Mauritius maintains 0 dollar visa and extension fees for stays up to 180 days

Mauritius still charges nothing for standard visas or extensions of stay, a policy the Passport and Immigration Office continues to confirm in writing even as the country's passport climbs into the top tier of African mobility rankings.

The fee-free rule, spelled out

The immigration office states plainly that "visas and extensions of stay are issued free of charge." That covers tourist stays of up to 180 days per calendar year, business visits of up to 120 days per year (each trip capped at 90 days), social visas of 45 days and medical stays of up to six months.

Nothing about the fee structure has been rolled back or quietly reintroduced. Travelers still pay their own airfare, insurance and any private agent charges, but the government line stays at zero. Overstaying remains an offence that can trigger prosecution and complicate future entry, so the free extension route is the one applicants should use rather than letting a stamp lapse.

Who walks in without paperwork

Holders of passports issued by EU member states are explicitly listed as exempt from visa regulations, alongside Mauritian citizens and residents, their spouses and children, diplomatic passport holders from most countries and holders of UN, COMESA and SADC laissez-passers.

A wider group of nationalities gets visa-on-arrival access for 60 days or two weeks, also free. Only 16 countries must secure a visa in advance. Diplomatic passports from Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Libya, Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are excluded from the diplomatic exemption.

The Henley Passport Index now puts Mauritian passport holders at visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to roughly 149 to 150 destinations, keeping the country second in Africa behind Seychelles.

The Premium Visa still costs nothing

The Premium Visa, Mauritius's one-year remote-work permit, remains free to apply for through the E-licensing Platform. It's renewable, filed fully online and open to applicants earning around USD 1,500 per month or more from foreign clients or employers.

Required documents include a passport valid for at least six months, proof of remote income, bank statements, accommodation in Mauritius, health insurance covering the full stay and a clean criminal record certificate.

Remote workers weighing a base in the Indian Ocean should note that the zero-fee structure applies to the initial grant and the renewal, so settling in Mauritius on this track carries no government visa cost across a two-year horizon, only living expenses and insurance.