Mauritius

Last Updated: 2026-04-02

Official Portal: Passport and Immigration Office — Mauritius

Embassy Finder: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	6 years residence (including 12 months immediately preceding application)
Language requirement	Adequate knowledge of English, French, or Creole
Civics test	No formal test
Processing time	6—18 months
Naturalization fee	Approximately MUR 10,000—25,000 (USD 220—550)
Dual citizenship	Yes — fully permitted
Citizenship by birth in Mauritius	Yes (conditional jus soli if at least one parent is citizen)
Citizenship by descent	Automatic if either parent is Mauritian
Governing law	Constitution of Mauritius, 1968 (as amended); Mauritius Citizenship Act

Dual Citizenship

Yes — Mauritius fully permits dual and multiple citizenship. This has been the position since constitutional amendments removed prior restrictions.

Key provisions:

Mauritian citizens who acquire foreign nationality retain their Mauritian citizenship.
Foreign nationals naturalizing in Mauritius are not required to renounce their existing citizenship.
Children born to Mauritian parents abroad who also acquire the citizenship of the birth country hold dual nationality from birth.
There is no limit on the number of citizenships a Mauritian national may hold.

Mauritius’s acceptance of dual citizenship reflects its history as a multicultural island nation with significant diaspora communities in France, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. The policy supports the country’s positioning as an international financial center and gateway to African investment.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Mauritius applies conditional jus soli. A person born in Mauritius acquires citizenship at birth if, at the date of birth, at least one parent is a citizen of Mauritius.

A child born in Mauritius to two foreign parents does not automatically acquire citizenship. However, foundlings and stateless children are provided for separately.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Mauritian citizenship is transmitted through either parent:

Either parent Mauritian: A person born outside Mauritius to a Mauritian citizen father or mother acquires citizenship at birth.
Registration at a Mauritian embassy is recommended for births abroad.
There are no generational limits on transmission, though registration ensures documentary evidence.

Historical note: Prior to constitutional amendments, citizenship was transmitted primarily through the father. Gender-neutral transmission has been in effect since reforms in the 1990s and early 2000s.

By Adoption

A child adopted by a Mauritian citizen may acquire citizenship. The adoption must be finalized under Mauritian law or recognized by Mauritian courts.

By Marriage

A foreign spouse of a Mauritian citizen may apply for citizenship by registration. The spouse must demonstrate:

A genuine and subsisting marriage.
Ordinary residence in Mauritius for a prescribed period (typically 4 years).
Good character.
The application is made to the Passport and Immigration Office.

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Residence	6 years residence, including 12 months immediately preceding the application
Age	Must be at least 18 years old
Language	Adequate knowledge of English, French, or Creole
Good character	Must be of good moral character with no serious criminal record
Means of livelihood	Must have adequate means of support or be employed
Renunciation	Not required (dual citizenship permitted)
Oath	Must take the oath of allegiance
Approval	Granted by the Prime Minister’s Office on recommendation

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Mauritian citizen may renounce citizenship by declaration. The renunciation is registered by the Passport and Immigration Office and takes effect upon registration. Renunciation is not permitted if it would cause statelessness.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Fraud or misrepresentation	Citizenship obtained through fraud, false representation, or concealment may be deprived
Disloyalty	Naturalized citizens who demonstrate disloyalty by act or speech may have citizenship revoked
Conviction of serious offenses	Naturalized citizens convicted of serious criminal offenses within 7 years of naturalization may be deprived
Stateless safeguard	Deprivation may not be carried out if it would render the person stateless

Important: Citizenship by birth or descent cannot be involuntarily revoked — only naturalized citizenship is subject to deprivation.

Restoration of Nationality

Former Mauritian citizens who renounced or lost citizenship may apply for restoration through the Passport and Immigration Office. The process is discretionary and typically requires:

Submission of a restoration application.
Proof of former Mauritian citizenship.
Good character verification.
The applicant does not need to renounce other citizenships (dual citizenship is permitted).

Restoration is generally straightforward for former citizens who voluntarily renounced and have maintained ties to Mauritius.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Mauritius is not a party to the 1954 Convention on Statelessness or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Foundlings: A newborn child found in Mauritius whose parents are unknown is presumed to be a Mauritian citizen.
Statelessness risk: The acceptance of dual citizenship and the conditional jus soli provisions significantly reduce statelessness risks. The primary concern involves persons of Chagossian origin (from the Chagos Archipelago, now British Indian Ocean Territory), whose citizenship and resettlement rights remain politically and legally contested.

Document Checklist

Sources

Constitution of Mauritius, 1968 (as amended) — Chapter II: Citizenship. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Mauritius_2016
Mauritius Citizenship Act — Primary legislation governing citizenship acquisition and loss.
Passport and Immigration Office — Application procedures. https://passport.govmu.org/
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade — Embassy finder. https://www.govmu.org/
Henley Passport Index — Passport power ranking. https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index
Transparency International — Corruption Perceptions Index. https://www.transparency.org/

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