Getting Your Mauritian ID Card If You Were Born Abroad - A Complete Guide 🇲🇺

TALK Mauritius
Mar 23
8 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

A step-by-step guide for overseas Mauritian citizens applying for their national identity card through descent.

Are You Eligible?

This process is for Mauritian citizens born abroad - typically where one or both parents hold or held Mauritian citizenship/born in Mauritius.

Full Document Checklist

Bring originals plus one photocopy of every document. Only complete dossiers are accepted at the PMO. All documents must be in English or French - any translated documents must also be apostilled.

Your full/unabridged birth certificate - apostilled
Parent(s) birth certificate extracts - Mauritian-issued, A4 format, issued within the last 3 months (see section below on how to get these)
Parents' marriage certificate - apostilled if married abroad
Your own marriage certificate - apostilled if married abroad (if applicable)
Your valid passport - Mauritian or foreign
Parent(s) Mauritian passport(s)
Parent(s) Mauritian ID card(s)
Certificate of foreign nationality for parent(s) - showing date of acquisition, apostilled (e.g. UK naturalisation certificate)
Evidence of parent(s) overseas residency - apostilled (see note below)
Affidavit(s) if there are any name discrepancies across any documents
Proof of address in Mauritius — including a local phone number
Your email address — written on the form provided at the PMO

Important Note on Overseas Residency Evidence (Item 9)

This document proves that your parent(s) were legally resident abroad. What you use will depend on their situation:

UK Naturalisation Certificate — if your parent became a British citizen, this is your strongest document. Get the original or get a copy apostilled.
E-Visa printout showing indefinite leave to remain — the UK no longer issues physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRP cards) for settled status. If your parent holds settled status (indefinite leave to remain), you can print a copy of their e-visa/share code confirmation and have it apostilled as proof of their right to remain in the UK indefinitely.
Other residence permits or visa documentation — if neither of the above applies, any official document confirming long-term or permanent residency abroad can be used, provided it is apostilled.

💡 When in doubt, bring more than you think you need. The PMO will tell you if something isn't required - but they won't process an incomplete dossier.

Two Things Worth Understanding

What is an Affidavit and When Do You Need One?

An affidavit is a sworn written statement that can be used to explain discrepancies — for example if your name, your parent's name, or any detail appears differently across different documents (a middle name missing, a surname spelled slightly differently, etc.).

If you spot any inconsistencies across your documents, get an affidavit prepared before you go. It's much easier to have it and not need it than to be turned away and have to come back.

A solicitor or notary can prepare one for you in the UK before you travel.

What is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official stamp that makes your document legally recognised in another country. Several documents in this process need to be apostilled before you travel to Mauritius.

In the UK, this is handled by the FCDO Legalisation Office. Apply at gov.uk/get-document-legalised. Allow at least 2–4 weeks by post, or use their priority in-person service if you're short on time.

If the document is an original extract - it does not need to be apostilled!

⚠️ Any document that has been translated must also be apostilled. Untranslated or unapostilled documents will not be accepted.

Before You Begin - Getting Your Parents' Birth Certificate Extracts

If your parent(s) were born in Mauritius, you'll need a Mauritian-issued birth certificate extract for each of them. This must be in A4 format and issued within the last 3 months. You cannot use an old copy — it must be freshly issued.

Here's how to get one while in Mauritius:

Step A - Buy Your 25 Rupee Stamps First

Head to your nearest post office and buy 25 rupee stamps before going to the civil status office. You'll need these to get the extract officially stamped at the end. Pick them up in advance to avoid an unnecessary extra trip.

Step B - Go to Your Local Civil Status Office

📍 Example: Rose Hill Civil Status Office

Go to the relevant floor for birth certificate extracts. When you arrive, you'll need to show proof of your connection to the person — your own birth certificate (which shows your parents' names) is sufficient.

⚠️ Name discrepancies? If any name appears differently across documents — even a small spelling variation — you'll need an affidavit to account for it. Have this prepared in advance if you know there are inconsistencies.

Step C - The Waiting System

There's no formal ticketing queue here. It's a musical chairs system — every time the person ahead of you is called in, everyone moves up one seat. Just join the line, take a seat, and work your way forward.

Step D - Request the Extract

When it's your turn, ask for your parent's birth certificate extract. Have your own birth certificate ready as proof of your relationship to them and their birth certificates also (if available).

💡 This can also be done online via MoKloud if applicable — worth checking before making the trip in person.

Step E - Get It Stamped

Once you have the extract, take it back to the reception desk with your 25 rupee stamps. They'll stamp and approve the document on the spot, making it officially valid for your PMO application.

Step-by-Step: The Full Process

Step 1 - Visit the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)

📍 Citizenship Section, 4th Floor, New Government Centre, Port Louis 📞 +230 201-1495 / 201-3362 / 201-2773 📧 pmo.citizenship@govmu.org

Your first stop is the Citizenship Section at the PMO. You must attend in person — no one can submit this on your behalf. Bring your full document dossier and one photocopy of everything.

Have your Mauritius address, local phone number and email address ready — you'll write these on a form they provide.

