Moving from Canada to Mauritius
This is a long haul sea move from Canada to a single Indian Ocean port, into a country that drives on the left like the United Kingdom. Here is the honest brief on shipping your home from Canada to Mauritius, the permit that clears your goods, and the steps that come first.
Moving from Canada to Mauritius is a long haul sea move, because the island sits far out in the Indian Ocean and is reached from Canada only after a transhipment at a major hub. Your container is shipped from an eastern Canadian port such as Montreal or Halifax, or routed via a United States or European gateway, and is then carried on to Port Louis, the island's single main port, where it clears and is delivered by road.
Mauritius is a small island with one commercial port, so sailings are less frequent than on mainstream lanes and the schedule needs patience. The island drives on the left, like the United Kingdom, and runs on the Mauritian rupee, while you pay your Canadian mover in Canadian dollars. The customs side turns on holding a qualifying permit, which is what lets you bring your belongings in with relief from duty.
This guide covers the real numbers for 2026 in Canadian dollars, how the Mauritius Revenue Authority treats used household goods, the permits managed by the Economic Development Board that let you settle, and a conservative timeline. Mauritius rewards people who secure the permit first, because the customs relief and much of island life depend on it.
What it costs to move from Canada to Mauritius.
A move from Canada to Mauritius is priced as a long haul container job plus delivery from Port Louis to your address. Your volume, whether you share a container or take a full one, and the transhipment routing drive the bill. Ranges below are indicative for 2026 in Canadian dollars.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in Canadian dollars, before full packing, premium insurance, customs clearance fees, and delivery beyond Port Louis. Air freight is far higher and suits essentials only. These are not binding figures.
The biggest levers are your volume in cubic metres, whether you ship a shared or a full container, the Canadian port you sail from, and the transhipment routing to the Indian Ocean, since the distance and the hub transfer add freight a short move avoids. Season and sailing frequency matter, because a single island port means fewer departures. A shared container is cheaper but slower because it waits for a full sailing, and a customs agent in Mauritius is a separate line. Difficult access at a coastal property with a narrow lane adds a long carry or a shuttle charge.
How long a move from Canada to Mauritius really takes.
The long ocean haul and the single island port set the pace, but the permit that clears your goods is what really governs the schedule. Secure it before the container sails.
Secure your permit
Obtain your Mauritian permit, such as the Occupation Permit, a Residence Permit, the Premium Visa, or a retired non citizen permit through the Economic Development Board, because the customs relief and your residence depend on it. Start this well before the container.
Book the move and survey
Arrange a binding pre move survey, ideally by video, so the volume and the quote are accurate. Booking lead time of four to six weeks is typical, and a shared container may wait some time for a sailing on this less frequent lane.
Packing and collection
Professional packing and loading of a typical home takes one to two days, with a detailed inventory. Your goods are then trucked to the Canadian port of departure.
Sea transit to Port Louis
The voyage, usually via a transhipment hub, commonly runs six to nine weeks to Port Louis, depending on the routing and whether the container is shared, since the Indian Ocean leg is long.
Clearance and delivery
Clearance through the Mauritius Revenue Authority adds several days to two weeks, then the goods are delivered by road to your address, with unpacking once released.
Bringing your household goods into Mauritius.
The Mauritius Revenue Authority allows a person taking up residence with a qualifying permit to import used personal effects and household goods with relief from duty, provided the goods are genuinely your used belongings. A detailed inventory is required, and the consignment is cleared against your permit, with the goods expected to be a household rather than commercial quantities.
Holding the right permit is the key. The Occupation Permit, a Residence Permit, the Premium Visa, and the retired non citizen permit, all handled through the Economic Development Board, can support the relief, and you typically also obtain a Tax Account Number from the Mauritius Revenue Authority as part of settling in. New goods, items in commercial quantities, and excess alcohol and tobacco can attract duty and value added tax.
A few categories carry their own rules. A motor vehicle is a separate import with substantial duty and excise, though the island drives on the left, so a vehicle set up for the United Kingdom standard is mechanically suitable. Firearms are tightly controlled, certain plants and foods are restricted to protect the island, and pets need advance arrangements with current vaccination and health certificates.
The permit routes into Mauritius, in plain language.
Settling in Mauritius means choosing the right permit through the Economic Development Board, which also unlocks the customs relief. These are the routes people on this corridor use most.
A combined work and residence permit for investors, professionals on a qualifying salary, and self employed people, issued through the Economic Development Board. It is the main route for people relocating to work or run a business in Mauritius.
- Issued by
- Economic Development Board
- Covers
- Work and residence
A residence permit, including longer ten year options for investors and property buyers in approved schemes, lets you live in Mauritius without necessarily working locally. It suits those settling for the lifestyle.
- Basis
- Investment or property
- Length
- Up to ten years
A permit for retired non citizens who can show a regular income transferred to Mauritius above the set threshold. It is a popular route for Canadians drawn to the climate and the lagoon coast.
- Basis
- Regular income
- Suits
- Retirees
A longer stay visa aimed at remote workers and long term visitors who can support themselves from foreign income, allowing extended time on the island without local employment.
- Basis
- Foreign income
- Suits
- Remote workers
How to choose a mover for this route, with no names attached.
This site never names, ranks, or recommends a moving company. Instead, here is the neutral checklist that separates a safe international mover from a risky one. Apply it to every quote you receive on the Canada to Mauritius lane.
Get Moving Quotes for Canada to Mauritius.
One short form reaches vetted international movers who run this exact route. No obligation, and no moving company is shown or ranked on this page. You receive quotes to compare on your own terms.
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Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from Canada to Mauritius?
For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared container typically runs from about 5,000 to 14,000 Canadian dollars in 2026, depending on your volume, the Canadian port, and the transhipment routing to the Indian Ocean. A full container costs more, and sailings to Port Louis are less frequent than mainstream lanes. Base your budget on a binding pre move survey.
Do I pay duty on my household goods when moving to Mauritius?
As a person taking up residence with a qualifying permit, you can import used personal effects and household goods with relief from duty through the Mauritius Revenue Authority, provided the goods are genuinely your used belongings. New goods, commercial quantities, and excess alcohol and tobacco can attract duty and value added tax. Confirm current rules with the Mauritius Revenue Authority.
How long does shipping to Mauritius take?
Plan on roughly eight to thirteen weeks door to door from Canada. The voyage, usually via a transhipment hub, runs six to nine weeks to Port Louis, clearance through the Mauritius Revenue Authority adds several days to two weeks, and the road run to your address finishes the journey. A shared container adds time on this less frequent lane.
What permit do I need to move to Mauritius from Canada?
Mauritius offers the Occupation Permit for work and business, Residence Permits including longer options for investors, a retired non citizen permit, and the Premium Visa for remote workers and long stay visitors. They are managed by the Economic Development Board, and holding a qualifying permit also unlocks the customs relief. Confirm current rules before you apply.
Can I bring my car from Canada to Mauritius?
Mauritius drives on the left, so a Canadian car, built for driving on the right, is less suitable, and in any case a motor vehicle is a separate import with substantial duty and excise. Price and plan it on its own, and confirm the current vehicle import rules with the Mauritius Revenue Authority before you ship.