Holidays > Before you leave

CHECKED BAGGAGE IN MAURITIUS

Luggage
Before packing, take the following points into account:

The Free Baggage Allowance corresponds to the weight of baggage you are allowed to carry in the hold. On Air Mauritius flights, your Free Baggage Allowance is as follows:

International Flights
Business Class       30kg
Economy Class       23kg

Inter-Islands
Mauritius-Rodrigues    15kg

• Other conditions may be applied if you have a flight connection with another airline.
• For security reasons, some airlines, including Air Mauritius airport, will definitely not accept to carry any single piece of baggage weighing more than 32kg.
• Even if the airlines are very careful in handling baggage, your luggage must be quite resistant. 
• Your checked baggage must have your name, permanent address and phone number affixed to it. Your tag must also mention the destination.

Unchecked baggage
Unchecked baggage means cabin bag, since it is not sent in the holding. There are maximum dimensions and/or weight for Unchecked Baggage. It must fit in the seat in front of you or in an enclosed storage compartment in the cabin of the aircraft. If it is not the case, it must be carried as Checked Baggage.

• Only a single cabin bag weighing 7kg maximum.
• The sum of the width, length and height shall not exceed 115cm.
• Are also accepted a limited number of duty free and personal articles, as well as a lap top.

Click below for any further details on restrictions:

PDF: Items unacceptable as baggage
PDF: Items accepted under conditions.
PDF: Fragile objects

PASSPORT and VISA IN MAURITIUS

VISA
If you yearn for a pleasant stay in Mauritius and in case you want to extend your holiday, you can consult a full information package on visa in the PDF documents below (source: MTPA).
Warning: passengers arriving without a visa (if required) may be repatriated to their country of origin or residence at the transporting carrier’s expenses.

For more information, contact your travel agency or consult the Mauritian government site.

PDF: Application for visa
PDF: Application to enter Mauritius

Passport

Visitors travelling to Mauritius for holiday must hold a valid passport for at least six months from the date of arrival in Mauritius, as well as a valid return or onward ticket to their country of origin or residence.

The Mauritian government does not recognize passports of the following governments: Taiwan, the Turkish Republic of Nordic Cyprus, Botsphutatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda and other existing states of the South African Republic. However, citizens of these countries may apply for an entry permit and shall not undertake a journey without any prior authority.

Passport and Immigration Office
Port-Louis
Tel: (230) 210-9312
Fax: (230) 212-2398

PDF: Application for a Mauritian passport
PDF: Application for a passport approval

NOTES

• Passengers coming to Mauritius other than for the purpose of tourism, visits or business, should obtain prior authority from the Passport and Immigration Office before undertaking any travel to Mauritius.
• Any person who wishes to seek employment or engage in any gainful occupation in Mauritius will not be allowed to enter Mauritius unless he is the holder of a valid residence permit and a work permit issued by the Mauritius Authorities.
• Any person who stays in Mauritius after the expiry of the period, for which he obtained a visa or entry permit as the case may be, shall commit an offence and is liable for prosecution by a Court of Law.
•       Visitors/Tourists may be granted a permit to stay in Mauritius for a period not exceeding six months in a calendar year and up t 90 days in a calendar year to non-citizens travelling to Mauritius for purpose of business without remuneration, provided they meet the immigration requirements.
• Non citizens travelling to Mauritius as tourist/visitors will not be issued any permits or extension of visas to follow studies/training courses. Prospective students are advised to travel to Mauritius only after their application for study/training in Mauritius would have been approved.
• The Final Decision to admit a passenger into Mauritius rests solely on the Immigration Authorities after examination at the points of entry.

No duty and taxes are levied on necessary and appropriate wearing apparel and used personal effects of a passenger arriving in Mauritius.
Every article If you are 16 years old or over, you may bring in the following goods, free of customs duty:

-       Tobacco (including cigars and cigarettes) not exceeding 250 g

-       Spirits not exceeding 1 L and wine, ale or beer not exceeding 2 L in all

Restricted items in Mauritius
Vegetables, fresh fruits, flowers, plants, bulbs and seeds must be declared (all require permit from the Ministry of Agriculture), as must firearms and ammunition. Imported animal products also require a permit and health certificate from the country of origin.

Prohibited Imports
Sugarcane and related parts thereof, soil micro-organisms and invertebrate animals, drugs and narcotics, publications, films or video cassettes of an obscene nature.

Medicine
If you need to bring some medicine, you are advised to carry it in your handbag and have at your disposal all the prescriptions which may be required by the customs.

AIRPORT TAX
The airport tax is included in the airfare.

VACCINES
A yellow fever vaccination is required for travelers (over 1 year old) coming from infected areas.

INSURANCE
Although travel insurance is optional, you are advised to take full insurance covering cancellation expenses, medical evacuation and repatriation expenses, baggage, etc.

All animals require an Import Permit from the Ministry of Agriculture and a Sanitary Certificate from the country of origin. All animals must be declared to the customs authorities immediately on arrival, and landing is allowed only if certificates issued by the veterinary authorities of the exporting country are in conformity with Import Permits. Cats and dogs undergo a six months’ quarantine; birds and other animal/species up to two months.

Veterinary Services – Plaisance airport – Tel: +230 627 78 96

Situated in the tropical zone, Mauritius has, most of the time, a lovely weather year-round. This tropical maritime climate, that is warm to hot-moist, is characterised by the alternation between two seasons: southern summer and winter.

Southern summer
The hottest season, from November to April, is also the steamiest. Yet, the central plateau is cooler and rainy – particularly in February and March. During this period, the weather is very pleasant for holidaymakers who are amateurs of deep-sea diving. Water is clear and its temperature is around 25° and 29°C.

Cyclones occur between November and March but that does not necessarily mean that they hit Mauritius every year. They sometimes just go by, providing the island with a lot of rain. However, when they are too close, they cause a lot of damage.

Southern winter
Winter, from May to November, is warm and dry. The temperature is around 25°C during the day and 15°C at night. Weather is milder on coasts and cooler inland. In winter, the sea is also cooler and its temperature does not exceed 22°C. During this period, the weather is favourable to surfers and deep-sea fishing.

The best months to come to Mauritius are April, May, June, September, October and November, but to be honest, all months are to be taken into account considering climate changes throughout the world.

Click on the link below to see what the weather is like today in Mauritius:

http://french.wunderground.com/global/MA.html

Word of advice

7 days…
…is the minimum you should spend in Mauritius – if you want some relaxing holiday on the beach, a week is enough to take the most of your time on beautiful beaches and through inland visits.

15days…
…is the ideal time to spend in Mauritius if you had rather discover cultural aspects of this multifaceted island.

Mauritius is only 4 hours ahead on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +4). The jet lag varies from 2 to 4 hours with Central Europe, depending on some months in the year.
Since the 26^th of October 2008, Mauritius turned to summer time for the first time (GMT +5hrs) until the 29^th of March 2009.

…Seat back and relax… HAVE A NICE TRIP!!!