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Port Louis

Mauritius
Active
Last updated: 2026-07-30  ·  Last verified: 2026-07-30  ·  Region: International

At a Glance — Port Louis Airbnb & STR Rules

RuleDetails
Regulatory StatusPermitted with registration
Permit / License RequiredYes — mandatory. Any owner of a bungalow, villa, campement, guesthouse, tourist residence, pensionnat, or apartment rented for periods of less than 12
Tax RateTourist Fee: €3 per tourist per night (ages 12+), effective 1 October 2025 (Tourism Authority Act amendment, administered by MRA). Tourism Levy: 2% of
Night / Day CapUnknown — no explicit annual STR day cap identified in MTA regulations.
Minimum StayUnknown — no statutory minimum stay confirmed. STRs are defined as rentals of less than 12 months.
Permit FeeTourist Enterprise Licence: professional facilitation cost starts from MUR 75,000–250,000 (varies by service provider); government fee component not s
PenaltiesOperating without a Tourist Enterprise Licence: unlawful under Tourism Authority Act (fines and potential closure). Failure to collect/remit Tourist F
Primary Residence RequiredNo — not required for STR licensing in Mauritius.
Occupancy LimitUnknown — the MTA may impose capacity requirements as part of TEL criteria; specific limits not publicly confirmed.
Browse all 3 STR regulations in Mauritius →

Port Louis Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview

Port Louis Short-Term Rental Regulations Overview

Short-term rental operations in Port Louis are permitted under an active regulatory framework as of 2026. Hosts operating on Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental platforms must obtain proper licensing: Yes — mandatory. Any owner of a bungalow, villa, campement, guesthouse, tourist residence, pensionnat, or apartment rented for periods of less than 12 months must hold a valid Tourist Enterprise Licen. The associated permit fees are Tourist Enterprise Licence: professional facilitation cost starts from MUR 75,000–250,000 (varies by.

Tax Requirements for Airbnb Hosts in Port Louis

Short-term rental operators in Port Louis should be aware of these tax obligations: Tourist Fee: €3 per tourist per night (ages 12+), effective 1 October 2025 (Tourism Authority Act amendment, administered by MRA). Tourism Levy: 2% of accommodation bill (excluding VAT), mandatory since 2013. VAT: 15% if annual turnover > MUR 6 milli. Yes — operators must register with: (1) the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) for tourist fee collection and remittance; (2) MRA for income tax on ren.

Hosting Rules and Restrictions in Port Louis

Key operational rules for vacation rental hosts in Port Louis include: Primary residence requirement: No — not required for STR licensing in Mauritius.. Rental day cap: Unknown — no explicit annual STR day cap identified in MTA regulations.. Occupancy limit: Unknown — the MTA may impose capacity requirements as part of TEL criteria; specific limits not publicly confirmed.. Minimum stay: Unknown — no statutory minimum stay confirmed. STRs are defined as rentals of less than 12 months..

Zoning and Location Requirements in Port Louis

Zoning considerations for short-term rentals in Port Louis: No specific STR zoning restrictions identified beyond general planning/building use regulations. Port Louis is primarily a business/commercial capital; the majority of tourist STR activity is coastal.. Density rules: Unknown — no confirmed STR density caps for Port Louis or nationally.. Insurance: Unknown — not explicitly mandated in identified MTA requirements, though property and safety complia.

Penalties for Non-Compliance in Port Louis

Hosts who fail to comply with Port Louis's short-term rental regulations may face enforcement action. Operating without a Tourist Enterprise Licence: unlawful under Tourism Authority Act (fines and potential closure). Failure to collect/remit Tourist Fee: 10% penalty + 1% per month interest on unpaid .

Platform Obligations in Port Louis

Platform obligations for services like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com operating in Port Louis: OTAs (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Agoda) are not confirmed to automatically collect/remit the €3 Tourist Fee — hosts are responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting the fee monthly to MRA. Pla.

