Mauritius is a small country situated on an island in Africa. Its wonderful nature and wildlife attract many tourists from all over the world. Mauritius is also a place that you can visit with your four-legged friend if you meet all the pet import requirements.

If you want to visit Mauritius, you should comply with the following conditions:

· Your pet must be identified with an ISO-compliant microchip;

· You must apply for an import permit which is essential for all tourists entering Mauritius with pets. An application should be sent to the Division of Veterinary Service (moa-dvs@govmu.org) 3-6 months before the journey. You can find the application form here;

· To apply for the import permit, you must provide the following information to the Division of Veterinary Service: name of the pet, its species, breed, age, sex, colour, coat type, microchip number and the date of your arrival to Mauritius;

· The import permit may be annulled if there is a disease outbreak or suspicion of disease in your country;

· The import fee of Rs500 and veterinary clearance fee of Rs500 shall be paid at the time of applying for the import permit;

· You must obtain an export veterinary certificate from a licensed veterinarian in your country. The veterinary certificate must include the date and number of the import permit and comply with the requirements stated in the permit. In case of non-compliance, the pet might be sent back to the country of origin;

· All dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies and tested for rabies titer in accordance with international regulations;

· Dogs must also be vaccinated against Distemper, Leptospirosis and Canine Parvovirus;

· Cats must be vaccinated against Feline Enteritis, Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus;

· The pet must be transported in an IATA-approved container;

· You must inform the Division of Veterinary Service of the date and time of arrival at least 3 days before your journey;

· There is mandatory quarantine for pets upon arrival that may last for five working days or one month, depending on the country you are coming from;

· All pets are examined by the Principal Agricultural Officer or his representative upon arrival.

The pet import policy is stringent in Mauritius. It is important to get an import permit on time and comply with all its conditions. Otherwise, the import of your pet might be denied.

If you still have questions, contact the Livestock and Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security by phone at +230 454 1016 or email at petimport@govmu.org.

Remember to check the pet transportation requirements of the airline you choose. For further information, visit our website’s “Airlines Pet Policy” section.