The 2026-2027 Budget announced it in its official annex: a processing fee of Rs150 on parcels imported by post or courier, effective from 1 September 2026. A measure that directly affects anyone who regularly orders from Temu, AliExpress, Amazon, or elsewhere from abroad.
Except in practice, the final bill goes well beyond that figure. Here’s what you need to know before your next order.
What the official text says
According to the 2026-2027 Budget annex, a processing fee of Rs150 will be applied to each Simplified Customs Assessment Form, the document required for customs clearance of parcels imported by post or by courier services. This form already exists: it’s CPSO010 for Mauritius Post, or CPSO003 for DHL (Mauritius) Ltd.
The government states that this fee is being introduced to recover the cost of the services provided as part of customs clearance. The measure takes effect on 1 September 2026.
What my actual invoice shows
On a parcel I received recently, here’s the exact breakdown of what I was charged:
- MRA Processing Fee: Rs150
- Assessment Fee: Rs100
- VAT (15%): Rs15
- Total: Rs265
The new Rs150 fee is added on top of an “Assessment Fee” of Rs100 that already existed, and 15% VAT applies to the whole amount. The result: a bill well above the figure initially communicated.
As proof, here’s the official announcement relayed by Defimedia:
And here’s the breakdown of my actual invoice:
Why there’s a gap between the announcement and reality
This isn’t an error or an overcharge: the calculation is consistent with how customs charges usually work in Mauritius. The 15% VAT is calculated on the total value, fees included, just as it already is for standard customs duties. The new Rs150 fee simply adds to existing fees, rather than replacing them.
This is what’s often missing from official announcements: the figure communicated corresponds to a single line on the invoice, not the total actually paid.
What to remember if you order from abroad
- Budget for an extra margin on your next orders received by post or courier, beyond the price shown on the merchant’s website
- The fee applies per form, so per parcel, not per item
- The measure has been in effect since 1 September 2026, so it applies to any order still in transit at that date
Here’s the video where I go through this experience in detail:
@fromparistomoris ⚠️ My customs fee came to Rs265, not Rs150 🇲🇺 #mauritius #temu #aliexpress
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Check directly with Mauritius Post or your courier for the exact fees that apply to your situation, as these amounts can vary depending on the value and nature of the parcel.
