The registration rules written for tourists
Under the Information and Communication Technologies (Registration of SIM) Regulations 2023, a tourist buying a SIM submits a copy of the personal details page of a passport or other valid travel document and a copy of proof of an address in Mauritius. The regulator's own FAQ repeats this and adds a coloured photograph, which the operator checks against the passport photo. The operator's record for a tourist also includes a copy of the visa or entry permit details.
The regulations also set an end date. Where the subscriber is a tourist, the SIM is deactivated on the day after the visa or entry permit expires or is cancelled. A tourist therefore cannot treat a Mauritian SIM as a permanent number; the line is tied to the stay recorded at the counter.
Other rules in the same notice matter at the till. A pre-activated detachable SIM may not be sold, and a SIM may not be sold to a child. The regulations also let a person holding a Tourism Authority tourist enterprise licence or tourist accommodation certificate buy a SIM on a tourist's behalf, and my.t's sales list includes partner hotels.
my.t's 5G Tourist SIM and eSIM
my.t describes a 5G Tourist SIM or eSIM at EUR 30 including VAT. At the time of checking, it listed unlimited 5G data valid for 30 days, unlimited local SMS and Rs 200 of airtime. The operator says it is open to anyone aged 18 or over who is coming to Mauritius for tourism or business, and that all you need is a valid passport and an address of stay in the country.
Sales points listed on the my.t page are an online booking page, the Telecom Shop at SSR International Airport, a digital kiosk at the airport that sells eSIMs only, any Telecom Shop on the island, and partner hotels and authorised retailers. my.t's FAQ says the SIM is valid for 30 days only, that a longer stay should be discussed in a Telecom Shop or on 8900, and that online purchases are not refundable. It also says you may buy more than one tourist SIM through separate bookings, and up to 10 eSIMs at the kiosk at once, which is useful for a family or group.
To check that a phone supports eSIM, my.t says to dial *#06# and look for an EID in the device information. Do that before paying for a digital profile.
Emtel's tourist SIM
Emtel's prepaid page lists a Tourist SIM at EUR 30 including VAT, with data it calls truly unlimited, Rs 200 of airtime and unlimited local SMS, all valid for 30 days from activation. The page says the SIM can keep working after those 30 days if it is topped up with airtime or another Emtel bundle, and that it is sold at the Emtel counter at SSR International Airport, by pre-booking before travel or in any Emtel showroom.
The page says an eSIM can be chosen instead of a physical card. It names a Mauritian ID card or a passport as the registration document for tourists, which is consistent with the regulator's list, although the regulations also ask for an address of stay. Customer support is listed as 8970, free, between 6 am and 11 pm.
The two operators' headline offers are priced identically at EUR 30, so the choice comes down to where you will be staying and which counter you can reach. The operators' own claims about unlimited data are marketing statements and may be subject to a fair usage policy; read the terms at purchase.
How 5G arrived, and what the licences say
ICTA announced on 17 June 2021 that three mobile operators had been granted 5G spectrum: Emtel in the 2.5 GHz band, Mahanagar Telephone Mauritius Ltd in the lower 3.5 GHz band and Cellplus Ltd in the upper 3.5 GHz band, each with three blocks of 100 MHz across the two bands. The regulator said the process was based on network coverage rather than a spectrum auction and that it hoped to see prompt deployment.
That history is why both main operators can sell a 5G-labelled tourist product. It does not, however, say how much of the island a given 5G network covers today. The regulator's speech sets expectations, not a coverage map, so a visitor planning to work from a remote guesthouse should ask the host about signal.
Before you fly: the all-in-one travel form
The UK Foreign Office says visitors must complete the Mauritius All in One travel form online before arrival and print a copy with its QR code for the airport. It also says you can visit without a visa for up to 60 days and that you must be able to show proof of onward or return travel. A passport must be valid for the entire stay and have at least one blank page.
Because a tourist SIM needs an address in Mauritius and is deactivated after the permitted stay ends, keep the accommodation booking and the stamped entry date available. The first useful thing to do with a connection is to open those documents at the SIM counter.
Emergency numbers
The UK Foreign Office lists 999 as the main emergency number, with 112 for police, 114 for ambulance and 115 for fire as alternatives, and says the tourist police can also be reached on 999 or 112. Save these and your accommodation's number offline.
my.t's and Emtel's tourist products include airtime, so ask the operator whether voice calling is enabled on your profile and test it after activation.
Keeping your home SIM alongside a Mauritian line
Apple says an iPhone should show No SIM Restrictions under Settings, General, About before you buy a travel eSIM, that setup needs Wi-Fi and that iMessage and FaceTime stay on your home line. Google says Pixel 7 and later models can run two eSIMs if the carrier allows it, and Samsung describes SIM manager under Connections for adding eSIMs. Our Mauritius plan page is an alternative if you prefer to buy before departure.
Networks our Mauritius plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for Mauritius, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- Cellplus Mobile Communications Ltd4G
- Cellplus my.t5G
- Emtel5G
- MTML4G
- my.t4G
- my.t cellplus5G