Start by contacting several international moving companies and analyzing the following points to select the highest-rated one:

• Knowledge and experience in international moving (administration, shipping laws, etc.)
• Management of packaging at departure and unpacking once on the site of furniture, appliances, and fragile goods
• Responsibility for transported goods, particularly responsibility in case of early arrival or delay, and storage of goods
• Knowledge of the shipping process, including the time required to proceed with the shipment of goods
• Equipment, for example, to transport heavy and/or fragile goods, protective covers, straps, etc.

Once the movers are selected, read the reviews left by customers and, if possible, ask your questions directly on expatriation forums and expatriate groups on social networks.

The moving contract

The contract must include several essential points:

• Departure address/pick-up location of goods
• Arrival address in Mauritius
• Volume
• Type of transport and duration
• Services and obligations of the carrier
• Price
• Conditions of delivery to the home
• Insurance coverage

Useful links:

FIDI Global Alliance

Federation of European Movers - FEDEMAC

Services

It is up to you to define with the carrier what services will be required:

• Dismantling of furniture
• Packing of all or part of the belongings
• Specific packaging
• Supply of boxes
• Storage
• Tracking the movements of the transport ship
• Insurance
• Vehicle transport

For an international move, it is wise to entrust the packing of fragile items to a professional.

Waybill

The waybill includes the terms of the contract, the mode of transport, the volume transported, the name and address of the client and the transport company, etc. You will need to sign it at the time of loading and upon final delivery.

Timeline

The total duration of a move from your home to arrival in Mauritius is 4 to 5 weeks, for a departure from Europe. Keep in mind that international moving also involves the road network to reach the port of departure, then maritime transport.

If the carrier usually indicates a date coinciding with the departure of the cargo ships, prepare your international move with our schedule:

Preparation schedule when relocating to Mauritius

10 weeks before the move: Contact international moving companies. Request several quotes and select the most reliable and financially rational option.

8 weeks before the move: Create an action plan for the move with your mover (arrival time of movers, time needed for packing, etc.).

6 weeks before the move: Sort your belongings and select those you will ship, donate, and resell. Note that all types of appliances are available in Mauritius, including the latest innovations in refrigerators, etc.

4 weeks before the move: Make a plan for your accommodation in Mauritius and start distributing the boxes in the appropriate rooms.

2 weeks before the move: Separate your personal and family medical records to have them at hand.

1 week before the move: Review with your mover and carefully note the names of the movers, the arrival time of the team, the time needed to pack your goods, and the shipping delay.

Moving day: For better coordination, be present in person to facilitate this step.

Customs clearance of the container upon arrival in Mauritius

You will be notified of your container's arrival at Port Louis and invited to present yourself to the MRA to complete the required formalities with your identity papers, your Occupation Permit or the principle approval (pre-approval of the occupation permit) if the procedures are ongoing, the list of your personal effects, as well as their valuation.

List and declaration of value

It is crucial to draw up a very precise list of the container's contents (or crate) to establish the "declaration of value." This is required to establish the estimate and allows for compensation in case of loss or damage to your goods, based on the prejudice. Keep a copy of this list safely.

Consequently, a "damage insurance" can be offered by the carrier to cover unforeseen damages related to the transport of your goods up to the value indicated in your declaration. An insurance contract will be issued to you.

Also, consider creating a file with invoices, digitizing them, and keeping photos of the condition of your goods before departure.

Local freight forwarder

It is mandatory to go through a freight forwarder to assist you in your customs clearance procedures, container release authorization from the port area, and if necessary, for home delivery.

Prohibited products

A list of several dozen types of goods is completely prohibited from importation; this is for health, environmental, protection of endangered flora and fauna species, safety, legislation, etc.

Prepare your international move and avoid any confiscation of your goods, along with a fine from the Mauritian customs authorities, by respecting the list of prohibited products for importation to Mauritius, issued by the Mauritius Revenue Authority.

Transport and delivery to the home

Some carriers do not provide delivery to the final destination but only to the container's arrival at the port, which implies additional costs to repatriate your belongings to the final destination.

Attention:

To be authorized to retrieve your container, you must pay the Duty and Tax to unlock your container. This will be refunded to you post-delivery of your goods by the customs services. An appointment will be set for you at the docks. Customs control will proceed with the opening of the container in your presence. All or part of the boxes and packaging may be opened to verify the contents. Heavy penalties are incurred in case of prohibited products in Mauritius.

Contacts and useful links:

Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA)

Custom House, Mer Rouge – Port-Louis

Tel.: (230) 202 05 00 / 01

Fax: (230) 216 95 67

Email: customs@mra.mu

Web: www.mra.mu

Mauritius Ports Authority

H. Ramnarain Building, Mer Rouge – Port-Louis

Tel.: (230) 206 54 00

Fax: (230) 240 08 56

Email: info@mauport.com

Web: www.mauport.com

Professional Association of Freight Forwarders

C/o Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry

6 Adolphe de Plevitz Street, Port-Louis

Web: www.aptmu.com