Types of Mauritian Permits
Mauritius offers a range of permits for professionals, investors, retirees, and property buyers looking to live or work on the island. This guide outlines the most common Mauritian permits, their requirements, and who they’re best suited for.
Your Key to Residency
As an immigration specialist for people looking to move to Mauritius, I’m often asked about the difference between the various types of permits Mauritius offers. The simplest answer is that every person’s scenario is unique, and understanding the nuances of the different permit types is essential for selecting the right one when starting your application for residency in Mauritius.
With a wide variety of permit types, Mauritius has numerous administrative structures that can assist and support individuals or families moving to the country. Factors such as employment status, property ownership, family structure, and intended length of stay influence the various permits available to cater to the needs of different applicants. Here, we have outlined and summarised the essential information for Mauritius’s most common permit types, along with details about the requirements for each. If you’re looking for more information, please feel free to contact me to book a free discovery session so I can help you determine which permit type would suit you best.
MUR – Mauritian Rupees
USD – U.S. Dollars
Occupation Permits
Often misunderstood or incorrectly referred to as work permits, the Mauritian Occupation Permits focus on different structures that enable individuals to both live and work in Mauritius. From entrepreneurs starting their own businesses to employees and international investors, these provide regulated frameworks for those looking to join the growing economy of the Mauritian private sector.
Professional Occupation Permit
A Professional Occupation Permit is designed for individuals employed under an employment contract with a business entity in Mauritius. This permit can be issued with a maximum duration of 10 years, but the duration is based on the length of the individual’s contract of employment. The permit is also fully renewable, should the employer decide to keep the employee on.
To be eligible for this permit, applicants must demonstrate sufficient experience and relevant qualifications in the field in which they will be employed. Furthermore, this permit is linked to the current employment and may not be transferred should the applicant decide to change jobs.
Currently, the individual is also required to earn a minimum monthly basic salary of MUR 50,000 (approximately USD 1,100) per month to qualify for a Professional Permit. This minimum salary requirement is subject to change and has fluctuated significantly over the past 10 years at various points.
Moreover, the Government of Mauritius does allow individuals holding a Professional Permit to invest in any business, provided they are not employed by or receiving a salary or employment benefits from that company. The professional may also hold shares in the business where they are employed, provided that they are not a majority shareholder.
Contract of Employment
Persons employed by a Mauritian entity.
Minimum Salary Requirement
Monthly basic salary of MUR 50,000.
Permit Duration
Young Professional Occupation Permit – YPOP
The Young Professional Occupation Permit resembles the Professional Permit in many respects, with the primary distinctions being the experience and salary requirements.
This permit is intended for new graduates who have completed their tertiary studies at a tertiary education institution in Mauritius. While the Young Professional Occupation Permit used to be aimed at individuals in specific sectors, it is now open to new graduates in all areas.
The Young Professional Occupation Permit can be held for up to three years, depending on the employment contract with the business entity in Mauritius, and has a minimum salary requirement of MUR 25,000 (approximately USD 545) per month.
Should the employer decide to keep the applicant on after the three years, a normal Professional Permit may be applied for.
Mauritian Tertiary Education
Minimum Salary Requirement
Monthly basic salary of MUR 25,000.
Permit Duration
Self-Employed Occupation Permit
For freelancers, consultants, and those looking to start their own business in Mauritius, the Self-employed Occupation Permit is often a perfect fit. This permit is limited to individuals offering work in the services sector, is valid for 10 years, renewable.
The Self-employed Permit is the most document-heavy of all the application types and requires both a detailed business plan and 5 years of forecast financials as part of the application process.
During the finalisation of the permit application, an initial investment of USD 50,000 (or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency) must also be deposited into the applicant’s personal bank account in Mauritius from an overseas bank account in the applicant’s name.
To remain valid, and for renewal, an annual gross turnover of MUR 2 million per annum must be achieved from the third year of registration, increasing progressively to an annual turnover of MUR 3 million by year five, in order to qualify for renewal.
Services Sector
Investment Requirement
USD 50,000
Permit Duration
Valid for 10 years, renewable.
