The marriage of a non-citizen to a Mauritian citizen falls under Article 19A of the Civil Status Act, while the marriage of two non-citizens falls under Article 24A. The Passport and Immigration Office explicitly states this distinction. It is not merely a formality: the two systems do not require the same documents, the same timeframes, or the same prior residency.

This is the most common source of error on this subject. Many French-language websites describe the simplified procedure for two foreign nationals—application submitted one month in advance, publication within twenty-four hours, no minimum stay—and present it as the procedure for a mixed marriage. A Franco-Mauritian couple who relied on this description would arrive in Mauritius with an incomplete application and an impossible-to-meet date.

The mauritian legislator's rationale is evident in the detailed list of required documents: Article 19A Aims to prevent marriages contracted solely for the purpose of obtaining residency status. hence the affidavits Attesting to the sincerity of the union, proof of financial resources, and certificate of good character. This isn't a suspicion directed at your couple in particular, but rather a standard procedure applicable to all cases.

A legislative development to note

The Finance Bill 2026 includes a provision regarding the marriage of a non-resident, stipulating that they may be required to produce an official document or affidavit attesting to their employment or sufficient resources, as well as Their marital status. these two documents are already included in the checklist published By The Civil Status division. the measure therefore does not create a New obligation; it simply enshrines in law a long-standing requirement applied by the administration.

Everything hinges on a single event: the publication Of the marriage banns. understanding What this entails is enough to understand why a franco-Mauritian wedding cannot be organized in fifteen days.

What publishing is, and where it is done

The publication is the official posting of your marriage plans by the Mauritian civil registry. It makes the union public, opens the period during which an objection can be filed, and triggers the legal countdown. It is not automatic: it must be requested.

The Civil Status Act is specific on the location. For a marriage between a non-citizen and a citizen, the banns must be published. at The Central Civil Status office and the district office in which each party has resided for at least seven days immediately preceding the day of publication. Therefore, there are two postings, not just one.

In practice, the law stipulates a physical posting: a notice signed by the officer is posted in a visible location, either in the office or nearby, and recorded in the corresponding register. Nothing is published in a newspaper or on the internet.

Seven days' stay before publication

The non-citizen spouse must have resided in Mauritius for a continuous period of at least seven days before the first day of publication. This is the most fundamental requirement of the calendar, and it is absent from almost all pages addressing the subject in French.

The passport must bear the entry stamp: the official list requires photocopies of the page of the last arrival in Mauritius, which allows precisely to verify this length of stay.

What the officer does on the day of the application

The interview is more substantial than a simple document check. The law imposes a series of specific obligations on the officer, and requires a declaration that many couples only discover on the spot.

• He demands the production of the documents allowing you to establish that you can legally marry, and verifies the originals.
• The non-citizen and the citizen declareAt the time of the publication request, they must have informed each other of their HIV and AIDS status. This declaration has been required by law since 2008.
• It informs you about matrimonial property regimes as stipulated by the Napoleonic Code, you will be given a printed explanatory note and invited to consider the marital regime under which you wish to marry. The question will be asked again on the day of the ceremony.
• He reminds you that the spouses and the witnesses will be required to present identification during the celebration.
• He records in the margin of the notice of publication that he has fulfilled these obligations.

One point not to be overlooked: no civil status document is valid if it was issued more than three months prior. the date of the publication requestThis is the date that serves as the reference, not the wedding day.

And if someone objects?

The publication opens the possibility of an objection. Anyone with grounds to object to the ceremony, or who believes that a legal provision may be violated, may file an objection with the Registrar of Civil Status, who will investigate, hear the parties, and decide. The aggrieved party has thirty days to bring the matter before a judge in chambers.

This is also the reason for the delay following publication: it exists to allow this opposition time to be formed.

Then the delay after publication

The celebration is never immediate, and two timeframes overlap depending on the chosen location.

• Ten days minimum in all cases. The law prohibits the celebration before the expiration of a ten-day period beginning on the first day of publication. This period applies even to a marriage celebrated at the civil registry office.
• Thirty days in a private place. The marriage can take place at the Central Civil Status Office, at another civil status office in the country, or in a private place — but in the latter case only after a minimum period of thirty days from the day of publication.

