Country guide — Africa and the Indian Ocean
Expat insurance and health insurance in Mauritius
In short
Health insurance is not required by Mauritian law for a tourist stay, but it is explicitly required in the Premium Visa application, with no minimum amount specified in the official document. For the Occupation Permit and the retiree Residence Permit, no legal requirement appears on the official pages of the Passport and Immigration Office — only commercial sources claim otherwise. No social security agreement links France and Mauritius, which is absent from CLEISS's official list. The public sector remains free for residents and Premium Visa holders; emergencies are covered free of charge for everyone.
Key figures
- 12,571 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (+5.61% year-on-year; 11,903 in 2024) — this official consular register figure (France Diplomatie) is the reference figure against divergent earlier estimates (≈9,586 to ≈11,367 depending on the source).
- Life expectancy at birth: 73.79 years in 2024.
- Health spending: US$616.21 per capita in 2023, 5.57% of GDP.
Local healthcare system
Public sector free of charge for citizens, permanent residents and Premium Visa holders (consultations, hospitalisation, surgery). Several unofficial specialised sources state that emergencies are covered free of charge regardless of administrative status, but no official Ministry of Health and Wellness source explicitly confirms this rule for a non-resident foreigner — to be checked case by case before relying on it. A well-developed private sector coexists alongside it (Wellkin Hospital, City Clinic, Clinique Darné), widely used by foreign residents for comfort and shorter waiting times.
Legal and visa obligations
- Premium Visa (temporary residency, one year renewable): sufficient travel and health insurance for the duration of the stay, an official qualification criterion (EDB FAQ), with no minimum amount specified.
- Occupation Permit and retiree Residence Permit: the official PIO page on the Occupation Permit mentions no health insurance requirement or minimum amount; several immigration firms nonetheless claim a requirement exists in practice, with an amount of €40,000 cited by a single commercial source, not corroborated to date on any government page — to be treated as an indication, not a confirmed official rule.
- Mandatory medical tests (HIV, hepatitis B, CBC, VDRL, chest X-ray) within the 6 months preceding an Occupation/Residence Permit application.
Cost of some medical procedures
Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.
| Procedure | Public sector | Private sector |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | — | 800 to 1,500 MUR (≈€15-30) |
| Specialist consultation | — | 1,500 to 3,000 MUR (≈€30-60) |
| Private hospital room/night | — | 4,000 to 12,000 MUR (single source) |
| Delivery (private) | — | 30,000 to 80,000 MUR (≈€600-1,600) |
| Emergency care (consultation) | Free for residents and Premium Visa holders | ≈1,500 to 3,000 MUR (≈€30-60), excluding additional procedures |
| MRI | Free for residents and Premium Visa holders | ≈8,000 to 18,000 MUR (≈€175-390) (specialised comparison site, single source) |
| Laboratory tests | Free for residents and Premium Visa holders | ≈200 to 2,000 MUR depending on the test (CBC, blood glucose, lipid panel, thyroid) (specialised comparison site, single source) |
Social security agreements with France
Mauritius does not appear on any CLEISS list — neither agreements in force nor signed agreements pending. No coordination between schemes, no cross-border cover of health costs. A French national in Mauritius must rely on private insurance or voluntary affiliation to the CFE.
Which insurance for my profile
General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.
| Profile | Regulatory constraint | Points of attention |
|---|---|---|
| Working holiday visa | No agreement identified | Not applicable |
| Student | Medical insurance required as part of the Student Visa application with the PIO | Check the level of cover required by the host institution, in addition to the medical certificate (HIV, hepatitis B, chest X-ray) required within the month following arrival |
| Premium Visa holder | Health insurance required in the application, amount not specified | Check what level is considered 'sufficient' with the EDB |
| Occupation/Residence Permit holder | No confirmed official requirement | Insurance remains recommended in practice |
| Retiree | No access to the public scheme without resident status | CFE or international insurance recommended |
Hospitals and care network
- Wellkin Hospital (Moka) — formerly Apollo Bramwell Hospital, acquired by CIEL Healthcare, managed by Fortis Healthcare.
- City Clinic (Port Louis, network in Grand Baie, Flic-en-Flac, Curepipe) — private, founded in 1968, 60 beds.
- Clinique Darné — cited by the French embassy as a reference for residents.
Practical steps
- Before departure: health insurance and repatriation contract, recommended by France Diplomatie.
- Premium Visa holder: attach proof of insurance to the application file.
- Registration with the roll of French nationals living abroad is recommended.
- Voluntary CFE membership recommended in the absence of a social security agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance mandatory to settle in Mauritius?
It depends on the visa: explicitly required for the Premium Visa; not officially confirmed for the Occupation Permit or the retiree Residence Permit, but strongly recommended in all cases.
Does French social security cover me in Mauritius?
No: no social security agreement links the two countries.
Is the Mauritian public sector accessible to a French resident?
Free for residents and Premium Visa holders. Unofficial sources state that emergencies are covered there regardless of status, but this rule is not confirmed by an official Ministry of Health and Wellness source.
Moving to Mauritius? Get a quote
Written by Expavy
Sources
- France Diplomatie — Mauritius, Health
- CLEISS — Bilateral agreements in force
- EDB Mauritius — Premium Visa FAQ
- World Bank — Life expectancy, Mauritius
- France Diplomatie — Register of French nationals living abroad (carte-registre)
- Passport and Immigration Office Mauritius — Occupation Permit
- Passport and Immigration Office Mauritius — Student Visa
- Ministry of Health and Wellness Mauritius — Hospital Services
- Guide Expatriation Île Maurice — Healthcare costs, detailed rates (specialised comparison site)