Procedure to Get a National Identity Card in Mauritius
As soon as you turn 18, you should apply for your identity card as it is the most important official document to have in your possession. Not everyone goes travelling abroad, so having a passport is not really a must and the same goes for the driving licence as only a fraction of the population drives but everyone needs to have their ID card whether to pursue tertiary education, getting a job or applying for pension.
You will often be asked for your NIC number (in banks, from solicitors and other transactions where they have to ascertain your identity) so make sure obtaining this is a priority!
Getting Your First Mauritian Identity Card
You need to visit one of the following National Identity Card Centres to have your picture taken and fingerprints scanned:
| Region | Address | Contact Number |
| PORT LOUIS | Ground Floor, Emmanuel Anquetil building | 207-5300 |
| ROSE HILL | Ground Floor, NPF building, Old Moka Road | 467-6575 |
| FLACQ | Ground Floor, Customer Service Centre, Central Flacq | 420-3819 |
| PORT MATHURIN (RODRIGUES) | Fisherman Lane, Port Mathurin | 832-0273 |
Documents Needed for the Identity Card
- Birth Certificate
- Recent Marriage Certificate
- Proof of Address eg Central Electricity Board (CEB) Bill, Central Water Authority (CWA) Bill, Telephone Bill (Mauritius Telecom or similar), Rent Book
- Correspondence (Employer, Banks, Universities, etc)
- Previous ID card (for cases of ID card replacement or citizen converting from the old paper-based laminated ID card)
- Police Memo (when your ID card has been lost)
- Citizenship letter from Prime Minister’s Office (for citizens born outside Mauritius - Naturalised citizens)
- Mauritian Parent’s Birth Certificate
- Official document evidencing a divorce or Change of Name where applicable
You will need to get a new birth certificate (A4 type) if your current one is older than 3 months or you have the old wide horizontal paper certificate. To do this, you have to buy a stamp (Rs25 worth) from the Post Office and go to the Civil Status Office (Wellington Street, Port Louis) and you'll get it within 1hr. Any of your parents can get it on your behalf, so my dad got it for me while I was waiting to get called in the MNIC Unit Office.
Try to get to the MNIC office as early as you can because it gets busy very quickly. As someone goes in, you move from one chair to the next in a serpentine way and it feels a lot like playing musical chairs. I should warn you there's no organisation and people may cut in front of you if you're not careful. I met a man from France and another one from Australia who complained about the whole process while I waited as it's not the same as abroad where things are handled more efficiently. However, you only need to do this once, so brace yourselves foreigners!!
Once you've done the formalities, you'll be given a collection slip and will usually get your new identity card within 7 days.
Hours of business are from 9am to noon and 12.30pm to 3.30pm on weekdays and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Exchanging Your Old Laminated Paper Identity Card for the New Biometric One
The old identity card became **invalid from 30 April 2017** and is thus no longer accepted.
If you have one, you need to get it exchanged by bringing it along when you apply for the new version.
However for me, it was not so straightforward as I live in England and don't have any use for this, so I unfortunately could not remember where I stored it last. I had to go to the Police Station (Line Barracks is just opposite Emmanuel Anquetil Building and therefore quite convenient) and report it as lost (the police officers asked to see my British passport) and I was given a memo certifying the loss which I had to present to get the new ID.
Issues With the Biometric Card
Over the past years, there has been the question of the implementation of a new technology called the smart card technology to be used as ID cards. These are just like credit cards with a micro processor that contains personal information about the bearer. They are very easy to read and can store a lot of information such as banking details, credit cards’ information, personal identification amongst others and the advantage is that information is difficult to erase. The government has to develop applications and train personnel for the implementation of this new technology for better and effective modern government services.
While many people have opposed the collection of fingerprints or biometric information, the government has nevertheless been given the go-ahead to proceed with its implementation. Although the new card is a huge improvement from the old one and way nicer to look at too, I was surprised when I got mine done as not only was I asked for my thumbprint but I also had to have all the fingertips on my 5 fingers scanned too. A bit much in my opinion but it is what it is.
32 Replies
Hi im Reshma from Hertfordshire....i lost my ID card..I would like to know the procedures how to apply one from Uk
Thank you very much
Reshmaxxxxx
Hello Reshma,I am in the same situation as you I lost my identity card. Not sure whether we can apply for new one from here. I am in Kent.
Need to find out more.
Hope this helps
Mooneza
Hello,
I was born in the UK and have both UK and Mauritius passports (courtesy of my parents). However, I’ve never applied for a Mauritian ID card.
I would like to know if it’s possible to apply for a first Mauritius ID card by proxy/third party as my father is currently on the island and I’m prepared send the necessary documents by secure airmail. Thanks
Hi, my name is Reshma I am a british citizen
Both of my parents are mauritian citizens
I would like to apply for my identity card, what documents will i need from their side.. My birth certificate does state that they are mauritian citizens
Thank you
Reshma
I was born in Mauritius but now live in Canada since I was 9 yrs old. I would like to get my nationality card, never had one before. What documents other than my Birth Certificate do I need to provide? Marriage certificate? Plan to visit Mauritius in March 2016 and would like to be prepared in advance. thanks!
