Mauritians can now stay 90 days in South Africa without a visa

South Africa now lets holders of ordinary Mauritian passports stay up to 90 days per visit without a visa. The old limit was 30 days. The change took effect immediately.

What happened

South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation communicated the decision to the Mauritian authorities on 30 September 2026. The Mauritian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade announced it in a statement dated 2 October. The ministry links the decision to a meeting in Durban in August between Mauritius's foreign minister and his South African counterpart, and credits Mauritius's ambassador in Pretoria for her part in it.

South Africans can already stay up to 90 days in Mauritius without a visa. The two limits now match.

What it covers

The exemption is for ordinary Mauritian passports. The ministry says it falls under sections 13 to 24 of South Africa's Immigration Act of 2002. Reports of the statement say Mauritians can make repeated visits for tourism or business without a visa, as long as each visit stays within 90 days and the other entry conditions are met.

What we could not confirm

The reports speak of 90 days per visit. They do not mention a yearly limit. The official South African exemption lists we found were published in 2024 and 2025, and they still show 30 days for Mauritius, so they predate the change. Before you plan a long stay, confirm the current rule with the South African High Commission in Port Louis or the Department of Home Affairs. Do the same if the stay involves work or study.

Where it helps

Most holidays are shorter than 30 days. The change matters most for long family visits and for journeys that link several regions, such as Cape Town, the Winelands and Kruger.

Before you travel

• Check that you hold an ordinary Mauritian passport.
• Keep your dates inside 90 days.
• Carry your return booking and your accommodation details, in case an officer asks.
• Keep a copy of the ministry's statement on your phone. Airline and port staff work from their own lists, which can take time to update.
• Complete the SARS online traveller declaration within 24 hours before you fly.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Rules can change, so check the official sources before you book.

Sources, in French unless noted: the Mauritian ministry's statement as published by Maurice Info and Le Mauricien; the English report from CapMad; and the South African exemption list of June 2024 (English), which shows the earlier 30-day limit.

Planning a trip between the two countries? Write to us.

Grant · Godefroy Africa