Relocating to Mauritius

Organizing your move to Mauritius

An international move deserves special attention. It is important to take the necessary time to get information from the official organizations and to study carefully the offers and conditions of the different carriers. The advice of expats already living in Mauritius can be invaluable. It is sometimes best to sell or rent your belongings before leaving your country and to buy new items on the spot. Moreover, this approach also reduces the volume to be transported and, consequently, the cost.

Also, note that most of the houses or apartments for rent in Mauritius are furnished and equipped with household appliances.

How to get to Mauritius

With 21 airlines, including Air Mauritius (MK), serving Mauritius from 29 airports worldwide, most travelers fly to Mauritius.

Approximately 450 flights per month (105 flights per week) land at the country's only international airport, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport, located in the southeast of the island.

Airlines serving Mauritius

Here is the list of airlines serving Mauritius, along with the number of routes they operate to Mauritius:

• Air Mauritius (MK) - 13 flights;
• Emirates (EK) - 14 flights;
• British Airways (BA) - 3 flights;
• Neos (NO) - 3 flights;
• Corsair (SS) - 2 flights;
• EdelweissAir(WK)- 2flights;
• Air Austral (UU) - 2 flights;
• Turkish Airlines (TK) - 2 flights;
• Evelop Airlines (E9) - 1 flight;
• South African Airways (SA) - 1 flight;
• Saudi Arabian (SV) - 1 flight;
• Condor (DE) - 1 flight;
• Austrian (OS) - 1 flight;
• Air France (AF) - 1 flight.

Air Mauritius operates the largest number of flights to Mauritius, connecting 13 airports to MRU, followed by Neos, Corsair, Edelweiss Air, Air Austral, Turkish Airlines, and other airlines with fewer flights.

Non-stop flights from the Middle East / West Asia to Mauritius

Emirates: year-round flights from Dubai (DXB);

Saudi Arabian (SkyTeam): year-round flights from Jeddah (JED);

Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance): year-round flights from Istanbul (IST).

Non-stop flights from the Middle East / West Asia to Mauritius

Emirates: year-round flights from Dubai (DXB);

Saudi Arabian (SkyTeam): year-round flights from Jeddah (JED);

Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance): year-round flights from Istanbul (IST).

Non-stop flights from India / South Asia to Mauritius

Air Mauritius offers year-round flights from Mumbai (BOM) and New Delhi (DEL) to Mauritius.

Vistara: Vistara offers seasonal flights from Mumbai (BOM) to Mauritius.

Non-stop flights from East Asia to Mauritius

Only Air Mauritius currently offers non-stop flights from East Asia to Mauritius. The Mauritian airline operates year-round flights to Mauritius from Hong Kong.

Non-stop flights from Southeast Asia to Mauritius

Air Mauritius is currently the only airline that offers direct flights from Southeast Asia to Mauritius. They operate year-round from Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

Non-stop flights between Australia / New Zealand / Oceania / Pacific and Mauritius

Air Mauritius is currently the only airline that offers direct flights from Oceania to Mauritius. They operate year-round from Perth (PER).

There are no direct flights from the following destinations to Mauritius:

• United States;
• Canada;
• South America;
• Central America;
• The Caribbean;
• China;
• Japan;
• Central Asia.

Read also Traveling to Mauritius

Is it necessary to hire an international mover to relocate to Mauritius?

It is normal to want to manage the transportation of your belongings when you move, but the situation is different when it's an international move. However, the question remains: do you really need an international mover? Here are some preliminary questions to help you out:

• Are you moving alone or with your family?
• Do you intend to take all your belongings with you or not?
• What is the volume to be transported? An international moving expert can send an agent to your home to evaluate the volume to be transported and determine the best solution (container, pallets by cubic meter, or canteens). This simple service will bring you all the serenity you need if you are moving with your family and if you plan to send all your belongings!

Read also Work in Mauritius

The different types of freight to Mauritius

Depending on your budget, the volume of goods to be shipped and your preferences, you can choose between air freight and sea freight. Let's take a look at how each solution can meet your needs and their advantages and disadvantages.

Air freight

Sending your belongings by air is more expensive: up to about 16 times more expensive than shipping by sea. To determine the total bill, carriers take into consideration the volumetric weight, which is the billable or gross dimensional weight of the cargo.

In return, expats benefit from a quicker process and more secure delivery, which typically ranges from a few days to 10 days.

In addition, the shipment of certain goods by air freight requires the production of an official certificate or authorization from the customs of the country of origin and destination and other third-party authorities. For example, sending telecommunications equipment by air freight requires written authorization from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), depending on the country of origin.

Calculate the volumetric weight of your goods by multiplying for each package: (Width × length × height) / 5000.

Sea freight

Sea freight becomes more interesting financially if you want to ship all your goods, including heavy goods. It's a more affordable bill even if you have to add extra charges for handling the goods from the country of departure and arrival or for customs clearance.

Sea freight is also the most environmentally friendly solution when you consider that for every 1,000 kg of air freight, a modern cargo plane (B747) emits an average of 500 g of carbon dioxide (CO2) per km. By sea on a modern container ship, this figure is reduced to 15 g per km.

On the other hand, the waiting time between shipping and receiving the goods can be 4 to 5 weeks and up to 70 days.

Depending on the volume to be moved, you can choose between 2 sea freight options:

Full Container Load (FCL):

This option involves renting a container for your own use without having to share the space with others. Containers are generally larger than 30 m³;

Shared moving container (Less Container Load - LCL):

This is a formula for sharing a maritime container with one or more people. The price is divided according to the number of tenants. This formula is interesting if the volume to be moved is not too important.

