Mauritius has a structured, well-documented pathway for almost every type of foreign national, the short-stay visitor, the remote worker, the entrepreneur, the retiree, and the professional hired by a local firm. The right permit depends on what you plan to do and how long you intend to stay. This guide, informed by the Mauritian government's 2025–26 National Budget announcements, maps out each route clearly.
Important: Permit rules can shift between announcement and formal adoption. Treat this as a starting framework and verify current requirements with the Economic Development Board (EDB) or a qualified adviser before submitting any application.
Short-Stay Options: Visiting Before You Commit
Tourist Visa
The tourist visa is free of charge and is the default entry document for most nationalities. Depending on your passport, it grants 90 days, 60 days, or two weeks on the island. If you need more time, to look at property, meet potential employers, or simply stay longer, the Passport and Immigration Office can extend it up to a maximum of six months within a single calendar year.
Premium Visa
The Premium Visa sits between a tourist visit and formal residency. It is designed for people who want to spend more than six months in Mauritius without taking on any local employment, remote workers drawing foreign income, retirees testing the island before committing, and long-stay travellers with no intention of working locally.
The visa is valid for one year and is renewable. It is free to apply for, and applications go through the EDB's online portal. To qualify, you will need to show:
- Three recent bank statements demonstrating either a monthly income of at least $1,500 or a total bank balance equivalent to roughly $18,000 (one year's worth), plus $500 per month for each dependent child
- Travel and health insurance covering the full stay
- A return ticket or proof of onward travel
- Confirmed accommodation in Mauritius
One tax point worth noting: Premium Visa holders are liable for Mauritian income tax on funds transferred to a local bank account if those funds have not already been taxed in their country of origin. Bring proof of prior taxation to avoid double liability.
Long-Stay Permits: Residency and the Right to Work
Once you move beyond short visits, Mauritius operates two principal permit categories: the Residence Permit and the Occupation Permit (OP). Most permits, unless stated otherwise, are valid for five years and renewable.
A Residence Permit grants the right to live in Mauritius. An Occupation Permit combines residence and work authorisation in a single document, the more practical choice for anyone planning to earn an income on the island.
One distinction that matters: a Residence Permit is not the same as tax residency. Holding one does not automatically make you a Mauritian tax resident. The two are assessed separately.
Occupation Permits: Working in Mauritius
Occupation Permit as Investor
Foreign nationals can set up and run a Mauritian company, holding shares and acting as director simultaneously. There are two routes:
- Standard investor: Minimum initial investment of $50,000 or $100,000 depending on business type. Turnover must reach at least Rs 1.5 million in year one and Rs 20 million cumulatively by year five. From year six onwards, the permit renews on the basis of a minimum annual turnover of Rs 5 million.
- Innovator Occupation Permit: No minimum fund transfer required. This applies to businesses with research and development at their core, operating in eligible sectors: ICT, fintech, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and pharmaceuticals.
Occupation Permit as Self-Employed
Freelancers and sole traders in the services sector, those who employ only administrative staff, can apply under this category. The minimum investment is $50,000 (or the equivalent in another currency), transferred from abroad into a local Mauritian bank account. The permit runs for five years and can be renewed provided you demonstrate a minimum annual turnover of Rs 5 million from year six onward.
Occupation Permit as Professional
If you have been hired by a Mauritius-based company, your employer submits the permit application on your behalf. Two salary thresholds apply depending on the role:
- ProPass: Minimum monthly salary of Rs 50,000
- Expert Pass: Minimum monthly salary of Rs 250,000
You will need to demonstrate the skills, qualifications, and experience the position requires. The permit is valid for four years and renewable, provided the renewal request reaches the authorities at least three months before expiry. Permit holders may hold minority shares in the employing company and invest in other businesses, as long as they draw no salary from those other ventures.
Young Professional Occupation Permit
Graduates who completed higher education in Mauritius on a Student Visa can transition directly into the workforce under this permit. It allows two years of employment under a local company contract, a practical bridge between study and longer-term residency.
Residence Permits: Living Without Working
Residence Permit by Property Investment
Purchasing a qualifying property in Mauritius, with a minimum transaction value of $375,000, entitles the buyer to a Residence Permit that remains valid for as long as the property is owned. Critically, this permit also allows the holder to work in Mauritius without needing a separate Occupation Permit. Mauritius Life covers the eligible property schemes in detail separately.
Residence Permit as Retired
For those aged 50 and above, the Retired Permit offers a clean route to long-term residence. The financial requirement is a monthly transfer of at least $2,000 (or the foreign currency equivalent) into a Mauritian bank account, or annual proof of a minimum $24,000 deposit. You must spend at least 180 days per year in Mauritius.
Retired Permit holders must declare to the Mauritian tax authorities any residences and tax residencies held in other jurisdictions. You may invest passively in a Mauritian business, but you cannot draw a salary or work for that business. For those over 50 who want to acquire property rather than transfer monthly income, there is also the option to purchase a lifetime right of use for a property within a PDS Senior Living scheme.
Residence Permit by Marriage
Foreign nationals married to a Mauritian citizen can apply for residency through that relationship. Specific conditions apply if you also wish to work while holding this permit.
Bringing Your Family: The Dependent Permit
Holders of a Residence Permit or an Occupation Permit (with the exception of the Young Professional Occupation Permit) can bring dependants to Mauritius. Eligible dependants include:
- A spouse or civil partner (opposite sex)
- Natural or adopted children under 24 who are unmarried
- Parents and other financial dependants
The fee is $400 per Dependent Permit. The permit mirrors the duration of the primary Residence or Occupation Permit to which it is attached. Dependent Permit holders cannot work in Mauritius, but they are entitled to apply for their own Occupation Permit or Residence Permit independently.
Which Permit Is Right for You?
| Your situation | Recommended route |
|---|---|
| Exploring the island, no work plans | Tourist Visa or Premium Visa |
| Remote worker, income from abroad | Premium Visa |
| Starting or buying a business | Occupation Permit as Investor |
| Freelancer / sole trader | Occupation Permit as Self-Employed |
| Employed by a local company | Occupation Permit as Professional |
| Recent graduate from a Mauritian university | Young Professional Occupation Permit |
| Buying property ($375,000+) | Residence Permit by Property Investment |
| Retiring, aged 50+ | Residence Permit as Retired |
Where to Apply and Who to Contact
The Economic Development Board (EDB) is the primary government body coordinating foreign settlement in Mauritius. Most applications can be initiated through the EDB's online platform. The Passport and Immigration Office handles tourist visa extensions and certain residency matters. The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) is the relevant authority for tax residency questions.
While the online process is navigable independently, the permit landscape has enough nuance, particularly around tax implications, property eligibility, and turnover thresholds, that engaging a qualified relocation adviser or immigration specialist is worth considering before committing to any route.