Mauritius | Confirmed Plans to Introduce e - Visa/ETA System as Part of of its 2026 - 2027 Budget

Mauritius has confirmed plans to introduce e – Visa/ ETA system, as part of its 2026 - 2027 budget with the aim to modernise its infrastructure, reduce queues at arrival terminals, and strengthening national security by enabling pre – departure screening.  

The digital pre - travel authorisation system for foreign nationals is referred to as an e - Visa in the Budget Speech and as an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in the official budget annex, with both documents indicating that non - citizens will be required to obtain digital clearance before travelling to the state island.  

Key details including the launch date, applicable fee, validity period, number of entries permitted and nationalises covered have yet to be confirmed.  

For travellers currently exempt from Mauritian visa requirements, including those from France, th UK and the United States and much of Europe, the system would not necessarily end visa - free access, but would add an electronic authorisation step prior to travel.  

The budget also includes broader immigration measures such as the revisions to the Golden Visa, programme targeting investors committing at least $1 million, updates to Occupation Permits and new initiatives to attract international students.                                                                                                                                           
Core System Features 

 The modernised framework integrates several automated and digital components: 

•    Pre - Departure Screening: All foreign nationals, including those from traditionally visa - exempted nations like the UK, US, and EU, will be required to register their travel and accommodation details online before boarding their flights. 
•    Digital Integration: The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is linked to your passport, completely removing the need for traditional visa stamps. 
•    Enhanced Border Security: The platform functions as advanced pre – clearance to screen travellers, preventing congestion at immigration desks while supporting a broader national strategy to digitize border controls. 
•    Streamlined Data Capture: The system will collect essential contact info, travel itineraries, and basic health details, replacing traditional paper landing cards and speeding up processing times upon arrival. 

Implenentation and Status: 

•    Legislative Backing: The framework was officially formalised as part of the Immigration Act updates introduced in the national budget. 
•    Current Operations: The full scale of roll - out, including the exact launch dates, fee structures, and specific application nationalities, is being phased in as the system takes shape. Until the new digital ETA becomes fully mandatory, travellers should continue to use current entry rules and the traditional All - in - One Travel Digital From.

For a destination heavily reliant on international tourism like Mauritius, how simply and clearly the new system is implemented will be closely watched by the travel trade.  

Link 
https://atta.travel/resource/mauritius-plans-e-visa-eta-system-as-part-of-2026-2027-budget.html