permits

The government of Mauritius offers various permit options for foreigners wanting to live and work in Mauritius. All permits go through a joint approval process with the Economic Board of Development (EDB), the Prime Minister’s Office and the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO). Based on the nature of your business or qualifications, you can choose between various permit options, namely:

Investor Permits are valid for ten years, renewable. A non-citizen shareholder and director of a company, incorporated in Mauritius, can qualify for the Investor Permit by choosing from the following options:

Option 1 (Normal): Make an initial transfer of USD 50,000 (or its equivalent) into the company’s bank account in Mauritius.
Option 2 (Net Asset Value): Net asset value of at least USD 50,000 (or its equivalent) for existing businesses and businesses inherited and a cumulative turnover of at least 12 million rupees during the three years preceding the application.
Option 3 (High Technology Machines & Equipment): Make an initial investment of USD 50,000 (or its equivalent) of which a minimum transfer of USD 25,000 should be made to the bank account of the company and the remaining in high technology machines and equipment.
Option 4 (Innovative start-ups): Submit an innovative project to the Economic Development Board with no required minimum investment or register with an incubator accredited with the Mauritius Research and Innovative Council.

Self-Employed Permits are valid for ten years, renewable. You may apply for a Self-Employed Permit if you are a non-citizen engaged in a Professional activity under the services sector only, registered with the Registrar of Businesses under the Business Registration Act, and by fulfilling the following requirements:

Operate as a one-person business activity, working exclusively for his/her own account.
Make an initial transfer of USD 35,000 (or its equivalent) to the local bank account in Mauritius.
For renewal of the permit, the business should generate a minimum annual business gross of MUR 800,000 from the third year of registration.

A Professional Permit is valid for ten years, renewable, but limited to the length of the employment contract. You may enter Mauritius on a Professional Permit if you are an expatriate employed in Mauritius under an employment contract. A Professional Permit holder should earn a monthly basic salary of at least MUR 60,000 (USD 1,500).

However, should you be employed in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Food Processing, or the Fund Accounting and Compliance sectors, the minimum monthly basic salary should be at least MUR 30,000 (USD 750).

An application for a short-term occupation Permit may be undertaken for a maximum period of nine months and may be extended only once for an extra three months.

In the case of a professional Permit, your employer is required to submit the application on your behalf.

Professional’s Right to Invest:
A professional may invest in a business, provided that he/she is not employed by the business, does not manage the business, and does not derive any salary from the business. A professional may hold shares in a business that he/she is employed with, as long as the permit holder is not the majority shareholder.

A Retired Non-Citizen Permit is valid for ten years, renewable. You may enter Mauritius on a Retired Non-Citizen Permit provided you are aged 50 years or above and meet certain criteria.

A Retired Non-Citizen is required to make an initial transfer of at least USD 1,500 (or its equivalent) into his/her local bank account in Mauritius. Thereafter, the permit holder should transfer a monthly amount of at least USD 1,500 (or its equivalent) or the annual aggregate of at least USD 18,000 (or its equivalent) into his/her local bank account in Mauritius. At the end of each year, the permit holder is required to submit the evidence of transfer of funds to the Economic Development Board.

Right to Invest by Retired Non-Citizen
A Retired Non-Citizen Permit holder may invest in any business, as long as he/she is not employed in the business, does not manage the business, or does not derive any salary or employment benefits from the business.

A non-citizen has the opportunity to acquire high-end residential properties under the Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS), the Real Estate Scheme (RES) and Property Development Scheme (PDS). The non-citizen and dependents are eligible for a residence permit by virtue of the acquisition under the IRS, RES and PDS schemes when he/she has invested a minimum amount of USD 375,000. The owners may rent the property out, become tax resident in Mauritius and face no restriction on the repatriation of funds or revenue raised from the sale or renting of the property.

The Premium Travel Visa has been recently introduced and is made available to a non-citizen who intends to stay in Mauritius as a tourist, retiree or professional, willing to come with his/her family and carry out his/her business or work remotely from Mauritius. The Premium Visa is valid for a period of one year and is renewable.

To qualify for the Premium Visa, one should produce proof of your long stay plans and sufficient travel and health insurance for the initial period of stay, while meeting the following criteria:
You should not enter the Mauritius Labour Market
The main place of business and source of income and profits should be outside Mauritius
Documentary evidence to support application, such as purpose of visit, proof of accommodation etc.
Other basic immigration requirements

Foreign students having completed at least an undergraduate degree in a tertiary education institution in Mauritius are eligible to apply for a Young Professional Occupation Permit. It is valid for a period of 3 years, depending on the duration of the contract of employment.

If an employer still requires the service of the foreign employee after the three years, the employer may apply for an Occupation Permit as Professional on behalf of the employee.

The Dependents of a permit holder may apply for a residence permit, based on the validity of the permit of the main permit holder. A dependent is defined as a spouse (including Common Law Partner of the opposite sex), parents of the main permit holder, and children (including stepchildren or lawfully adopted children) of the permit holder.

Should the dependent wish to work in Mauritius, he/she will have to apply for his/her own Work Permit or Occupation Permit, as applicable.

All Dependent Permit applications are submitted in person, by the main permit holder. This can only be done once the main permit application has been processed and finalized.

Permits

Apply for your unabridged birth certificate in advance, as it is a requirement for a permit application..

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