What this actually looks like

For a ceremony at the civil registry office, the minimum sequence is: seven days' stay, then publication of the banns, then a ten-day waiting period. For a ceremony in a private location—hotel, beach, estate—these ten days become thirty, or just over five weeks on site between arrival and the ceremony, not including the time required for file verification.

This is the major difference with the system for two foreigners marrying each other, where no prior residency is required and the ceremony can take place after the publication of the banns twenty-four hours later. Many French-language websites describe this second system while believing they are describing the first.

For the vast majority of our readers, the answer is no. holders Of a passport issued by a european Union member state are exempt from visa requirements to enter mauritius: a French, Belgian, or luxembourg national therefore does not need to apply for a marriage visa. the Spouse of a mauritian citizen and persons resident in mauritius as defined by The immigration act are also Exempt.

The marriage visa is only available for a limited list of nationalities, specified at the end of this section. If you are not among them, you can proceed directly to preparing your civil status file.

A word of caution for those not directly affected: the Civil Status Division's checklist mentions a marriage visa valid for at least forty days. This line applies to nationalities subject to visa requirements, not to those exempt from them—it has led more than one European couple to believe they were missing a step.

What the marriage visa application contains

For those who need it, the application goes beyond civil status. The Passport and Immigration Office requires a letter from the applicant outlining their occupation and income, housing situation, family status, and how long and under what circumstances the future spouses have known each other. In addition, a certificate of good character or criminal record check is required, along with a letter of confirmation from the Mauritian citizen agreeing to their responsibilities, and proof of sufficient financial resources—approximately US$50 per day for a male applicant, and a minimum of 45,000 rupees per month from the Mauritian spouse for a female applicant.

Visas and extensions of stay are issued free of charge.

Nationalities concerned by the marriage visa

A marriage visa is required for nationals of countries listed in Schedules Nine, Ten, and Eleven of the Passport Regulations. The schedules published by the Passport and Immigration Office list the following countries.

Ninth appendix: Algeria, Comoros, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria.

Eleventh appendix: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Pakistan, Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Sahrawi Republic, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen.

The tenth annex is cited by the Passport and Immigration Office, but its contents are not available online alongside the other two. If your nationality is not listed above and you are not covered by an exemption, contact the Passport and Immigration Office directly before making any reservations. These lists are subject to change: verify them with the source when making your application.

The non-citizen spouse submits their documents at the time of publication, not on the day of the ceremony. The official list from the Civil Status Division includes the following documents, to be provided in original form along with the number of photocopies indicated.

• The passport in original, with five photocopies of the photo page and five photocopies of the page bearing the last entry stamp to Mauritius.
• The birth certificateIssued less than three months ago, duly apostilled, with four photocopies.
• Documents relating to a previous marriage where applicable: divorce decree or marriage certificate bearing mention of the divorce, issued less than three months ago and apostilled; death certificate and marriage certificate for a widower or widow, under the same conditions.
• A certificate of good character an original document, issued by the police authorities of the country of residence, dated less than six months prior and apostilled. Expatriates already residing in Mauritius should apply at the main police station in their locality.
• A work or residence permit valid, for expatriates.
• A medical certificate issued in Mauritius attesting to the absence of infectious or contagious disease, valid for three months.
• Three affidavitsDetailed in the following section.
• Certificate of capacity to marry for French nationals, whose form is available from the French embassy.

All documents must be translated into english or french. if the Country of origin of the documents is not a party to the hague Convention, The apostille is replaced by a certification from a competent body. Dual nationals must present both passports.

The medical certificate can be obtained Locally; you will find the island's medical facilities on our dedicated page. pharmacies, hospitals and clinics in Mauritius.

What is nOT Being asked

You have probably read elsewhere about requirements that are not included in the official procedure. Don't waste time gathering proof of residence, a certificate of no objection issued by a town hall, a certificate of custom, or a certified translation of a document already written in English or French. None of these documents appear on the Civil Status Division's list.

The law also provides for flexibility regarding the certificate of morality: if the non-citizen establishes that he cannot obtain it, he can instead produce an affidavit attesting to the same elements, lent and authenticated in accordance with the law of his country of residence.

