Mauritius has entered one of the most active periods of AML legislative reform in its history. The Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Countering Proliferation Financing Bill — No. III of 2026 — was introduced in the National Assembly on 24 March 2026 and has far-reaching implications for every regulated entity.
What Is AMLA 2026?
AMLA 2026 consolidates and strengthens Mauritius's existing AML/CFT framework, building on reforms from the 2023–2025 cycle. Its core objective is to improve the country's effectiveness in combating financial crime ahead of the 2027 ESAAMLG mutual evaluation.
Five Changes That Matter Most
1. Proliferation Financing is Now Mandatory. All Reporting Persons must conduct explicit proliferation financing risk assessments aligned with FATF Recommendation 7. This means identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating risks related to UN sanctions and arms embargo evasion.
2. FIU Gains Transaction Suspension Powers. The Financial Intelligence Unit can now freeze transactions for up to 72 hours, extendable under specific conditions. Compliance teams must be resourced to respond within this window — 24/7 capability is no longer optional.
3. Beneficial Ownership Transparency Tightened. Enhanced CDD obligations now apply to companies, trusts, foundations, co-operatives, and associations. A centralised AML/CFT/CPF data system is being introduced, and electronic registration of beneficial ownership is mandatory.
4. Penalties Have Surged. Administrative penalties for reporting failures have risen to Rs 250,000 per violation. Criminal sanctions of up to Rs 5–10 million and imprisonment apply for obstructing supervisors or destroying records. The FSC revoked over 25 licenses in early 2025.
5. STRs Are Rising Fast. The FIU reported a 76% increase in Suspicious Transaction Reports in 2025, with real estate identified as a medium-high risk sector. Non-bank financial sectors are now firmly in the supervisory perimeter.
What You Should Do Now
Update your internal AML/CFT policies to integrate CPF obligations. Resource your compliance team to meet shortened reporting timelines. Engage proactively with the FIU and your relevant supervisor — early cooperation is a recognised mitigating factor under the new administrative penalty framework.
Box-ticking is officially dead. The 2027 ESAAMLG evaluation will assess whether controls are actually effective, not just documented.