A #visa, for #Mauritius, refers to the short-term stay permission granted to any non-Mauritian entering the island. Long-stay permissions are typically referred to as #permits and can be in the form of #occupation permit or #residence permit, granted for different purposes, such as #investment, #employment, #retirement or #spouses of #Mauritian citizens.

There are different types of visas, but the most common ones are :

• #Tourist / #visitor visa : allows for a maximum stay of 180 days in a year
• #Business : allows for a maximum stay of 120 days in a year

The visa is in the form of a #stamp that the #Passport and #Immigration Officer puts on your Passport to evidence your arrival and entry on the Mauritian soil. This stamp will also specify the type of visa and the initial stay duration. These two information will be handwritten by the officer.

No entrants gets a maximum duration visa on landing. This, however, can easily be extended at the Passport Office in Port Louis.

While most nationalities get a visa on arrival, there are a few that require a visa application prior to leaving the country of departure. This is done remotely by addressing the application to the Passport Office.

Visa extensions are quite straight-forward, but require the following :

• It should be done prior to the expiry, Preferably two or three days before
• Applicant should show sufficient financial means to stay further (bank statement or other document to support)
• Accommodation letter and hotel booking to be presented
• A return ticket, based on the extended date has to be presented
• In case of accommodation letter (non-hotel residence), the person providing the accommodation should present a copy of his National Identity Card and proof of residence

If you want to know more about visas for Mauritius, please do not hesitate to contact us on [email protected]

http://www.gibsonandhills.com