Mauritius without passport: the measure extended until June 30, 2027

Good news for the people of Reunion: the “Mauritius without passport” system has been renewed for another year! French nationals residing in La Réunion will be able to continue travelling to Mauritius with just their national identity card until June 30, 2027.

An extension announced by the Minister of Tourism

Tourism Minister Richard Duval officially announced the extension on May 27, 2026: the program allowing residents of Réunion to travel to Mauritius with just their national identity card has been renewed until June 30, 2027. The minister explained that this decision was made well in advance of the deadline to reassure Réunion-based tour operators and travel agencies and provide them with sufficient visibility to structure their offerings. He also noted a 3% increase in travel from Réunion in 2025 compared to the previous year.

A measure facilitating trade between sister islands

Implemented on September 19, 2022, by the Mauritian authorities, this exceptional provision allows residents of Réunion to stay in Mauritius without needing to present a passport. Initially scheduled to end on June 30, 2023, the measure has been renewed annually—with successive deadlines extended to June 2024, June 2025, June 2026, and now June 30, 2027—demonstrating the desire of both territories to maintain close ties.

This initiative is part of the logic of the close ties that unite Reunion Island and Mauritius, only 220 kilometers apart. The two islands in the Indian Ocean share a common history and maintain privileged relations, both economically and culturally.

The conditions to be met to benefit from it

To benefit from this administrative facility, travelers must respect several specific conditions:

Essential conditions

• Nationality : Be a French national
• Residence : Actually reside in Reunion
• Starting point : Traveling from Reunion Island
• Reason for stay : Travel for tourist purposes exclusively (no salaried activity authorized)
• Minimum duration : Stay of at least 2 nights in Mauritius
• Identity document Valid national identity card

Usual immigration formalities

Even with an ID card, travelers must meet standard immigration requirements:

• Round trip plane ticket : obligatory and systematically verified
• Accommodation reservation : hotel confirmation or proof of accommodation with a private individual
• Sufficient financial resources : theoretically required (around 100 USD per day suggested) but rarely controlled in practice. A bank card is generally sufficient.
• Travel insurance : strongly recommended but not obligatory

On arrival, immigration officers will issue an “entry clearance” after checking these elements. The controls mainly concern the return ticket and the accommodation reservation.

Special cases: travel with children

Accompanied minor children

Parents traveling with their minor children must present to the immigration officer:

• The child's birth certificate, or
• The family book

Unaccompanied minor children

A minor child traveling alone from Reunion Island must have:

• A certificate from the parents with photo affixed to the document
• This certificate must be presented to the immigration services officer

Important points of attention

Proof of residence

If the address on the back of your national identity card is not located in Reunion, you will need to provide recent proof of address in your name attesting to your current residence in Reunion.

Validity of the identity card

The national identity card must be currently valid. An expired card will not be accepted, even if it benefits from the automatic 5-year extension applicable in France.

Prohibited professional activity

This provision is strictly reserved for tourist stays. No salaried or professional activity is authorized during the stay under penalty of sanctions.

A measure renewed every year

The "Mauritius without a passport" scheme is not permanent: it is renewed annually by the Mauritian authorities, with the Minister of Tourism himself having mentioned the possibility of making it permanent in the long term. Before any departure, it is therefore recommended to check that the measure is still in effect and that its conditions have not changed.

A success that benefits regional tourism

Since its implementation, the "Mauritius without a passport" scheme has been undeniably successful with the more than 900,000 inhabitants of Réunion. This administrative simplification has considerably simplified the process for Réunion families wishing to discover Mauritius.

Tourism professionals also welcome this extension. Tour operators in Reunion and airlines can now develop attractive offers to Mauritius, targeting an ever-growing audience, without the constraints associated with obtaining a passport.

Strengthening ties between the two islands

This measure demonstrates the commitment of the Mauritian authorities to regional mobility and rapprochement with Reunion Island. It makes it possible to maintain and strengthen tourist, economic and cultural exchanges between these two territories which share a common history and privileged human relations.

The extension until June 30, 2027 offers significant visibility to travellers and tourism professionals, allowing them to calmly plan stays on the sister island throughout 2026 and the first half of 2027.

Article updated in May 2026

The information in this article is provided for guidance purposes only. The author and publisher accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the information provided. It is recommended that you verify the information directly with local operators or the relevant Mauritian authorities during your stay. See the Terms (Article 12).