The case of a woman's remarriage within 300 days

A woman, whether a citizen or not, who wishes to remarry before the expiry of a period of three hundred days since the dissolution of her previous marriage by divorce or death must produce a medical certificate of non-pregnancy, accompanied by four photocopies.

The Mauritian spouse also has a file to compile, shorter but not optional. It includes their birth certificate issued less than three months ago with four photocopies, their national identity card with four photocopies, and where applicable, death and marriage certificates or the marriage certificate mentioning the divorce, also issued less than three months ago.

A mauritian citizen born abroad who cannot produce a birth certificate less than three months old can substitute an affidavit sworn before the supreme court of mauritius, The form for Which is available free of charge at the central civil registry office in port Louis.

He must then swear an affidavit before the Supreme Court attesting that he is not marrying the non-citizen for the purpose of enabling the latter to acquire resident status. This document mirrors the one required of the foreign spouse: both spouses make a commitment, each on their own.

Three affidavits are required from the foreign spouse, and this is the requirement that most confuses French couples because it has no equivalent in France. An affidavit is a sworn statement taken before an authority empowered to administer oaths; it is not a self-written declaration.

They are not performed in the same place: only one is done in Mauritius, the other two in your country of residence, therefore before departure.

1. The affidavit of truthfulness — to Mauritius

It attests that you are not marrying the Mauritian citizen with the intention of becoming a resident. The Civil Status Act is clear on the authority: it must be sworn. before the Master and Registrar of the Supreme court of Mauritius, in Port-Louis. He is neither a notary, nor any magistrate, nor any authority of your country.

The form is available free of charge from the Central Civil Registry Office in Port Louis — address and direct lines in the section Useful contactsIt can also be downloaded in advance from the Civil Status Division website, at the section Affidavit Forms, where you will find, among other things, a template "Affidavit for Non-Citizen to Mauritian Citizen" — and, to save you a translation, its french version, “Affidavit for Non-Citizen with Citizen”. The same section offers the template for Mauritian citizens born outside the country, which can be used to replace an outdated birth certificate.

The mauritian spouse, for their part, provides a symmetrical affidavit before the same authority.

2. Affidavit of resources — in your country of residence

It attests that you hold a paid job or that you have sufficient means to support yourself. It is given before a court of law in your country of residence — not in Mauritius.

3. The affidavit of marital status — in your country of residence

It attests to your marital status, under the same conditions and before the same authority as the previous one.

The case of France, and of all countries without an equivalent procedure

In France, no oath is taken before a court for this type of declaration; the procedure simply does not exist. The official list reflects this situation. For countries where affidavits of resources and marital status are not sworn before a court, a certificate from either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the embassy or diplomatic mission is required, stating that this procedure does not exist in the country of residence.

In other words, a French applicant does not provide these two affidavits, but rather a document explaining why they cannot be provided—and which must therefore be requested before leaving. The official text leaves open the authority to be consulted, and we have not found any more precise indication of which one the Civil Status Division accepts in practice for France. Call the dedicated marriage banns hotline, the number of which is listed below, and have the required document confirmed before proceeding: this is the part of the process where a misinterpretation costs the most time.

A safety valve provided for by law

The Civil Status Act provides a solution for extreme cases. When a non-citizen establishes that he cannot produce the certificate of character or affidavits because his country is at war or for any other unforeseen circumstance, he may, with the approval of the Minister, produce instead an affidavit sworn before the Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court of Mauritius attesting to the same elements.

Each of these affidavits is accompanied by four photocopies.

Only one nationality is subject to a specific requirement in the Mauritian procedure: the official list requires a certificate of no impediment to marriage for French nationals. No other nationalities are mentioned.

French nationals

The certificate is obtained from the french Embassy in Port-Louis, and without it the civil registrar will not celebrate the marriage.

The timeframe is the crucial point, and it's much longer than you might usually read. The French Embassy in Mauritius indicates a delay that can reach six months for the issuance of the certificate of capacity to marry, and explicitly invites future spouses to set a wedding date only once the certificate has been obtained. It attributes this situation to the large number of applications.

