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Climate and safetyIs Mauritius Safe? Crime, Roads and Weather for Expats
Most crime in Mauritius is non-violent, according to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and its page carried no travel warning for any area when we read it on 28 October 2026. That is as near as the official sources come to answering “is Mauritius safe”, and it comes with caveats: common petty crime in tourist areas, 124 road deaths on the island of Mauritius in 2025, curfews after unrest in early October 2026, and severe penalties for drugs.
Crime and the October unrest come first, then roads, which we read as the main everyday hazard, then the sea, weather, health and the laws that catch newcomers out, from drugs and drones to a police investigation that can stop you leaving or renewing a permit. Almost everything comes from official pages, with two items marked as secondary, and no source ranks Mauritius against other countries, so this guide does not either.
Crime: what the FCDO says and where it concentrates
The FCDO says most crime in Mauritius is non-violent, such as burglaries from tourist villas or theft of unattended bags. Petty crime is common, it adds, particularly in tourist areas such as Port Louis, Grand Baie and Flic en Flac, and there have been some reports of sexual assaults on tourists. On terrorism, it says there is no recent history in Mauritius but that attacks cannot be ruled out. It gives no figures, so these are descriptions, not rates.
The precautions it lists are written for visitors:
- Accommodation. Make sure your hotel room or other accommodation is secure.
- Documents. Keep important documents such as your passport in a hotel safe.
- After dark. Do not walk alone at night on beaches or in poorly lit areas of town, particularly the backstreets of the Port Louis business district.
- Who you deal with. Rent only accommodation registered with the Mauritius Tourism Authority, and do not do business with street or beach vendors.
Incidents go to the tourist police on 999. The list reads as written for short stays, and we found no official guidance on how the Tourism Authority point applies to a long residential lease. The FCDO does not rank neighbourhoods and nor does any other source we read; how the main areas compare on other grounds is in where to live in Mauritius.
The October 2026 unrest and curfews
In early October 2026, according to the FCDO, localised demonstrations and community unrest followed a police shooting incident, with road closures, transport disruption and interruptions to public services. The Government of Mauritius then introduced temporary curfews in the evenings and overnight across most areas of the main island. They ran from 12 to 18 October and ended at 4.30am on Monday 19 October. The FCDO’s instruction is to stay away from demonstrations and large public gatherings and to follow the advice of local authorities. Its page, updated on 19 October, carried no travel warning for any area, which we read as a call for caution rather than avoidance.
AFP, in a report Al Jazeera carried on 19 October 2026, called it “a rare wave of violent demonstrations” that began over water shortages and the rising cost of living. It reported at least 188 arrests, on charges that included looting, arson, damage to police stations and possession of explosives, and put the previous major unrest in 1999. We give no start date, because the two reports differ on it.
Check the date: this section is a snapshot from 28 October 2026. The FCDO page shows when it was last updated and what changed, so open it in the week you travel or sign a lease and read the community unrest paragraph again before relying on anything here.
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Roads: where the numbers point
Neither the FCDO nor the other sources we read ranks the risks, so calling roads the main everyday hazard is our reading of the evidence. The FCDO says accidents are common, motorbikes are slow and often do not use headlights at night, some roads are narrow with no pavements, and pedestrians and cyclists often use main roads, including motorways, by day and night. Statistics Mauritius publishes the 2025 figures for the island of Mauritius:
| Measure | 2025 figure |
|---|---|
| Registered vehicles, end of December | 746,961, of which 257,269 (34.4%) were motor cycles and auto cycles |
| Road accidents | 40,220 (39,485 in 2024): 37,850 with no injury, 116 fatal, and 2,254 with serious or slight injuries |
| People killed | 124 (134 in 2024), or 10.3 per 100,000 of the mid-year population (11.2 in 2024) |
| Of those killed | 52 riders or pillion riders of motor cycles and auto cycles, and 30 pedestrians |
| Hit-and-run cases causing casualties | 190 (235 in 2024) |
Added together, those two groups account for 82 of the 124 deaths (our sum). The Police Traffic Branch says crashes are mostly related to behavioural factors, namely speeding, drink-driving, mobile phone use and not wearing seat belts or crash helmets, and that pedestrians and riders are the largest victim group for deaths and injuries. Traffic keeps left. The FCDO says drivers are expected to carry yellow chalk or another yellow indelible marker, to mark the vehicle’s position and registration number on the road in the event of an accident or breakdown, before moving it off the road where possible. Licences, limits and conversion rules are in the guide to driving in Mauritius.
The sea, stonefish and water sports
The FCDO health page says stonefish stings are rare but can be fatal, that anyone stung needs urgent medical attention, and that many hotels stock anti-venom serum. On water sports, its safety page says to check that the operator holds a valid permit from the Ministry of Tourism, that the boat carries enough life jackets and that the captain can contact the coastguard.