Hello. I actually have a major problem, if we can call it that way. I am a Mauritian recently married to a foreigner. I went to the ID Card Office in Port-Louis to do a new ID card to exchange my name to my husband's surname. I have already went there today and signed all the necessary documents. They took my fingerprints and even my new signature. My parents earlier actually suggested that we would use the old ID Card of mine to do the construction of my house. The thing is that, with my old id card we would be having benefits such as free roof because im still dependent on my parents. So basically i will be having some benefits if i decide to apply for those. Worse, i actually did my new ID card today and im gonna fetch the new ID that has my husband's name on it on the 13th January. If i want to renounce to do the new ID, do you guys think that this is possible? I mean, my husband is going back to his country on the 13th January, which is the date for me to get my new ID. He was suggesting that to cancel to do the new ID, we could say to them that :: we are trying to do procedures for me to go to his native country but then due to the lack of time (where we thought that we would be having the new ID before he leaves Mtius), we will cancel to do the new ID and will only do it when he comes back in Mtius in September 2016. So that we will have plenty of time to do my new ID and do the necessary procedures using the new ID.:: At the same time, this would get me plenty of time here to help my parents to get those benefits with my maiden name ID card until he comes back in Mtius.
Excuse me for the English.
I know this might sound desperate but i Need help as fast as possible, if its possible.
Thank you for your support.
I am from Sydney and was in Mauritius in Oct15 and did by NIC. When I got back I try to put in my Tax return online... I realised that the number on my new id card is different from the old (plastified/paper)one.
Anyone know of a website I could go on to rectify this?
Hi my name is prakash well my problem is my dad name was deepak everywhere he go they know him by deepak every information he has put deepak but when he got he new id name card his name change to deepak to deepat well i want to know what he must do to change his name back to deepak what process must do please help getting very problem with that thnx in advance..
Go to the National Identity Centre in Port-Louis (Emmanuel Anquetil building) with the birth certificate confirming the proper spelling of your dad's name and they should be able to sort it out for you.
Hello. I haven't changed my ID card yet (26/11/14). Do I still need to do it? And, if so, do you know when I need to do it by?
Also, is it even necessary? Can I not just use my passport wherever I need to? It's a British passport.
You can use the British passport for some things but not everything. For local services that Mauritian citizens require, you'd need the National ID Card.
For instance, if you were to register as self employed in Mauritius, you'd need that ID card to get your Tax Registration Number (TAN). This is just an example from the top of my head, there are many more situations where even a Mauritian passport will not suffice.
Hi my name is Timish Ramrajh apparently I was born in south Africa.when my dad passed away my mom married a Mauritian he adopted me when I was eleven when I reached eighteen we imergrated to Mauritius and I applied for a Idcard in Mauritius but in the adoption papers it states that I shall bear the name of Timish emambaccus but the problem is that my left a will in my name (Timish Ramrajh) when I applied for Mauritian id I presented all my doc and my name is Timish Ramrajh in my old Mauritian id so when I went to apply for my new id they told me that I will have to change my name to Timish emambaccus .so if I change my name will I lose my south African identity and the wills as well.
Hi @gices, what about retired people?? Apparently elderly persons are already going and my mum wants it done once and for all. Thing is, she doesn't know what are the documents to bring? I would have call them but they are close on Thursdays. Any idea?? Thank you.
P:S> She's a widow, should she bring my dad's birth & death certificates too??
For those over 55, registration is between 1 June 2014 and 31 July 2014. However the Conversion Unit at Ebene will accept people of all ages.
Documents to bring for your mum:
1. Proof of address (3 months recent)
2. Current ID card
3. Original birth certificate
4. Marriage certificate
Good morning,
I was born in Mauritius, but have been living in Australia for 46 years, and wish to apply for a Mauritian Identity card. Could this be applied for at the Mauritius Embassy in Australia, I still have my birth certificate.
Hi, bout the recent passport size photograph, should I have it taken elsewhere(bring along my D.O.B certificate & proof of address) or the photos will be done at the ID Conversion Centre??
Thanks in adv....
Do we need a new photo for the new ID card or will they use the old one?
(Comment translated from Creole to English by Gices)
hi my birthday was on 19 august 2013 so do i need to apply for my identity card now itself or shall i wait for 1st oct to have the new identity card??
Just take your birth certificate and go to at p.louis and do it. no need to fill any forms everything is done there.
I think you've misunderstood my question. Do you think it will be wise to apply for an identity card now (I just got 18 [19.08.13]) because in 2 month it will be renewed...
Hello I am from mauritius..my dad passed away and my problem is that I lost his id card and now I need it very badly to perform all his transaction paper with government because he was working in the government. What should I do to obtain his id card..please refer to me urgentlt thanks
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