The procedure involves posting the marriage banns for ten days, carried out by the consular post of the place of celebration and, if one of the spouses resides in France, by the town hall of their place of residence or the relevant consular post. The review of the file may lead the civil registry office to summon the future spouses, together or separately, for a hearing to verify the conformity of the marriage with French law.

The application form can be downloaded from the embassy website, and the application is submitted or sent to the civil registry office. Please note, the embassy is moving right Now: the Port Louis address is being replaced by new premises in Moka, with consular services closed in the interim. Both addresses and the exact schedule are listed in the section Useful contacts, at the end of the article.

Other nationalities

If you are not French, Mauritius does not require this certificate: your application is limited to the common documents listed above. The question then shifts to your own country.

Most countries require An equivalent document—a certificate of No impediment to marriage, a certificate of no impediment, or another local term—not To authorize the marriage in mauritius, but To have it recognized in your country of Residence. the conditions and processing times vary from country to country, and we will not detail them here to avoid providing inaccurate information about a legally binding process.

Contact your embassy or consulate before setting a dateAnd ask three questions: is any prior documentation required on your end, how long should the process take, and what recognition procedure will apply upon your return? The French case shows that this timeframe can exceed that of the Mauritian procedure by several months.

The alternative proposed by the French embassy

For non-resident couples whose consular delays are incompatible with the planned date, the embassy suggests a solution worth knowing: celebrate the marriage in France before a French civil registrar, which settles the legal registration, then organize at a later stage a simple celebration in Mauritius — religious or secular, without legal effect, involving neither the Mauritian nor the French authorities.

This approach is not a last resort. It separates the legal act from the ceremony, allows for the free choice of the date and location of the ceremony, and eliminates at once most of the documentary constraints described above.

Same-sex marriage is not permitted by Mauritian authorities. The French Embassy clarifies that, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, it cannot officiate such marriages, either in Mauritius or in the Seychelles. It also reiterates that it has no authority whatsoever to perform marriages involving French citizens: only local authorities have this power, regardless of the nationality of the spouses.

The choice of location determines the timeframe, as mentioned above: ten Days after publication at a civil registry office, thirty days in a private location. this is the Only decision you truly have in your hands during this entire process.

What happens during the ceremony

The procedure is not left to individual discretion: the law lists what the officer must do, in order.

• He reads aloud your names and the information that concerns you.
• He asks you under which matrimonial property regime you wish to get married, and whether a marriage contract has been drawn up—in which case, note the name of the notary who issued it. This is the question announced in the publication.
• He reads articles 212, 213 and 215 of the Napoleonic Code, which set out the reciprocal duties of spouses.
• He obtains the consent of each person, then declares you married.
• He registers the marriage in the register and records your answer regarding the matrimonial property regime.

Two adult witnesses must be present, with identification in hand. If the marriage takes place outside the port louis District, a full set of additional documents will be required.

How is the application submitted, specifically?

The application should be submitted to the central office of the Civil Status Division, in the Emmanuel Anquetil building in Port Louis — full address, floor and direct phone lines in the section Useful contactsAn agent will verify its validity in your presence before setting the date and time of the wedding.

Two points that the online documentation leaves unresolved, and which are best settled by telephone before leaving.

• The form. The request for publication is made on a printed form that is not downloadable from the division's website. It must be requested, as are the affidavit templates which the division makes available online.
• The canal. The division processes applications from abroad, submitted by email, fax, or post directly to the central office, and allows individuals residing on the island to act with written authorization. the Mauritian spouse can therefore prepare a significant portion of the application.

Call the dedicated line for the publication of planned civil marriages, at +230 201 1222, to obtain the form, confirm the sending channel and validate your calendar with regard to the target date.

Who sets the date

You propose it, the administration confirms it. Unlike the two-foreigner scheme, where the date is announced in a file sent a month in advance, here everything is decided on site: it is at the time of submission, after verification of the documents, that the agent sets the date and time.

Practical consequence: do not invite anyone or book any receptions before this meeting. Allow plenty of time—the stated deadlines are minimums, and a missing document will push back the entire schedule.

The foreign spouse of a Mauritian citizen acquires resident status under section 5(1)(c) of the Immigration Act. The residence permit as a spouse is applied for at the Passport and Immigration Office and is issued free of charge.

