Mauritius is moving closer to introducing a fully digital pre-travel authorisation system for international visitors, with the initiative formally included in the country’s 2026–2027 national budget as part of broader efforts to modernise border management and enhance the visitor experience.
According to Visa News, the proposed system, described as an e-Visa in the government’s Budget Speech and as an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in the accompanying budget annex, will require all non-citizens to obtain digital travel approval before departing for the Indian Ocean island. The measure will be implemented through amendments to Mauritius’ Immigration Act.
According to the Mauritian government, the new digital platform is designed to reduce congestion at airport arrival terminals, streamline immigration procedures and strengthen national security through advance passenger screening. Under the proposal, travellers will submit their applications online before travel and pay a prescribed processing fee, although the amount has yet to be announced. While the government has not announced a launch date, the inclusion of the initiative in the national budget indicates that the project has progressed from the planning stage to formal implementation, with legislative changes and technical development expected over the coming months.
The system is expected to apply to all foreign nationals travelling to Mauritius, including tourists, business travellers, students and other visitors. Visa-exempt travellers are also likely to require electronic authorisation before boarding their flights, similar to travel authorisation systems already adopted by destinations such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
For the tourism industry, the digital transformation is expected to deliver faster border clearance, improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall visitor experience while enabling immigration authorities to conduct security checks before travellers arrive. The move also aligns Mauritius with a growing global trend toward digital border management as countries increasingly adopt electronic travel authorisation systems.
Mauritius has long been regarded as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations, attracting visitors with its luxury resorts, pristine beaches and business-friendly environment. The planned e-Visa/ETA system is expected to support the country’s ambition of maintaining its competitiveness by making international travel more secure, efficient and digitally driven.