Neither FCDO page says anything about currents or jellyfish, and we did not find official guidance on either, so we say no more. The Mauritius Meteorological Services (MMS) does cover high waves. It warns of heavy swells that began far from the island, or of the storm tide from a distant storm or cyclone, and issues a Special Communiqué about 12 hours ahead where practicable. Its precautions for a high waves warning are to avoid the beach and the sea, and to secure all boats.
Weather and landslides
According to the FCDO, the tropical cyclone season usually runs from November to May, and the MMS has a well-structured system of phased warnings. It says that during a cyclone you are not allowed to leave your accommodation and that car insurance policies often become invalid. It adds that some areas are prone to landslides, especially during cyclones and torrential rain, that the MMS has 5-stage landslide warnings, and that local authorities may organise evacuations of threatened areas. The cyclone guide covers the four warning classes, how to prepare a home and what the MMS expects for 2026-27.
Health risks: mosquitoes, fresh water and care
The FCDO health page names dengue, schistosomiasis and chikungunya as the risks to read up on, and points to TravelHealthPro. TravelHealthPro says there is a risk of both dengue and chikungunya in Mauritius, spread by mosquitoes that bite mainly in the daytime, and advises avoiding bites particularly then; the mosquitoes that spread dengue are more common in towns, cities and surrounding areas. In a note dated 24 July 2026 it reported 6,675 confirmed chikungunya cases in 2026 up to 12 July: 6,583 on Mauritius and 92 on Rodrigues. It also says there is no risk of malaria and a very low risk of schistosomiasis, for which it advises all travellers to avoid wading, swimming or bathing in fresh water; swimming in sea water or adequately chlorinated water is not a risk for it.
On care, the FCDO says good private healthcare is available but can be expensive, and that more complex cases may need evacuation to Réunion or South Africa. Ambulance quality and response speed vary, so it suggests going directly to the hospital if you can; the ambulance number is 999 or 114. Its advice is written for travellers and tells them to carry adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds for treatment and repatriation. How care works for residents is in the healthcare guide.
Laws that catch newcomers out
The FCDO safety page is the main source for this table; where a Mauritian government page adds detail, the row names it.
| Topic | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Illegal drugs | Illegal drugs, cannabis included, carry severe penalties, says the FCDO, which advises packing all luggage yourself and carrying nothing through customs for anyone else. It says to expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling them, including when transiting through the airport. It adds that bail is unlikely whatever the drug, and that prosecutions take a year or more to reach court, with detention until the trial. |
| Medicines | The FCDO health page says you can bring common medicines for your own use if you carry a copy of the prescription. Tranquillisers, hypnotics, narcotics and other strong painkillers need prior authorisation, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness can confirm the details. |
| Cigarette papers and vapes | The FCDO says it is illegal to possess or import cigarette papers. The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) list of prohibited imports, which it calls non-exhaustive, includes roll-your-own papers and, under the Public Health (Restrictions on Tobacco Products) Regulations 2022, e-cigarettes and vaping devices with their liquids, heated tobacco products, flavoured and smokeless tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco and other nicotine products made or marketed to replace or imitate tobacco, apart from prescribed nicotine replacement therapy. These are import rules; we did not confirm any rules on use or sale. |
| Drones | Since 1 January 2025, any drone with a camera or other data-capturing device must be registered with the Department of Civil Aviation, leisure use and visiting tourists included; camera-free toys flown indoors or on private premises are outside the rules. The department says registering in Mauritius involves police clearance and can take at least 3 months. Recreational flying is limited to private property with the owner’s permission, daylight hours and below 400 feet, and is not allowed over public areas, beaches or nature parks, or inside restricted, prohibited or danger areas or the controlled zone around the airport, which reaches up to 3,500 feet. The drone must also have a direct remote identification feature or add-on. The penalty on conviction is a fine of up to Rs 1 million and up to 12 months in prison. |
| Drink-driving | The Police Traffic Branch sets the limit at 9 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 ml of breath, and the FCDO says fines or imprisonment can follow even at very low levels, a quarter of England’s legal limit. For a first conviction the branch lists a fine of Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000, up to 5 years in prison and disqualification for at least 12 months. For a second or later conviction it lists a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, 12 months to 8 years in prison, cancellation of the licence and disqualification for at least 24 months. |
| Police investigations | Police may occasionally ask to see ID, such as a passport or driving licence. The FCDO says a person under police investigation is provisionally charged and may not leave the country without a judge’s consent, and that a decision on a formal charge can take up to 2 years. It adds that a provisionally charged person cannot renew an occupation or resident permit, and that someone who cannot support themselves financially will be kept in prison while the police finish their investigation. |
| Same-sex relationships | Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in October 2023, says the FCDO. It describes a relatively conservative society with attitudes that vary across the country, where LGBT+ people still face discrimination and verbal or physical confrontation cannot be ruled out. |
Where to check current advice, and who to call
Begin with the FCDO travel advice for Mauritius. It shows the date of the last update and a one-line note of what changed, the quickest way to see whether anything has moved since the snapshot this guide rests on. That snapshot is of UK advice, so readers with another passport should also read their own government’s advice, which we have not reviewed. For storms, heavy rain and high waves, the Mauritius Meteorological Services is the authority.
