Mauritius Residency Permits

Permit routes at a glance

Mauritius does not offer residency by passive investment (no "golden visa" for parking money). Every permit ties to either an activity, a transfer, or an investment. The Economic Development Board (EDB) is the single gateway for all applications.

Premium Visa

The Premium Visa is Mauritius's purpose-built permit for remote workers, digital nomads, and financially independent individuals who work for non-Mauritius employers or live on passive income.

Who qualifies

• Remote employees working for a foreign (non-Mauritius) company
• Freelancers or consultants with a non-Mauritius client base
• Individuals with passive income (investments, pensions, rental income) who are not of retirement age

Requirements

• Valid passport
• Proof of income or financial means (no fixed minimum, but bank statements showing financial self-sufficiency are expected — roughly MUR 60,000–100,000/month accessible)
• Health insurance covering Mauritius
• Mauritius address (rental agreement or letter of accommodation)
• Police clearance certificate from home country (must be within 6 months)

Key conditions

• You cannot work for or invoice a Mauritius-registered entity
• Renewals require bank statements showing consistent income over the prior year
• Spouse and dependent children can be included as dependants
• Does not lead to permanent residence (no pathway after 3 years)

Occupation Permit (OP)

The Occupation Permit is a combined work and residence permit — it replaces both a separate work permit and a residence permit in one document. There are four OP categories:

Professional OP

For foreign nationals employed by a Mauritius-registered company. Your employer applies on your behalf through the EDB.

• Minimum salary: MUR 60,000/month (gross basic)
• Employer must advertise the role locally first and show it cannot be filled locally
• Valid 3 years, renewable
• Spouse receives Dependent OP (can work for any MU employer, no minimum salary)

Investor OP

For foreign nationals setting up and managing a Mauritius-registered business.

• Minimum paid-up capital: MUR 6 million for most sectors
• Reduced capital for certain sectors (ICT, agro-industry, financial services) — contact EDB for current thresholds
• At first renewal (3 years): minimum annual turnover of MUR 4 million required
• Valid 3 years, renewable

Self-Employed OP

For specific regulated professions (architect, engineer, land surveyor, accountant, medical practitioner, etc.).

• Must be registered with the relevant Mauritius professional regulatory body
• Annual turnover thresholds apply at renewal
• Does not require a separate company registration

Young Professional OP

Targeted at recent graduates under 35 joining Mauritius's priority sectors (ICT, financial services, manufacturing, BPO).

• Minimum salary: MUR 30,000/month
• Maximum duration: 3 years
• After 3 years, transition to standard Professional OP (minimum MUR 60,000/month) is required

Retired Non-Citizen Permit

The retirement permit is one of the cleanest residence routes for those 50 and over who have pension or investment income from outside Mauritius.

Requirements

• Age 50 or above
• Monthly transfer of at least USD 1,500 to a Mauritius bank account — every month, no exceptions
• Health insurance covering Mauritius
• Police clearance certificate
• Mauritius address

For couples

The EDB generally expects USD 2,000–2,500/month for a couple. The spouse is listed as a dependant — there is no separate permit for the spouse. For a couple both over 50, some opt for two separate applications, each meeting the USD 1,500 threshold.

What counts as qualifying income

• Pension payments (state or private)
• Investment dividends and interest
• Rental income from overseas properties
• Drawdowns from overseas savings accounts

Renewal conditions

• 3-year permit renewable indefinitely
• Bank statements showing USD 1,500+/month transfers throughout the period
• After 3 years on this permit, you can apply for Permanent Residence

Property Residence Permit

Foreign nationals who purchase a residential property in an EDB-approved scheme at or above USD 375,000 receive a Residence Permit for the duration of their ownership — no monthly income transfer required.

Qualifying schemes

• Property Development Scheme (PDS): Freehold villas, apartments, and townhouses in approved developments
• Smart City Scheme: Residential units within mixed-use masterplan developments (e.g. Moka, Tamarin, Beau Plan)
• G+2 apartments: From USD 100,000, but do not qualify for a Residence Permit — no minimum purchase price waiver

How it works

The Residence Permit is applied for through the EDB after property purchase is complete (after Deed of Sale). It is valid for the duration of ownership — there is no periodic renewal as long as you still own the property. Selling the property terminates the permit.

Spouse and dependent children are included on the same permit. No minimum income requirement. For property browsing, visit PropertyFinder Mauritius.

Permanent Residence Permit (PRP)

The Permanent Residence Permit offers 10-year renewable status and is the closest Mauritius comes to long-term settled residency.

Eligibility

• Minimum 3 consecutive years on an Occupation Permit (Professional, Investor, or Self-Employed) with clean renewal
• Minimum 3 consecutive years on a Retired Non-Citizen Permit with consistent income transfers
• Some exceptional contribution categories (major investors, exceptional skills) may qualify earlier

What the PRP gives you

• 10-year residence status, renewable
• No ongoing salary or turnover conditions during the PRP period
• Spouse and dependants covered
• Does not grant Mauritius citizenship or a Mauritius passport

The EDB application process

All permit applications are submitted online through the EDB e-Services portal (edbmauritius.org). The process:

• Step 1: Create an account on the EDB e-Services portal
• Step 2: Select your permit type and complete the online application form
• Step 3: Upload all required documents (passport, photos, proof of income, health insurance, police clearance, address proof)
• Step 4: Pay the EDB processing fee online
• Step 5: EDB review — standard 10–21 working days
• Step 6: Receive approval email and collect your residence card from the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) in Port Louis

Common mistakes to avoid

• Police clearance too old: Must be within 6 months of application. This certificate often takes 4–6 weeks from home countries — get it first.
• No Mauritius address: A hotel booking is not an acceptable address. You need a rental agreement or letter from a host before applying.
• Premium Visa then local work: If you plan to work for a Mauritius employer, you need a Professional OP, not a Premium Visa. Starting local work on a Premium Visa is a deportable offence.
• Missing monthly transfers: For the Retired Non-Citizen Permit, gaps in monthly transfers are the most common renewal failure. Set up a standing order.
• Wrong company structure for Investor OP: The company must be incorporated in Mauritius and the capital must be fully paid up, not just authorised. A GBC (Global Business Company) does not qualify for an Investor OP.