Both spouses must appear in person at the office — address, hours and direct line for the spouse section in Useful contacts — both for submitting the application and for collecting the permit. The application file must include, in particular, the legalized or apostilled birth certificate of the foreign spouse, the civil marriage certificate, a certificate of good character less than six months old, and a letter from the Mauritian spouse indicating whether they support the application and whether or not they have lost or renounced their Mauritian citizenship. For a male spouse, proof of sufficient financial means is also required—a recent Mauritian bank statement, either personal or attached, or payslips for the last three months.

When the marriage was celebrated outside Mauritius on or after July 27, 2022, an affidavit sworn before a court of law in the country of residence must attest that on the date of the marriage, the spouse was not married to any other person.

The transcription of the marriage in France

For a marriage celebrated in Mauritius to be fully recognized in France, the French spouse must request its transcription in the French consular registers. The embassy indicates a processing time of at least twelve monthsAnd the absence of a certificate of capacity to marry further prolongs it.

The original marriage certificate issued by the Mauritian authorities must be less than three months old and apostilled by the Prime Minister's Office. The application must be submitted or sent to the embassy – contact details and current address can be found in the section Useful contacts.

Where and how to get a marriage certificate apostilled

The competent authority is the prime Minister's office, in Port Louis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifies that the apostille is issued there and then countersigned by its services, and that the service is free.

Allow several business days between submission and collection—sources agree on a timeframe of two to four business days, with collection requiring presentation of the receipt. This is the only step that cannot be completed on the day of departure.

The published addresses vary from one source to another, between the New Government Centre and the Government Centre, and on different floors. None of them come from an up-to-date official website: have the address and opening hours confirmed on-site when you submit the document at the civil registry office.

If you live abroad and have already left, the apostille can be requested through a Mauritian diplomatic mission — hence the importance of taking care of it before leaving the island.

The matrimonial property regime

In the absence of any specific action taken, french spouses are subject to the statutory community Property regime. opting for another regime requires a marriage contract, drawn up before the marriage by a notary In france or by the competent Local authority. a copy of the contract must be submitted when applying for registration of the marriage if it was celebrated before local authorities.

Mauritian nationality

Acquiring mauritian nationality through marriage is a separate procedure, with its own requirements regarding the duration of the marriage and residency. the Figures circulating on this matter vary from one source to another, and we have not found an official version to provide a definitive Answer: it is best to Contact the Passport And immigration office directly rather than relying on a timeframe found online.

Including all official deadlines, a Franco-Mauritian wedding celebrated in a private venue takes approximately a year to prepare. Here is the sequence of events, starting from the desired ceremony date.

• Twelve months prior: preparation and filing of the certificate of capacity to marry application with the french embassy, Bearing in mind that the embassy recommends not setting a date before having it in hand.
• Six to four months prior: obtaining the certificate of capacity to marry, once the banns have been posted and the possible hearing has been completed.
• Three months prior: call +230 201 1222 to obtain the application form for publication, which is not downloadable, and to confirm the schedule. Request documents with short validity periods—birth certificate, documents relating to a previous marriage—as they must be less than three months old at the time of submission. A certificate of good character is also required if it is nearly six months old.
• Two months prior: affidavits of resources and marital status in the country of residence, apostilles, translations.
• Approximately forty days before: arrival in Mauritius, then seven days of continuous residence, then application for publication, then the waiting period — a minimum of ten days for a celebration at the civil registry office, thirty days in a private place.
• On site: medical certificate, affidavit of truthfulness before the Supreme court, verification of originals at the central civil registry office.
• After : residence permit from the Passport and Immigration Office, then transcription in France, counted in years rather than months.

This schedule is a reconstruction based on the deadlines published by each administration; it does not replace the information that will be given to you directly by the Civil Status Division and the embassy, who are the only ones who know the actual state of their waiting lists.

Download the Mauritian-foreign marriage checklist

The procedures are changing: check the version date indicated on the document, and refer back to this page before proceeding. The checklist is a reminder, not a substitute for the details explained above.

The delays are almost always due to one of these causes, and each one is avoidable.

