Mauritius targets 2027 implementation for mandatory e-Visa and ETA fees

Budget 2026-2027 commits to mandatory pre-travel clearance

Mauritius will require every non-citizen to obtain electronic authorization before boarding a flight, a step the government wrote into the 2026-2027 Budget but hasn't yet switched on. Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam said the new platform will "enable non-citizens from all countries to apply for and obtain an electronic visa prior to travelling to Mauritius," citing border security and shorter arrival queues as the drivers.

The budget speech calls it an e-Visa; the annex calls it an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and confirms an amendment to the Immigration Act is needed before it can operate. A "prescribed fee" is written into the annex, though no amount has been published. Officials are targeting full implementation by 2027.

What changes versus today

Right now, entry to Mauritius runs on two tracks. Most visitors are visa-exempt or get a visa on arrival and a shorter list of nationalities must apply in advance. Every foreign traveler must also complete the free Mauritius All-in-One Travel Digital Form within 72 hours of arrival, which generates a QR code for the border.

The e-visa/ETA adds a third, pre-boarding step for everyone who isn't Mauritian. That means today's visa-free tourists, business travelers and remote workers who currently just fill in the digital form will need an approved authorization and a paid one, before they fly. The digital form itself stays free and separate. Visa-required nationals will shift their application into the same online portal instead of embassies or airport counters.

The wording "all non-citizens" also sweeps in expats already living on the island: holders of occupation permits, residence permits, work permits, plus students and foreign workers. Whether long-term permit holders get an exemption or a linked auto-clearance hasn't been decided. Draft regulations aren't published.

Who needs to act and when

Nobody needs to act yet. Until the portal goes live and the Immigration Act amendment passes, the current rules plus the 72-hour digital form remain the only requirement, so anyone booking travel through the rest of 2026 should plan on that basis and watch for a government go-live notice ahead of any 2027 trip.

Nomads scoping a longer stay should also price in a new recurring fee on top of existing permit costs; the residency and permit tracks in the Mauritius guide will need re-checking once the fee schedule and any resident exemptions are published.