Moving from United Kingdom to Mauritius
This is a long sea move to an Indian Ocean island, where your container lands at Port Louis and your belongings clear through the Mauritius Revenue Authority. Here is the honest brief on shipping your home from the United Kingdom to Mauritius, the customs relief for new residents, and the Occupation Permit that comes first.
Moving from the United Kingdom to Mauritius is a long sea move to an island in the Indian Ocean, and a popular one, helped by the shared language, driving on the left, and a residence system designed to attract foreign professionals, investors, and retirees. Your container sails from a United Kingdom port such as Southampton, Felixstowe, or Tilbury, through the Suez Canal, to Port Louis, the island's only major port.
The customs side runs through the Mauritius Revenue Authority, which grants relief on the used personal effects and household goods of a person taking up residence, provided you hold the right permit and the goods are genuinely yours. Your Occupation Permit, Residence Permit, or other qualifying status is the document that anchors the relief, so the immigration and customs sides are linked.
This guide covers the real numbers for 2026 in pounds, the customs relief through the Mauritius Revenue Authority, the permit routes managed by the Economic Development Board, and a conservative timeline. Mauritius rewards people who secure their permit first, because the household goods relief and most of daily life depend on it.
What it costs to move from United Kingdom to Mauritius.
A move from the United Kingdom to Mauritius is priced as an overseas container job plus delivery from Port Louis to your address on the island. Your volume and whether you share a container or take a full one drive the bill. Ranges below are indicative for 2026 in pounds.
Indicative ranges for 2026 in pounds, before full packing, premium insurance, Mauritian customs and port 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 feet, whether you ship a shared or a full container, the United Kingdom port you sail from, and the season. A shared container is cheaper but slower because it waits for a full sailing on the route to Port Louis, which is less frequent than mainstream lanes. Mauritian customs handling and any inspection of used goods are separate lines on the bill, and delivery to a coastal village or up into the interior can add a short shuttle at the island end.
How long a move from the United Kingdom to Mauritius really takes.
The long ocean leg via Suez sets the pace, while your permit application runs in parallel. Secure the permit, then time the container to your move.
Secure your permit
Apply for your Occupation Permit, Residence Permit, Premium Visa, or retired non citizen permit through the Economic Development Board. The customs relief depends on holding a qualifying status, so this is the gating step.
Book the move and survey
Arrange a binding pre move survey, by video or in home, then book. Booking lead time of three to six weeks is typical, longer in summer, and sailings to Port Louis are less frequent, so a shared container may wait.
Packing and collection
Professional packing and loading of a typical home takes one to two days. Your goods are then trucked to the United Kingdom port of departure.
Sea transit via Suez
The voyage through the Suez Canal to Port Louis usually runs four to six weeks, depending on the sailing and whether the container is shared, with clearance through the Mauritius Revenue Authority adding several days to two weeks.
Delivery and unpacking
After clearance, the truck runs your goods from Port Louis to your address on the island, with delivery and unpacking usually within one to two weeks of release.
Bringing your household goods into Mauritius.
Mauritian customs, administered by the Mauritius Revenue Authority, grants relief on used personal effects and household goods imported by a person taking up residence on the island, when you hold a qualifying permit and the goods are genuinely your used belongings. The relief is designed for people relocating their home, not for new goods or commercial quantities.
To clear your goods you typically need your passport, your Occupation Permit, Residence Permit, or other qualifying status, a detailed valued inventory, and the transport documents, normally presented through a clearing agent at Port Louis. The goods should be used and for your continued personal use. A Tax Account Number from the Mauritius Revenue Authority is part of settling in and is worth arranging early.
Some categories sit outside the relief or face controls. New goods, items in commercial quantities, and alcohol and tobacco beyond personal limits can attract duty and value added tax. Firearms are tightly controlled, and certain plants, foods, and animal products are restricted under biosecurity rules that islands take seriously. A motor vehicle is a separate import with its own duty and excise, so price and plan it on its own. Pets need current rabies and health certification and may face quarantine conditions.
The residence routes into Mauritius, in plain language.
Mauritius offers several routes for foreign professionals, investors, and retirees, managed by the Economic Development Board. These are the ones 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 British retirees 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 United Kingdom to Mauritius lane.
Get Moving Quotes for United Kingdom 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.
Plan the move with a clear head.
Subscribe to The Relocation Brief for practical, country specific relocation guidance, sent when it is genuinely useful. No spam, and you can leave any time.
Questions people ask about this move.
How much does it cost to move from the United Kingdom to Mauritius?
For a 2 to 3 bedroom home, a shared container typically runs from about 3,800 to 10,500 pounds in 2026, depending on your volume, the United Kingdom port, and the season. 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 six to ten weeks door to door. The voyage through the Suez Canal to Port Louis runs four to six weeks, 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 because it waits for a full sailing.
What permit do I need to move to Mauritius from the United Kingdom?
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 the United Kingdom to Mauritius?
Mauritius drives on the left, like the United Kingdom, so a British car is suitable in that respect, but a motor vehicle is a separate import with its own duty and excise that can be substantial. Price and plan it on its own, and confirm the current vehicle import rules with the Mauritius Revenue Authority before you ship.