Mauritius - Tips
Mauritius Visa Or Entry Stamp
Mauritius Consular
Information Sheet
June 11, 2007
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Republic of Mauritius
is a small island nation of four inhabited and several other islands located in
the southwestern Indian Ocean. Mauritius has a stable government and a
diverse economy. Its per capita GDP of $5029 is the second highest in
Africa. Facilities for tourism are well developed. In order of
frequency, Creole, French, and English are spoken; English and French are common
in the main towns and tourist areas but may not be understood in outlying
villages. The capital city is Port Louis. Read the
Department of State Background
Notes on Mauritius for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport,
onward/return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds are required.
Immigration authorities require the validity of the entrant's passport to be
greater than six months upon both arrival and departure. Travelers must
also provide a local address where they will be staying in Mauritius.
Visas are issued at the point of entry. A tourist entry fee and the
airport departure tax are included in the price of a plane ticket.
Travelers coming from yellow fever-infected areas may be asked to present a
yellow fever vaccination certificate. Travelers should obtain the latest
information and details from the Embassy of Mauritius, 4301 Connecticut Avenue,
N.W., Suite 441, Washington, D.C. 20008; telephone (202) 244-1491/2, or the
Honorary Consulate in Los Angeles, telephone (310) 557-2009. Overseas,
inquiries may be made at the nearest Mauritian embassy or consulate. See
our Foreign
Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Mauritius and other
countries. Visit the web site of the Embassy of Mauritius for the most
current visa information.
See
Entry and Exit
Requirements for more information pertaining to
dual
nationality and the prevention of international child
abduction. Please refer to our
Customs
Information to learn more about customs regulations.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Thefts in tourist areas are a
concern, and visitors should keep track of their belongings at all times.
Women are advised against walking alone, particularly on public beaches and at
night. There has been an increase in reports of sexual assault and
harassment of foreign women. Americans should avoid crowds and street
demonstrations, and maintain a low profile.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should
regularly monitor the
Department’s
Internet web site, where the current Worldwide
Caution Public Announcement, East Africa Public Announcement,
Travel
Warnings and other Public Announcements can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S.
and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are
available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday
(except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for
their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general
information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves
in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet
A Safe Trip
Abroad.
CRIME: Although violent crimes are uncommon, petty
crime is a problem. There is potential for pick pocketing and purse
snatching, especially in crowded areas. Residential break-ins are reported
frequently on the island. Most break-ins are surreptitious and do not
involve violence. However, some burglars have brandished weapons, such as
knives or machetes. There have been reports of tourists being robbed at
knifepoint in Port Louis and some tourist areas. It is unwise to walk
alone at night outside the immediate grounds of hotels.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft
abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and
the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime
while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the
nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate
staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact
family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred.
Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the
responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to
understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on
Victims
of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical
facilities are available, but more limited than in the United States.
Emergency assistance is limited. While public hospitals and clinics
provide free care, many visitors may choose to be treated by private doctors and
hospitals. Service Aide Medicale Urgence (SAMU) is a government
organization that provides ambulance and emergency assistance in response to
calls to 114 (Address: Volcy Pougnet Street, Port Louis). MegaCare is a
private organization that provides assistance to subscribers only (Address: 99
Draper Avenue, Quatre Bornes; phone: 116; 464-6116).
Outbreaks of the mosquito borne virus Chikungunya have occurred in recent
years; however, very few cases have been reported in 2007. For more
information, please see the CDC’s fact sheet on Chikungunya. Information
on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water
precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at
1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at
http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For
information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World
Health Organization’s (WHO) website at
http://www.who.int/en. Further health
information for travelers is available at
http://www.who.int/ith .
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly
urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to
traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it
will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our
information on
medical
insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign
country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly
from those in the United States. The information below concerning
Mauritius is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally
accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Driving is on the left side of the road. Roads are sometimes narrow and
uneven with inadequate lighting, which makes night driving hazardous.
Speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour, but all road and traffic signs
are posted in English. Drivers and all passengers are required to wear
seat belts. Drivers and passengers on motorcycles are required to wear
helmets. Babies and toddlers should be placed in child safety seats.
Many accidents occur due to excessive speed and violations of road regulations.
Drivers involved in an accident are required by law to remain at the scene
until the police arrive. However, if an angry crowd gathers and those
involved in the accident feel threatened, police and judicial authorities have
in the past not taken action against drivers who leave the scene if they have
proceeded directly to a police station. While there are organizations that
provide emergency or roadside assistance, their resources and capabilities are
limited and they are on occasion unable to respond in non-life threatening
incidents.
Public transportation by bus is available between the main towns until 11:00
p.m. and in remote areas until 6 p.m. Taxis are also available.
Please refer to our
Road
Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial
air service between the United States and Mauritius, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has not assessed Mauritius’ Civil Aviation Authority for
compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) aviation
safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s
Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Spear fishing equipment may not
be imported into Mauritius. Animals may be required to undergo a
quarantine period of up to six months, depending on country of origin and
residence history. Please contact the Mauritian Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals at (230) 464-5084 for specific information related to your
pet.
Please see our
Customs
Information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S.
citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes
differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the
protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for
breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar
offenses. Persons violating Mauritius’ laws, even unknowingly, may be
expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or
trafficking in illegal drugs in Mauritius are severe, and convicted offenders
can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct
with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country
is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.
Please see our information on
Criminal
Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international
adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s
Issues website.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or
traveling in Mauritius are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy through
the State Department’s
travel registration website, and to obtain updated information on travel and
security within Mauritius. Americans without Internet access may register
directly at the U.S. Embassy. By registering, American citizens make it
easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S.
Consular Agency in Victoria, Seychellesis open to U.S. citizens Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 to 12:30. U.S. citizens are able to
obtain passport applications, Social Security applications, and consular report
of birth applications there. The U.S. Consular Agency is located at Oliaji
Trade Center, Victoria, Mahe; telephone (248) 225-256; fax (248) 225-189; e-mail
usoffice@Seychelles.net. The
international mailing address is U.S. Consular Agency, P.O. Box 251, Victoria,
Mahe, Seychelles.
* * *
This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 17, 2006, to
update sections on Country Description, Safety and Security, Crime, and Medical
Facilities and Health Information.
*********************************************************** See
http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html for State Department Travel
Warnings
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