⚠️ Only complete dossiers will be accepted. If anything is missing, you'll be asked to come back. Double-check everything before you go.

Step 2 - Wait for PMO Clearance

Processing takes 2 working days. Use this time to gather your proof of overseas address (e.g. a UK utility bill) ready for your next visit.

Step 3 - Visit the National ID Card Unit

📍 Central Civil Status Division (ID Card Unit), Port Louis

Return two days after your PMO visit with the same documents, plus your proof of overseas address. A member of staff will take your details on their system and rescan your documents.

What to bring at this stage:

All original documents from Step 1
Proof of your overseas address — e.g. a utility bill from the UK
Your overseas address, birth certificate and passport

💡 At this stage, parent passports weren't asked for again — parent birth certificates were sufficient. Your own birth certificate, passport and overseas address are the key things.

⚠️ Be prepared to wait. The ticketing system wasn't working on the day — the receptionist had to call people manually. Arriving at 9:30am meant roughly a 2-hour wait, but the actual process was only 10–15 minutes once called.

Step 4 - Photo & Final Confirmation

Once called, you'll be directed to a separate section to have your photo taken. Staff will then:

Confirm all your personal details on screen
Show you a preview of what your card will look like
Ask where you'd like to collect the card — you can nominate your preferred location, for example Port Louis, Flacq or Rose Hill
Confirm your local phone number — you can also request email notification

You'll receive a confirmation slip with a collection date — either a specific day to come in, or instructions to wait for a text.

📲 Take a photo of your slip! In one case the text arrived 3 days later. If you haven't heard by the date on your slip, just go in anyway.

Step 5 — Collect Your ID Card

📍 Your chosen collection centre — e.g. Rose Hill (Ground Floor, right side)

Head to whichever collection centre you nominated in Step 4. There are two separate queues — just tell staff you're collecting your ID card. Bring:

Your confirmation slip
Proof of ID (passport, just in case)

Staff will scan your right thumb to confirm your identity, hand over your card, and you're done!

🚗 If collecting from Rose Hill — parking can be tight, so allow a little extra time. The collection itself is quick once you're inside.

Timeline Summary

Day	What Happens	Where
Before travel	Apostille documents, get affidavit if needed, order parent birth certificate extracts (or get them on arrival)	UK / France / Mauritius
Day 1	Buy 25 rupee stamps, get parent birth certificate extracts stamped	Post office + Civil Status Office
Day 2	Submit full dossier at PMO	PMO, Port Louis
Day 2–4	PMO processes clearance (2 working days)	—
Day 4	Visit ID Card Unit with same docs + proof of overseas address	Civil Status Division, Port Louis
Day 4	Photo taken, details confirmed, collection slip issued	Civil Status Division, Port Louis
Day 7–11	Receive text OR visit on date given on slip	—
Day 7–11	Collect your ID card — thumbprint scan, done!	Your chosen collection point

Key Locations

Prime Minister's Office — Citizenship Section (Step 1) 4th Floor, New Government Centre, Port Louis 📞 +230 201-1495 | 📧 pmo.citizenship@govmu.org

Civil Status Office — Birth Certificate Extracts (Before Step 1) Your nearest local civil status office, e.g. Rose Hill Civil Status Office (Bring 25 rupee stamps from the post office beforehand)

Central Civil Status Division — ID Card Unit (Step 3) Port Louis

ID Card Collection Centres (Step 5) You can nominate your preferred location when at the ID Card Unit. Known collection points include Port Louis, Flacq and Rose Hill.

FAQ

Do I need to speak Creole or French? Not at all. Staff speak English everywhere — the PMO, the ID Card Unit, the civil status office and the collection centres.

What is an apostille and how do I get one in the UK? An apostille is an official authentication stamp that makes your document valid for use in another country. In the UK, apply through the FCDO Legalisation Office at gov.uk/get-document-legalised. Allow 2–4 weeks by post or use the priority in-person service.

Do I need an affidavit? Only if there are name discrepancies across your documents — for example a name spelled differently, or a middle name missing from one document but present in another. If in doubt, get one prepared by a solicitor before you travel. It's a simple document and worth having.

What counts as proof of my parent's overseas residency? It depends on their situation. A UK naturalisation certificate is the strongest option and should be apostilled. If your parent has settled status, the UK no longer issues physical BRP cards — instead, print their e-visa or share code confirmation showing indefinite leave to remain and have that apostilled. Any official proof of long-term legal residency abroad will generally be accepted.

Do both parents need to be Mauritian? No — only one parent needs to hold or have held Mauritian citizenship. You'll need documents specifically for that parent.

How long does the whole thing take? Roughly one week from your first PMO visit to collecting your card. Factor in a day or two beforehand to get parent birth certificate extracts if needed.

What if I don't get a text message? Just go in on the date written on your slip. The text is a convenience — the slip date is your fallback.

Can someone submit the application for me? No. You must attend in person at every stage.

Can I choose where to collect my card? Yes — you're asked at Step 4 to nominate a collection point. Options include Port Louis, Flacq and Rose Hill.

Always verify the latest requirements before visiting: Official Government Page