Marriage age in Mauritius: 18, with no exemption
The Women, Business and the Law 2026 profile states that boys and girls must be at least 18 to marry, under section 144 of the Mauritian Civil Code. No exception is provided for with parental consent.
Children's Act 2020: complicit adults penalised
A marriage concluded before 18 is neither void nor voidable according to the World Bank, but section 12 of the Children's Act 2020 punishes adults who authorise, celebrate, register or contract it. Any relationship must involve two consenting adults.
Equality within the couple under the Mauritian Civil Code
Articles 212 to 214 of the Civil Code impose no duty of obedience on the wife and allow her to be head of the family. The Protection from Domestic Violence Act, amended in 2016, also covers marital rape and provides for protection orders.
Mauritian divorce and remarriage: what the 2026 index shows
A woman can divorce in the same way as a man (articles 230 to 238), and no-fault divorce is possible after a mandatory separation. Article 228, however, does not grant her the same right to remarry. Details on the divorce in Mauritius page.
Port Louis, Curepipe, Grand Baie: meeting on a small island
Port Louis, the capital, concentrates offices and shops; Curepipe, Quatre Bornes and Grand Baie are other hubs of daily life. On an island where many people know each other, avoid revealing your employer or neighbourhood too soon.
Creole, English, French: the language of a first Mauritian message
Mauritian Creole is the everyday language, English dominates the administration and French remains very present in the press. Writing in the other person's language shows respect; a video call then quickly clears up misunderstandings.
International apps available from Mauritius
No platform specific to Mauritius has been verified. Among international services, Tinder and Bumble require a minimum age of 18, Muslima targets Muslims worldwide and Taimi is aimed at LGBTQ+ people. Their local usage is not published.
Internet in Mauritius: no reliable figure available
The share of Mauritian internet users could not be verified: the DataReportal page consulted returned an error. Do not assume that a profile met online really lives on the island; ask early for a video call to confirm it.
Same-sex couples in Mauritius: the October 2023 decriminalisation
According to the British government (update of 4 September 2026), same-sex sexual relations were decriminalised in October 2023, but discrimination and confrontations remain possible. Read our gay and lesbian page for Mauritius.
Romance fraud and Mauritian contacts
The British page on Mauritius does not mention romance scams, which does not mean there is no risk. The FBI recorded 23,159 Confidence/Romance complaints in 2025, for nearly 929 million dollars in losses. Never transfer money.
The Mauritian diaspora, mixed couples and wedding plans
A French national marrying a Mauritian requests a certificate of capacity to marry from the consulate, followed by transcription. The couple's steps are on the straight dating in Mauritius page; the neighbouring archipelago is covered on the Seychelles page.
Retirement at 65 and Mauritian dating after 60
The National Pensions Act sets the full-rate pension at 65 for men and women alike, with a reduced pension possible from 60. Advice for older singles is gathered on the Mauritius seniors page.
Bodies and services useful for Mauritius
- Banque mondiale, Women, Business and the Law 2026 (Maurice): Legal profile of Mauritius: marriage age, divorce, remarriage, retirement and domestic violence, with the legal articles cited.
- FCDO britannique, Maurice : sécurité et lois: Official British travel advice, including the 2023 decriminalisation and the discrimination still reported against LGBT+ people.
- Cour suprême de Maurice: Court where legal aid is available for family disputes, in the absence of a specialised tribunal.
- Tinder: Global dating app restricted to over-18s, with a free version and paid Plus, Gold and Platinum plans.
- Bumble: App whose June 2026 terms require users to be at least 18; premium services by renewable subscription.
- Muslima: Cupid Media network site for Muslims worldwide, open from 18 according to its sign-up form.
First steps to meeting someone in Mauritius
- Check that the person is at least 18, the legal marriage age in Mauritius under section 144 of the Civil Code.
- Choose a platform that requires users to be 18, such as Tinder or Bumble, and read its terms before paying for an option.
- Write a sincere profile stating whether you live in Port Louis, elsewhere on the island or in the Mauritian diaspora.
- Stay on the app's messaging until your Mauritian contact's identity has been confirmed by a video call.
- Set the first date in a busy café or shopping centre on the island, telling someone close the time and place.
- Refuse any request for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency, even when presented as a family emergency in Mauritius.
Mauritian legal landmarks at a glance
| Key point | What the source says | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage age | 18 for both sexes, with no parental exception | World Bank, WBL 2026 |
| Divorce | Equality between women and men; no-fault after separation | WBL 2026, Civil Code art. 230-238 |
| Remarriage | Unequal right for women (art. 228) | WBL 2026 |
| Same-sex relations | Decriminalised in October 2023 | gov.uk, 4 September 2026 |
| Retirement | 65 at full rate, 60 at reduced rate | WBL 2026, National Pensions Act |
| Share of internet users | not published | DataReportal, page returned an error |
Papers to gather for a couple's plans in Mauritius
- Valid passport or identity card
- Recent birth certificate
- Certificate of capacity to marry (French nationals)
- Divorce decree, if remarrying
- Spouse's death certificate, if widowed
- Translations of documents in neither English nor French
Frequent missteps when dating in Mauritius
- Sending money to a contact met online for a plane ticket to Mauritius, medical costs or a parcel held at customs.
- Sharing intimate photos before getting to know the person: sextortion is among the most common lies identified by the US FTC.
- Accepting a date at the other person's home on the first meeting, instead of a public place in Port Louis or elsewhere on the island.
- Believing that a marriage celebrated in Mauritius automatically opens a residence permit in France: without transcription, it gives none.
- Assuming that the 2023 decriminalisation protects against all hostility, when the British government still reports possible discrimination and confrontations.
Your questions about dating in Mauritius
What is the legal age to marry in Mauritius?
Eighteen for both sexes, according to the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law 2026 profile, which cites section 144 of the Civil Code. There is no exception with parental consent, and adults who organise a child marriage face penalties.
Is homosexuality legal in Mauritius?
Yes. The British government states that same-sex sexual relations were decriminalised in October 2023. It adds that LGBT+ people still face discrimination and that verbal or physical confrontations cannot be ruled out.
Which dating site should I use to meet someone from Mauritius?
Our checks found no dating platform dedicated to Mauritius. International services such as Tinder, Bumble, Muslima or Taimi require users to be at least 18. Their number of users on the island is not published: judge by the quality of exchanges, not marketing promises.
Is it easy to divorce in Mauritius?
A woman obtains a divorce on the same conditions as a man according to the World Bank. No-fault divorce does, however, require a prior separation period; there is no immediate no-fault divorce without a waiting time. Legal aid covers family disputes.
Useful platforms and organisations
eDarling – Conseils pour une relation sérieuseAdvice published by eDarling, a personality-test-based dating site, on building a serious and lasting relationship.
Bumble – Safety CentreBumble's official Safety Centre gathering advice, reporting tools and resources for safer online dating.
Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr – Escroquerie sentimentaleGuidance from the French public platform explaining how to react, keep evidence and file a complaint after a romance scam.
IRCC Canada – Parrainer un époux ou conjointOfficial Immigration Canada page explaining how to apply to sponsor a spouse, partner or child.
Indicative list: AfriqueRencontres.com has no commercial link with these organisations. Never send money to someone you only know online.
Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.