Mauritius Plans an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — What UAE Residents Need to Know

In the 2026-2027 Budget Speech, delivered to the National Assembly on 19 June 2026, the Government of Mauritius announced that the Immigration Act will be amended to "introduce a digital system to allow all non-citizens to apply for Electronic Travel Authorisation, against payment of a prescribed fee, prior to travelling to Mauritius."

An ETA is a pre-travel online authorisation — similar in concept to the United States ESTA, the UK ETA, or the upcoming EU ETIAS. It is not a visa, but it would become a mandatory step before boarding a flight to Mauritius. Importantly, the budget does not state the fee amount (it is described only as a "prescribed fee", to be set in regulations) and gives no start date. The measure first requires the Immigration Act amendment to be enacted, followed by the system launch.

Note the terminology: this is an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), not an "e-Visa". The two are sometimes confused, but an ETA is a lighter pre-screening authorisation rather than a full visa.

Mauritius is a popular beach and honeymoon destination from the UAE. Today, most UAE residents travel there with little friction: Mauritius grants visa-free entry or a visa on arrival to a broad list of nationalities, and the Mauritius Passport & Immigration Office confirms that visas and extensions of stay are currently issued free of charge.

The proposed ETA would change that in two ways. First, it would add a mandatory online authorisation before you fly — even for nationalities that currently enter visa-free. Second, it would introduce a fee, where entry is largely free today. Because the measure covers all non-citizens, it would apply to Emirati nationals and to visa-requiring expatriate nationalities alike once it is in force.

Until the Immigration Act amendment is enacted and the system goes live, the current rules continue to apply. You do not need an ETA to travel to Mauritius now.

1. 1No action is required yet — the ETA is a budget proposal, not a live requirement. Today’s entry rules still apply.
2. 2If you are travelling to Mauritius soon, proceed as normal under the current visa-free / visa-on-arrival arrangements.
3. 3Watch for the Immigration Act amendment and the official launch announcement — the fee amount and start date will be set in the law and its regulations.
4. 4Once the ETA is live, build it into your trip planning: apply online and obtain your authorisation before booking non-refundable travel, as it would become a pre-boarding requirement.
5. 5OraVisa is monitoring the rollout and will guide UAE residents through the ETA process as soon as it launches.

This update is based on the Government of Mauritius 2026-2027 Budget Speech and its Annex, delivered on 19 June 2026, as of 23 June 2026. The Electronic Travel Authorisation is a budget proposal that requires an amendment to the Immigration Act; no fee amount or start date has been officially announced, and it is not yet in force. This analysis is provided for informational purposes to help UAE residents understand the proposed change. It does not constitute legal advice. For the latest official information, refer to the Government of Mauritius (govmu.org) and the Mauritius Passport & Immigration Office (passport.govmu.org).