Services

Types of Request for Information:

1. Public members in search of their roots, to proceed with further genealogical search
2. Legal purposes: some descendants have to prove to the court, evidence of descendancy, to the immigrant to reclaim family property

• Applicants who wish to acquire the OCI Card (Overseas Citizen of India), from the government of India through the High Commission of India, have to acquire a document from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute to prove their Indian ancestral lineage.

1. Request to carryout research by local and foreign research scholars, authors, students for publications and dissertations/thesis.

Researchers/Scholars are admitted to consult records as per our Access Policy, after submission of an official letter from their respective institutions or after completion of the Researcher’s Request Form, which should contain detailed description of their research (title, purpose and duration). Either document should be sent at least 2 weeks in advance to the MGI to give time for reply and for Officers of the Archives Section to organize and allocate an appropriate time slot for the researchers.

Tracing Your Roots

• The MGI requires the immigrant name and immigrant number to process an applicant’s request for information on his/her immigrant ancestor.
• These details figure on the birth certificate of the first generation ancestor born in Mauritius.
• Applicants should apply to the Civil Status Office for birth certificates of parent, grand-parent and/or great grand-parent, until they obtain the birth certificate of the first ancestor born in Mauritius.
• Example: If the immigrant was the great grand-parent of the applicant, the name and number will be found on the birth certificate of the applicant’s grand-parent.

Other documents used to obtain the immigrant name and number

• Notary deeds for property acquired by the late immigrants, or their children (where applicable).
• Marriage certificates or death certificates of the late immigrants.

Requests for all birth, death and marriage certificates of all Mauritian-born citizens should be made at the Civil Status Office.

Mode of request for information at the MGI Indian Immigration Archives

1. Proceed to the MGI Indian Immigration Archives counter with the birth certificates of the applicant’s forebears. Or provide documentary proof of authentic lineage of the applicant to the late immigrant.
2. Applications are also accepted via email, fax or by post.

• National Identity Card and proof of address of the applicant are required by the officers to process the information sheets.

1. Applicants will be notified by the officers of the Department of the exact date on which they may collect their information sheet. They may call in person or send an authorized representative (with a letter) to the counter of the MGI Archives.
2. For applicants from abroad, after presentation/submission of the relevant Birth and Marriage Certificates of ancestors, the appropriately filled- up transcription forms will be attested by the Head of Department – and the same will be sent to them by post.

Issuing of Information sheets

1. A transcription form containing the late immigrant’s bio-data is compiled and attested by the Head of Department.
2. However, if an information sheet has been issued to another descendant before the current request, a duplicate transcribed copy of the information is issued.

• A testimonial is issued in case of discrepancies with regard to the immigrant name or number.

1. The issuing of information to an applicant shall be effected within 3-5 days after application.
2. Applicants will be notified by the officers of the department the exact date for collection of information and they have to call personally send authorized representative bearing letter of authorization at the archives to collect the transcribed information sheet.