Emergency numbers, from the FCDO: police 999 or 112, ambulance 999 or 114, fire 999 or 115, and the tourist police 999 or 112. The Government of Mauritius portal adds the tourist police on 213 1740 or 210 3894, the Family Protection Unit for domestic violence on 119, the Child Development Unit on 113 and Crime Stoppers on 148.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mauritius safe to live in?
The FCDO page we read on 28 October 2026 carried no travel warning for any area and says most crime is non-violent. It also reports common petty crime in tourist areas, frequent road accidents and unrest in early October 2026 that brought curfews. Its advice is written for travellers, and nothing we read ranks Mauritius against other countries, so check the FCDO page again close to your move.
How risky are the roads in Mauritius?
Statistics Mauritius counted 124 road deaths on the island of Mauritius in 2025, down from 134 in 2024. Of the 124, 52 were riders or pillion riders of motor cycles and auto cycles and 30 were pedestrians. The FCDO says accidents are common and that motorbikes are slow and often do not use headlights at night.
Can a police investigation stop you leaving Mauritius?
The FCDO says a person under police investigation is provisionally charged and may not leave the country without consent from a judge, and that deciding on a formal charge can take up to 2 years. It also says someone who is provisionally charged cannot renew an occupation or resident permit.
Are drones allowed in Mauritius?
Yes, with conditions. Since 1 January 2025 a drone with a camera or any data-capturing device must be registered with the Department of Civil Aviation, tourists included, and the department says registering in Mauritius can take at least 3 months. Recreational flying is limited to private property where the owner agrees, daylight hours and below 400 feet. On conviction, breaking the rules can mean a fine of up to Rs 1 million and up to 12 months in prison.
Is Mauritius safe for LGBT+ visitors and residents?
The FCDO says same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in October 2023, but that LGBT+ people still face discrimination and that verbal and physical confrontation cannot be ruled out. It calls Mauritius a relatively conservative society and says local attitudes vary across the country.
Sources, checked 28 October 2026
The FCDO pages come first because this guide rests on them most, followed by Mauritian government and meteorological pages. The last two items are a health-information site and a news report, marked as secondary because neither is a Mauritian official source.
- Mauritius travel advice: safety and security (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, updated 19 October 2026): crime, community unrest and curfews, laws, road conditions, water sports, cyclones and landslides.
- Mauritius travel advice: health (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): stonefish, the infections to read up on, medicines and healthcare.
- Mauritius travel advice: getting help (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): emergency numbers for police, ambulance, fire and the tourist police.
- Mauritius travel advice (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office): the summary page, which carries the last-updated date and change note; its list of travel warnings was empty when we read it.
- Road Transport and Road Traffic Accident Statistics, Year 2025 (Issue No 1917) (Statistics Mauritius, released 27 March 2026): vehicles, accidents, deaths and hit-and-run cases for the island of Mauritius.
- Traffic Branch (Mauritius Police Force): causes of crashes, the drink-driving limit and its penalties.
- Prohibited and restricted goods (Mauritius Revenue Authority): roll-your-own papers and the tobacco and nicotine products banned under the 2022 regulations.
- Communique on the operation of drones, 2 December 2024 and drone FAQ (Department of Civil Aviation): registration, the exemption for toys, the recreational limits and the penalty.
- Government of Mauritius portal (Government of Mauritius): the undated hotline list, with numbers for the tourist police, Family Protection Unit, Child Development Unit and Crime Stoppers.
- High waves warning system and precautions (Mauritius Meteorological Services): how high waves warnings are issued and the precautions to take.
- Mauritius country page (TravelHealthPro, secondary): malaria, schistosomiasis, dengue, chikungunya and the case count in the note dated 24 July 2026.
- Mauritius lifts curfew imposed amid wave of violent protests (AFP, carried by Al Jazeera, 19 October 2026, secondary): the causes given for the protests, the arrests and the previous major unrest.
General information only, not legal, medical or travel-insurance advice. Travel advice, laws and official pages change, and several rows above are the FCDO’s description of Mauritian rules for British travellers rather than the rules themselves, so check the pages listed above, the FCDO page in particular, before you travel or move.