Finally, shipping containers are available in several sizes:

• 10 m³;
• 20 m³;
• 30 m³;
• 40 m³ and more.

Choice of carrier for moving to Mauritius

Preferably, an international carrier referenced by professional associations such as FIDI (Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux) with a structured network and a local partner should be chosen in order to facilitate customs clearance formalities and the final delivery. This choice will ensure a safe move.

Start by contacting several international moving companies and analyzing the following points to select the best-rated:

• Knowledge and experience in international moving;
• Management of packing on departure and unpacking once on site of furniture, appliances, and fragile goods;
• Responsibility for goods in transit, including liability for the early arrival of goods or delays, storage of goods;
• Knowledge of the shipping process, including the time required to ship the goods;
• Equipment, e.g., for transporting heavy and/or fragile goods, protective covers, straps, etc.

Once you have selected the best-rated movers, read the reviews submitted by customers and, if possible, ask your questions directly on expat forums and groups on social networks.

The moving contract

The contract must include several essential points:

• The departure address/place of collection of goods;
• The arrival address in Mauritius;
• The volume;
• The type of transport and the duration;
• The services and obligations of the carrier;
• Price;
• The conditions of transport to the place of residence;
• Insurance coverage.

Useful links:

Fédération Internationale des Déménageurs Internationaux (FIDI)

Federation of European Movers (FEDEMAC)

Read also Buying a property in Mauritius

Services

It is up to you to define with the carrier what services are required:

• Dismantling of the furniture;
• Packing of all or part of the belongings;
• Specific packing;
• Supply of boxes;
• Furniture storage;
• Follow-up of the movements of the boat of transport;
• Insurance;
• Transport of vehicles, etc.

For an international move, it is wise to entrust the packing of fragile objects to a professional.

Waybill

The waybill includes the terms of the contract, the mode of transport, the volume transported, the name and address of the customer and the transport company, etc.

You will have to sign it at the time of loading and at the time of the final delivery.

Timeframe

The total duration of a move from your home to Mauritius is 4 to 5 weeks for a departure from Europe. Keep in mind that international relocation also involves road transport to the port of departure and then sea transport.

If the carrier generally indicates a date coinciding with the departure of cargo ships, prepare your international move with our calendar:

10 weeks before the move

Canvass international moving companies. Request several quotes and select the most reliable and cost-effective one.

8 weeks before the move

Create a moving action plan with your mover (arrival time of movers, time needed to pack, etc.).

6 weeks before the move

Sort your belongings and select which ones you will ship, donate and resell. Note that all types of appliances are available in Mauritius, including the latest refrigerators.

4 weeks before the move

Make a plan of your home in Mauritius and start allocating the right boxes to the right rooms.

2 weeks before the move

Separate your personal and family medical records so that they are within reach.

1 week before the move

Check-in with your mover and make a note of the movers' names, the time the crew will arrive, the time it will take to pack your belongings, and the time it will take to ship them.

The day of the move

For better coordination, be present in person to facilitate this step!

Customs clearance of the container upon arrival

You will be notified of the arrival of your container at the Port-Louis harbor and be asked to call at the MRA to complete the required formalities with your identity papers, your Occupation Permit or the approval in principle (pre-approval of the occupation permit) if the procedures are in progress, the list of your personal belongings, as well as their evaluation.

List and declaration of value

It is essential to make a very precise list of the container's content (or crate) in order to establish the "declaration of value". This is required to establish the estimate and to set up, in case of loss or damage of your goods, a compensation according to the loss.

Keep a copy of this list. Consequently, "damage insurance" can be offered by the carrier to cover the non-foreseeable damages related to the transport of your goods up to the value indicated in your declaration. An insurance contract will be issued to you.

Local forwarder

It is mandatory to use a forwarding agent to assist you in your customs clearance, authorization to leave the container from the port area, and, if necessary, for home delivery.

Transport and delivery to the home

Some carriers do not deliver to the final destination but only until the container arrives at the port. Therefore, there could be additional costs involved for this last leg.

Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA)

Custom House Mer Rouge - Port-Louis

Phone: (230) 202 0500 / 01

Fax: (230) 216 9567

E-mail: customs@mra.mu

Web: MRA

Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA)

H.Ramnarain Building Mer Rouge - Port-Louis

Phone: (230) 206 5400

Fax: (230) 240 0856

E-mail: info@mauport.com

Web: MPA

Professional Association of Freight Forwarders

C/o The Mauritius Chamber of Commerce & Industry 3, Royal Street, Port-Louis

Web: APT Mauritius

Important:

To be authorized to pick up your container, you must be in possession of your Occupation Permit or the approval in principle if your application is in progress. If not, the container will remain blocked in customs. There is a fee for the container storage (and sometimes the rental). An appointment will be made at the docks. The customs officer will open the container in your presence. All or part of the boxes and packaging can be opened to check the contents. Heavy penalties are incurred in the case of prohibited products in Mauritius.

Prohibited products in Mauritius

Several dozen types of goods are totally prohibited from import. This is due to sanitary, environmental, endangered species protection, security, legislation, etc.

Plan your international move thoroughly to avoid your goods being confiscated and being fined by the Mauritian customs authorities. Ensure that you check out the list of products prohibited from being imported into Mauritius issued by the Mauritius Revenue Authority.