• Set the date before obtaining the certificate of capacity to marry. This is the error that the embassy itself acknowledges. Reservations, tickets, and service providers are then tied to a date that the administration cannot meet.
• Apply the procedure for two foreigners. Publication of twenty-four hours, no minimum stay, application one month in Advance: this system exists, but it does not apply to mixed couples.
• Underestimating the validity of documents. A birth certificate older than three months is rejected, even if the original is perfectly valid in its country of issue. This rule also applies to documents relating to a previous marriage.
• Lend affidavits on site. Two of the three are loaned out in the country of residence. Once in Mauritius, it is too late.
• Forget the postscript. It is required on the birth certificate, divorce or widowhood documents, and the certificate of good character. Obtaining it itself takes time.
• The prior stay should be counted from the date of the wedding. The seven days preceding the publication, not the ceremony.
• Forgetting to request the publication request form. It cannot be downloaded: without it, nothing starts.
• To believe that the ceremony immediately follows the publication. A minimum of ten days in the office, thirty in a private place.

Three government departments are involved in this matter, and each only responds within its own area of responsibility. Contact the correct one from the outset: this will save you the most time.

Civil Status Division — mauritian civil status

This is the contact person for the publication, the list of documents, and the date of the celebration. The central office is located at 7^e the division is located on the floor of the Emmanuel Anquetil building in Port Louis and manages the 34 offices spread across the island. The division publishes direct lines for each department: two are of particular interest to you.

• Publication of planned civil marriages: 201 1222 — this is the number to dial for your file.
• Certificate of custom and celibacy: 201 1209.
• Requests for civil status documents: 201 2808.
• General information: 201 3203, or 211 8159 for the central office.

When calling from abroad, precede these numbers with the country code. +230.

Online : the official website is csd.govmu.orgTwo Pages deserve to be opened before taking any Action:

• There affidavit forms section, which allows you to download the templates in advance — including the French version for the marriage of a non-citizen with a Mauritian citizen, and the template for a Mauritian born outside the country.
• There contact page, which gives the address and telephone number of the 34 offices on the island, useful if your celebration is taking place outside of Port Louis.

Passport and Immigration Office — visas and residence permits

This is the point of contact for marriage visas, if your nationality requires one, and for residence permits as a spouse after the ceremony. The main office is located at Sterling House, 9-11 Lislet Geoffroy Street, in Port Louis. Again, each section has its own direct line, and two of them are relevant to you.

• Visa section (mezzanine): +230 210 9418 or +230 260 2206 — piovisa@govmu.org
• Residence permit section — spouse (mezzanine): +230 213 1397 or +230 260 2084 — pio_spouse@govmu.org
• General homepage: +230 260 2073 — piomain@govmu.org — direct line +230 5727 6619.

Schedules : open weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and then from 12:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday mornings from 8:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The till closes earlier: 2:30 p.m. on weekdays, 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Closed Sundays and public holidays.

Online : the official website is passport.govmu.orgTwo Pages to consult depending on your situation: That of the marriage visa and that of the residence permit as the spouse of a Mauritian citizen. There visa requirements page provides lists of nationalities and their updates.

Beware of websites that imitate government agencies. Several websites that appear official offer Mauritian visa services for a fee. Official Mauritian government websites can be identified by their domain name, which always ends with govmu.orgCheck the address in the browser bar before entering any personal or banking information.

French Embassy in Mauritius — Certificate of Capacity to Marry and Transcription

This is the point of contact for French nationals, and the only one for the certificate of capacity to marry as well as for the transcription of the marriage.

The embassy is moving In August 2026: check the date before you travel. She is Leaving port Louis For moka. according to the notice Published by The embassy on august 4, 2026, consular services—visas, civil status and nationality, French administration, social Affairs—are closed to the public. from monday 10 to tuesday 18 august 2026 inclusiveAnd are due to reopen in the new premises on wednesday, August 19, 2026, according to the same online appointment procedures.

• New address, normally valid from August 19, 2026: “The Workplace” building, 4^e floor, The Promenade, Telfair, Moka.
• Former address, until August 9, 2026: 14 rue Saint-Georges, Port-Louis, the entrance to the consulate is via 5 rue Auguste Rouget.
• Email from the civil registry Office: etat-civil.port-louis-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr
• Embassy telephone number: +230 20 20 100.
• During the closureA number is reserved for genuine emergencies — assault, death, arrest, medical emergency: +230 52 57 61 00. For everything else, the website's contact form remains open.
• Consular FranceFor consular procedures other than visas: +33 3 59 39 71 85, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Paris time.

