Mauritius
Pet Travel Policy Information
Pet Travel Requirements for Mauritius
Pet Entry Requirements for Mauritius
Pet Microchip
Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. Firstly, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Your pet must be identified with a 15-digitwhich is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Mauritius. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide athat will read their pet’s microchip. Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions. Your pet’s microchip number must be present on all documentation required to enter Mauritius.
Vaccinations
Your dog or cat must be vaccinated for rabies between 60 days and 12 months of entry for the primary vaccination and between 30 days and 12 months of entry for all booster vaccinations. The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin: a rabies certificatea government-issued vaccination booklet oran EU Pet Passport
Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination. All dogs and cats entering Mauritius must have a rabies titer test administered by a licensed veterinarian no sooner than 30 days and no more than six months in advance of entry. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. A letter from your veterinarian will be required attesting that the titer test was administered according to regulations set by the World Organization of Animal Health. Have your veterinarian scan your pet’s microchip before administering the titer test. Additional titer tests done at least three months apart may be required for pets entering Mauritius from certain countries. The import permit will provide more detail (step 6). Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Parasite Treatments
According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites must be administered prior to entering Mauritius. The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are required. The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.
Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information: details of your pet andvaccinations and treatments andveterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export. Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin. Related: A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Import Permit
Importers must apply for an Import Permit between three to six months of advance of entering Mauritius. The purpose of the transport must be stated on the application.
Complete all 6 steps to enter Mauritius with your pet
Requirements may change. Always verify with official sources before travel.
Is Quarantine Required for Pets in Mauritius?
There will be several days of quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Mauritius even if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.
What Additional Information Do I Need for Mauritius?
- Other Information:
Not specified
- What is a Pet Passport?:
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Mauritius pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country.This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination, rabies titer test, parasite treatments and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
- Entering Mauritius by Air:
Pets must enter Mauritius via Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaine Magnien. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo according toairline pet policies. Clearance by a broker is required for all pets entering as air cargo (unaccompanied or larger pets). Related:Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant? Pets arriving in Mauritius should do so on a direct flight, if possible. Transiting throughcountries with a high risk of rabiesis not permitted. Importers must provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours. Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Mauritius, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet. All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Mauritius. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
- Find a Licensed Veterinarian:
Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.
- Flying Your Pet to Mauritius:
Flights to Mauritius should be direct or transit through arabies-controlled countryor another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.
- Mauritius Pet Import Requirements:
All steps required to conform to Mauritius pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
- Animals Eligible for These Regulations:
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of Wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree. To import a dog or cat to Mauritius from a country where your pet has resided for a minimum of 6 months and is considered as rabies-free or rabies-controlled by the World Organization of Animal Health, the following terms and conditions must be followed. Your country’s status will be determined at the time the import permit is requested. Pets from countries classified as having ahigh risk of rabieswill not be permitted entry. Dogs and cats must be neutered or spayed prior to entry and must not be pregnant.
- Breeds Banned from Import to Mauritius:
The following dog breeds are only permitted as purebreds with proof of registration: Alaskan Malamute, Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Dobermann, Kangal, Mastino Napoletano, Presco Canario, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler. Mixes of these breeds will not be permitted entry to Mauritius. All dogs must be registered within 15 days of import. The following breeds and their mixes cannot be imported to Mauritius: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Blue Nose Pit Bull, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Red Nose Pit Bull and Staffordshire Terrier.
- Quarantine for Pets Entering Mauritius:
There will be several days of quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Mauritius even if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.
- Importing Other Pet Animals to Mauritius:
Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate if they are permitted to enter Mauritius. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
- Importing Puppies and Kittens to Mauritius:
Unvaccinated puppies and kittens are not permitted to enter Mauritius. They can be microchipped after 8 weeks of age; however, Mauritius pet import requirements include rabies vaccination no sooner than 3 months of age. Puppies and kittens should wait a minimum of 30 days after rabies vaccination prior to having their titer test. Related: More information ontransporting a puppy.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country. Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations. Related:Search the CITES databaseorSearch the Species+ database Related:Read more about CITES
Related Resources
Traveler Tips & Experiences
Emily Parker
February 12, 2025
I visited Mauritius last year with my French Bulldog and found the process straightforward and well-documented.
Michael Chen
January 3, 2025
Air travel to Mauritius was a breeze and my cat had no issues. Highly recommend booking early!