Full Regulatory Details

Regulatory Status
Active
License / Registration
Yes — mandatory. Any owner of a bungalow, villa, campement, guesthouse, tourist residence, pensionnat, or apartment rented for periods of less than 12 months must hold a valid Tourist Enterprise Licence (TEL) issued by the Mauritius Tourism Authority (MTA). Each property must be licensed separately (one licence = one address). STRs listed on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or Agoda require this licence. Property managers/operators require written authorisation from the owner.
Tax Registration
Yes — operators must register with: (1) the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) for tourist fee collection and remittance; (2) MRA for income tax on rental income; (3) MRA for VAT if annual turnover exceeds MUR 6 million. Registration for tourist fee collection was required by 25 September 2025 for existing operators, or within 14 days of commencing operations thereafter.
Permit Fee
Tourist Enterprise Licence: professional facilitation cost starts from MUR 75,000–250,000 (varies by service provider); government fee component not separately confirmed. Tourist Fee: €3 per tourist per night (effective 1 October 2025, collected by operator and remitted to MRA monthly). Tourism Levy: 2% of total accommodation bill (excl. VAT), remitted to authorities. Average licence processing time: 6–10 weeks.
Primary Residence Rule
No — not required for STR licensing in Mauritius.
Night / Day Cap
Unknown — no explicit annual STR day cap identified in MTA regulations.
Occupancy Limit
Unknown — the MTA may impose capacity requirements as part of TEL criteria; specific limits not publicly confirmed.
Tax Rate
Tourist Fee: €3 per tourist per night (ages 12+), effective 1 October 2025 (Tourism Authority Act amendment, administered by MRA). Tourism Levy: 2% of accommodation bill (excluding VAT), mandatory since 2013. VAT: 15% if annual turnover > MUR 6 million. Income tax (individual): 0% up to MUR 700,000; 10% on MUR 700,001–1,200,000; 15% on MUR 1,200,001–1,800,000; 20% above MUR 1,800,000. Corporate tax (companies): flat 15%. Late tourist fee: 10% penalty on unpaid amount + 1% per month interest (capped at 100% of fee owed).
Zoning Restrictions
No specific STR zoning restrictions identified beyond general planning/building use regulations. Port Louis is primarily a business/commercial capital; the majority of tourist STR activity is coastal. MTA licence confirms property eligibility.
Minimum Stay
Unknown — no statutory minimum stay confirmed. STRs are defined as rentals of less than 12 months.
Density Rules
Unknown — no confirmed STR density caps for Port Louis or nationally.
Insurance Required
Unknown — not explicitly mandated in identified MTA requirements, though property and safety compliance is assessed during the licensing inspection.
Platform Obligations
OTAs (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Agoda) are not confirmed to automatically collect/remit the €3 Tourist Fee — hosts are responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting the fee monthly to MRA. Platforms must display licensed properties; unlicensed listings risk delisting.
Compliance Notes
Mauritius has one of Africa's most formalised STR regulatory regimes. The MTA is the central licensing and supervisory body (Tourism Authority Act). The introduction of the €3/night Tourist Fee (1 October 2025) is the most significant recent change. Hosts who began operating after 25 September 2025 must register with MRA within 14 days of commencing operations. Returns and payment are due to MRA by the end of the month following the reporting month. Failure to hold a valid TEL while operating is unlawful.
Effective Date
Tourist Enterprise Licence requirement: ongoing under Tourism Authority Act. Tourist Fee (€3/night): 1 October 2025. Tourism Levy (2%): since 2013.
Key Notes
Mauritius operates a strict, licence-first STR regime. No property may legally accept paying guests for stays under 12 months without a MTA Tourist Enterprise Licence. The regulatory burden is relatively high compared to other African markets. The new €3/night Tourist Fee adds an additional layer of monthly reporting to MRA. The fee applies to non-resident guests aged 12+; children under 12 are exempt.
Penalties
Operating without a Tourist Enterprise Licence: unlawful under Tourism Authority Act (fines and potential closure). Failure to collect/remit Tourist Fee: 10% penalty + 1% per month interest on unpaid amounts (total capped at 100%). Late or non-filing of VAT returns: standard MRA penalties.
Additional Context
Mauritius positions itself as a premium, well-regulated tourism destination. The combination of TEL, Tourism Levy, Tourist Fee, and VAT makes the tax compliance stack complex for STR operators. The Mauritius Sustainability Tax (a separate visitor entry fee) is also in effect. Budget 2025–2026 (presented June 2025) introduced the Tourist Fee as part of a sustainable tourism financing strategy.
📋 Apply / Register with the Official Authority

Apply for your STR permit or registration directly through the official government portal.

Official Source ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Airbnb legal in Port Louis?

Yes, Airbnb and short-term rentals are legal in Port Louis with proper registration and permits. Mauritius has one of Africa's most formalised STR regulatory regimes. The MTA is the central licensing and supervisory body (Tourism Authority Act). The introduction of the €3/night Tourist Fee (1 Oct

Do you need a permit for Airbnb in Port Louis?

Yes. Port Louis requires the following for short-term rental operation: Yes — mandatory. Any owner of a bungalow, villa, campement, guesthouse, tourist residence, pensionnat, or apartment rented for periods of less than 12 months must hold a valid Tourist Enterprise Licence (TEL) issued by the Mauritius Tourism Authority (MTA). Each property must be licensed separately .

What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Port Louis?

Short-term rental hosts in Port Louis are subject to the following tax obligations: Tourist Fee: €3 per tourist per night (ages 12+), effective 1 October 2025 (Tourism Authority Act amendment, administered by MRA). Tourism Levy: 2% of accommodation bill (excluding VAT), mandatory since 2013. VAT: 15% if annual turnover > MUR 6 million. Income tax (individual): 0% up to MUR 700,000;.

What are the penalties for illegal Airbnb hosting in Port Louis?

Hosts who operate without proper permits in Port Louis may face enforcement. Operating without a Tourist Enterprise Licence: unlawful under Tourism Authority Act (fines and potential closure). Failure to collect/remit Tourist Fee: 10% penalty + 1% per month interest on unpaid amounts (total capped at 100%). Late or non-filing.

What are the key STR compliance requirements in Port Louis?

Mauritius operates a strict, licence-first STR regime. No property may legally accept paying guests for stays under 12 months without a MTA Tourist Enterprise Licence. The regulatory burden is relatively high compared to other African markets. The new €3/night Tourist Fee adds an additional layer of monthly reporting to MRA. The fee applies to non-resident guests aged 12+; children under 12 are ex

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