These dates and addresses are those announced by the embassy at the time of writing. Relocation schedules may change, and contact information related to the old location—switchboard number, email address, application submission procedures—is subject to change without our knowledge. Before sending any documents or traveling to the embassy, please check the embassy website for the current address: this is the only authoritative source.

Online : the official website is mu.diplomatie.gouv.frThis Is where you'll find the page dedicated to local marriage, where you can download the application form for a certificate of capacity to marry, and where you can book your appointment online. The application can also be sent by mail.

A move of this magnitude often causes cascading delays in ongoing cases. If your application for a certificate of no impediment to marriage or for transcription is pending in August 2026, expect additional processing time beyond the durations mentioned above.

To go further

If you are coming to Mauritius for this occasion, our other practical guides complement this one: the formalities and procedures for coming on holiday to Mauritius, tHE flight guide to Mauritius, there booking a hotel or villa and, for what follows, our page dedicated to the honeymoon in Mauritius.

How long should one stay in Mauritius before marrying a Mauritian?

The future spouses must have resided in Mauritius for seven consecutive days immediately before the first day of the marriage banns being published. This prior stay is in addition to the period following the publication: a minimum of ten days for a ceremony at the civil registry office, and thirty days if it takes place in a private location.

Does a Frenchman need a visa to marry a Mauritian citizen?

No. Holders of a passport issued by a European Union member state are exempt from visa requirements to enter Mauritius. Marriage visas are only required for nationalities subject to visa requirements, as listed in Annexes Nine, Ten, and Eleven of the Passport Regulations.

How long does it take to obtain a certificate of capacity to Marry?

The French Embassy in Mauritius announces a delay of up to six months for the certificate of capacity to marry, due to the volume of applications, and recommends not setting any wedding date before obtaining it.

Is a marriage celebrated in Mauritius valid in France?

A marriage celebrated before the Mauritian civil registry is valid, but it only takes full effect in France after transcription in the French consular registers. The embassy announces a minimum processing time of twelve months for this transcription, which is extended if a certificate of no impediment to marriage is not provided.

Can you get married on a beach or in a Hotel?

Yes, but with a much longer delay. a Celebration in a private place can only take place after a minimum of thirty days from the day of publication, compared to ten days at the civil registry office — the minimum period that the law imposes in all cases.

Where can I obtain the application form for publication?

It is not downloadable from the Civil Status Division website: it must be requested by calling the dedicated line for the publication of planned civil marriages, at +230 201 1222. The affidavit templates, however, are available online, including a French version.

Should you declare your serological Status?

The law stipulates that the non-citizen and the citizen must declare, at the time of the application for publication, that they have mutually informed each other of their HIV and aIDS status. This is a reciprocal declaration between the future spouses, not the submission of test results to the authorities.

What is the minimum age to get married In Mauritius?

The legal age of marriage in Mauritius is 18. However, sources differ on whether an exception at 16 with parental consent still exists: several Mauritian legal analyses still mention it, while an organization specializing in combating child marriage indicates that Articles 145 to 148 of the Civil Code, which provided for these exceptions, have been repealed. We have not found an official source to definitively resolve this issue: this point should be verified with the Civil Status Division if it applies to your situation.

Can a foreign spouse work in Mauritius after marriage?

The foreign spouse of a Mauritian citizen acquires resident status under section 5(1)(c) of the Immigration Act, and the spousal residence permit is issued free of charge by the Passport and Immigration Office. Contact this office to inquire about the exact scope of rights associated with this status when you apply.

Is a medical certificate Required?

Yes. The foreign spouse must provide a medical certificate issued in Mauritius attesting that they do not suffer from any infectious or contagious disease. It is valid for three months.

What if consular delays prevent meeting the scheduled date?

The French embassy itself suggests celebrating the marriage in France before a French civil registrar, then organizing a simple religious or secular ceremony in Mauritius, without legal standing. This solution eliminates most of the paperwork requirements and allows the couple to choose the date and location.