New Rs 139 Freight Charge Hits Commercial Goods in Luggage from February

Air passengers importing commercial goods into Mauritius within their accompanied luggage will face new freight charges from 10 February 2026, the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) has announced.

In a move to standardise taxation, the cost of freight will now be integrated into the calculated value of all commercial items.

Travellers will be charged at a rate of $3 USD per kilo, which currently converts to Rs 139.35 per kilo (or any fraction thereof).

Strict Declaration Rules

The MRA issued a public notice reminding all travellers that any commercial merchandise—whether carried in hand luggage or checked into the aircraft hold—must be declared at the “Red Channel” upon arrival.

Failure to comply with these regulations may result in complications, as the authorities have urged travellers to remain vigilant regarding the transport of commercial items within personal baggage.

Customs Procedures

Under the new guidelines, the following procedures will apply:

• Seizure & Transfer: Commercial goods will be held by authorities and transferred to the PATS freight warehouse for formal customs clearance.
• Packaging Requirements: To expedite the process, passengers are advised to pack commercial items separately from personal effects.
• Labelling: All commercial parcels or suitcases must be securely packed and clearly marked with the owner’s name and address.

The MRA maintains that these steps are essential to facilitate smoother customs processing and ensure accurate valuation for tax purposes.

Source: Defi Media