1open jobs
1organisations hiring
0violent events in 3 months
To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
Although known to Arab and European sailors since at least the early 1500s, the island of Mauritius was uninhabited until 1638 when the Dutch established a settlement named in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU. Their presence led to the rapid disappearance of the flightless dodo bird that has since become one of the most well-known examples of extinction in modern times. The Dutch abandoned their financially distressed settlement in 1710, although a number of formerly enslaved people remained. In 1722, the French established what would become a highly profitable settlement focused on sugar cane plantations that were reliant on the labor of enslaved people brought to Mauritius from other parts of Africa. In the 1790s, the island had a brief period of autonomous rule when plantation owners rejected French control because of laws ending slavery that were temporarily in effect during the French Revolution. Britain captured the island in 1810 as part of the Napoleonic Wars but kept most of the French administrative structure, which remains to this day in the form of the country’s legal codes and widespread use of the French Creole language. The abolition of slavery in 1835 -- later than most other British colonies -- led to increased reliance on contracted laborers from the Indian subcontinent to work on plantations. Today their descendants form the majority of the population. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base and later an air station, and it played a role during World War II in anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as in the collection of signals intelligence.
Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record. The country also attracted considerable foreign investment and now has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Mauritius’ often-fractious coalition politics has been dominated by two prominent families, each of which has had father-son pairs who have been prime minister over multiple, often nonconsecutive, terms. Seewoosagur RAMGOOLAM (1968-76) was Mauritius’ first prime minister, and he was succeeded by Anerood JUGNAUTH (1982-95, 2000-03, 2014-17); his son Navin RAMGOOLAM (1995-2000, 2005-14); and Paul Raymond BERENGER (2003-05), the only non-Hindu prime minister of post-independence Mauritius. In 2017, Pravind JUGNAUTH became prime minister after his father stepped down short of completing his term, and he was elected in his own right in 2019.
Mauritius claims the French island of Tromelin and the British Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory). Since 2017, Mauritius has secured favorable UN General Assembly resolutions and an International Court of Justice advisory opinion relating to its sovereignty dispute with the UK.
parliamentary republic
Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian
Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, one of the two official languages of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; diversified portfolio; investing in maritime security; strong tourism sector decimated by COVID-19; expanding in information and financial services; environmentally fragile
1.2 MPopulation2025
39 %Urban population2025
$12,991GDP per capita2025
3.2 %GDP growth2025
3.7 %Inflation2025
0.5 %Extreme poverty (international line)2017
5.6 %Unemployment2025
94.3 %Adult literacy2023
73.3 %Internet users2024
100 %Access to electricity2024
24refugees hosted2025
233asylum seekers2025
723refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the country's security; it includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (2025)
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
No organised violence event recorded in the country over this period.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Mauritius, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Most crime is non-violent such as burglaries from tourist villas or theft of unattended bags. Petty crime is common, particularly in tourist areas such as Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. There have been some reports of sexual assaults on tourists.
Localised demonstrations and community unrest occurred in parts of Mauritius after a police shooting incident on 9 October 2026. This resulted in road closures, transport disruption and interruptions to public services.
The Government of Mauritius introduced temporary curfews during the evenings and overnight, covering most areas of the main island, which lasted from 12 October to 18 October, ending at 4.30am on Monday 19 October.
Stay away from demonstrations and large public gatherings and follow the advice of local authorities.
You can contact our consular teams via telephone or email.
You can take steps to reduce your personal risk by:
Report any incidents to the Mauritius tourist police by calling 999.
Police may occasionally ask to see your ID, such as your passport or driving licence.
It’s illegal to possess or import cigarette papers.
Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.
You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
Airports in Mauritius have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.
If you are found with any drugs, it’s unlikely you’ll be bailed, regardless of the type of drug. Prosecutions take a year or more to come to court, and you’ll be detained until your trial.
If you’re under police investigation, you’ll be provisionally charged and not allowed to leave the country without consent from a judge. It can take up to 2 years for the authorities to decide whether to issue a formal charge. You’re not allowed to renew your occupation or resident’s permit if you’re provisionally charged with a crime. If you cannot support yourself financially you’ll be kept in prison while the police finish their investigation.
Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in October 2023. Mauritius is a relatively conservative society and local attitudes to the LGBT+ community vary across the country. LGBT+ people still face discrimination, and verbal and physical confrontation cannot be ruled out.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
If you’re taking part in any kind of water sports, make sure the:
If you are planning to drive in Mauritius, see information on driving abroad.
As in the UK, left-hand traffic is standard across Mauritius.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Mauritius. Carry your licence with you when driving. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence.
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
Drivers are expected to carry in their vehicles yellow chalk, or other appropriate yellow indelible marker. This should be used to mark the position and registration number of their vehicle on the surface of a road in the event of an accident or breakdown, before moving their vehicle off the road where possible.
Drink-driving is a serious offence in Mauritius. Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol, even at very low levels (a quarter of England’s legal limit of alcohol in your system), can include fines or imprisonment.
Accidents are common in Mauritius. Motorbikes are slow and often do not use headlights at night.
Some roads are narrow and do not have pavements. Pedestrians and cyclists often use main roads, including motorways, during the day and at night.
There is still a significant risk of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, where piracy has been reduced but not prevented. Pirates can attack up to 1,000 nautical miles from the Somali coast or more.
If you’re travelling by sea, read about the regional risks at sea.
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
The tropical cyclone season in Mauritius usually runs from November to May.
If a tropical cyclone happens, follow the advice of the Mauritian government information service. Mauritius Meteorological Services has a well-structured system of phased warnings.
Cyclones can cause extensive damage to property. During a cyclone you’re not allowed to leave your accommodation, and car insurance policies often become invalid.
Some areas are prone to landslides, especially during cyclones and torrential rains. Mauritius Meteorological Services has 5-stage landslide warnings. Local authorities may organise evacuations of threatened areas.
73.8yearsLife expectancy2024
15.4per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
66per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
1.44per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2022
99.9 %Basic drinking water access2024
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 999 or 114 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before you travel:
See what health risks you’ll face on Mauritius, including:
Stonefish stings are rare but can be fatal. Get urgent medical attention if you are stung. Many hotels stock anti-venom serum.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
You can bring common medicines for your own use but you must carry a copy of the prescription. Tranquillisers, hypnotics, narcotics and other strong painkillers will require prior authorisation. You can check details with the Mauritius Ministry of Health and Wellness. If in any doubt, get advice from the Mauritius High Commission in the UK .
Good private healthcare is available but can be expensive. More complex cases may require evacuation to Réunion or South Africa. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Private and state ambulance services are available, but the quality and response speed can vary. If you can, go directly to the hospital.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Mauritius where most staff will speak English.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Mauritius’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Mauritius set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Mauritius High Commission in the UK.
Your passport must:
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
You can visit Mauritius without a visa for up to 60 days. When you arrive, a border official will stamp your passport to show the end-date for your permitted stay.
You must be able to show proof of onward or return travel.
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Mauritian government’s entry requirements.
You must fill in the Mauritius All in One travel form online before you arrive. Print out a copy of your completed form with a QR code on it. You’ll need to show the form to officials when you arrive at the airport. If you do not fill in the form before you arrive, you’ll be asked to fill in an immigration disembarkation card at the airport.
For details about health entry requirements and recommended vaccinations see TravelHealthPro’s Mauritius guide.
On arrival in Mauritius, you may be asked questions about your health and recent travel history.
If you travel to Mauritius from a country where malaria is common, border officials may ask you for a blood sample to meet Ministry of Health requirements. If you are not tested at the airport, officials may contact you later during your visit.
As a precautionary measure, Mauritius has introduced entry restrictions in response to the Ebola outbreak:
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Mauritius. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Organisations hiring in the country, based on open jobs on the site:
See jobs in MauritiusFunding ↗Tenders ↗Train in field security
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Most crime is non-violent such as burglaries from tourist villas or theft of unattended bags. Petty crime is common, particularly in tourist areas such as Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. There have been some reports of sexual assaults on tourists.
not walking alone at night on beaches or in poorly lit areas of town, particularly in the backstreets of the business district of Port Louis
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.