Turnover Requirements
Annual Turnover From Year 3: MUR 2,000,000
Annual Turnover From Year 5: MUR 3,000,000
Investor Permits
For those wanting to open a domestic or multinational company in Mauritius, or those buying into an existing business, and looking for a residency option, an Investor Occupation Permit may be applied for. It is important to note that individuals applying under this category are required to be listed as both a director and a shareholder in the relevant Mauritian registered business entity.
This permit has two subcategories that differentiate the types of business brought into Mauritius.
Subcategories
Investment Requirement
USD 100,000
Permit Duration
USD 100,000 Investor Permit
The main Investor Occupation Permit type is aimed at individuals looking to register a new company in Mauritius, or take over an existing one. This permit is valid for 10 years and is renewable.
The initial investment requirement for this permit is USD 100,000, or the equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency, which must be deposited into the company’s bank account in Mauritius from the applicant’s bank account overseas.
Furthermore, the company is required to achieve an annual gross turnover of MUR 5 million from the third year of registration. Furthermore, the company needs to achieve an annual turnover of MUR 8 million from year five onwards, in order to qulaify for renewal.
Innovator Investor Permit
The Investor Permit for Innovative Start-ups is valid for ten years (with the option to renew), and applies to investors with an innovative business plan for Mauritius.
Under this permit, there is no investment amount required. However, individuals applying for this classification of Investor Permit must either have their innovative project plan (submitted to the Mauritian Economic Development Board – EDB) approved by the Permit Committee, or their company must be registered with a business incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council and subsequently submit the project plan to the EDB.
Residence Permits
Unlike the Occupation Permits, Residence Permits are primarily for those looking to live in Mauritius without necessarily working there. These permits are broadly applicable, and financial requirements are subject to change.
Retirement Permit
Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizen
The Retirement Permit is aimed at those over the age of 50 and allows its holders to reside in Mauritius for ten years, renewable.
Upon application, applicants must demonstrate proof of a monthly income of USD 2,000 (or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency) or a lump sum of USD 24,000 in a foreign bank account in their name. Furthermore, once the permit is granted, the applicant is required to transfer at least USD 2,000 per month (or USD 24,000 per year), or an equivalent amount, into their personal bank account in Mauritius. While these funds may be used for living expenses in Mauritius, it is important to send proof of incoming funds to the EDB on the anniversary of one’s permit each year.
One key restriction of this permit is that its holders are not eligible to work in Mauritius, however they are entitled to invest in any business in Mauritius, as long as they are not employed by or receiving employment benefits from that Company.
Minimum Age Requirement
Financial Requirement
Permit Duration
Dependent Permit
For all the above permits, the main applicant may apply for his or her family to be added to his or her permit as dependents. The duration of this permit is tied to the length of the permit held by the main applicant.
For the purposes of the Dependent Permit, a dependent is defined as a spouse (including a Common Law Partner of the opposite sex), parents, and dependent children (including stepchildren and lawfully adopted children).
There is also now a maximum age of 24 years for dependent children, and it is stipulated that they are to be unmarried and not engaged in any gainful activity (employed or receiving an income) to qualify for this permit.
Unfortunately, as with the Retirement Permit, holders of a Dependent Permit are not permitted to work locally in Mauritius, however they may apply to switch to an Occupation Permit if they wish to work at any stage.
Linked to Main Applicant
Qualifying Individuals
Spouse, parents, and dependent children under 24 years old.
Permit Duration
Residence by Property Investment
Purchasing property as a non-citizen is another means of acquiring residency in Mauritius and is becoming more and more popular as the Mauritian housing market grows. However, property ownership in Mauritius is strictly regulated, and only certain properties are available for purchase by foreigners.
To qualify for sale to a non-citizen, the purchased property must fall within one of the approved categories of residency schemes:
- Property Development Scheme (PDS)
- Real Estate Scheme (RES)
- Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS)
- Invest Hotel Scheme (IHS)
- Smart City Scheme (SCS)
- Ground + 2 Development (G+2).
While foreigners may purchase a property within one of the above schemes for a lower amount, in order to qualify for residency, the property must be valued at a minimum of USD 375,000, or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency. Once obtained, this permit remains valid for the entire duration that the property is owned.
Additionally, one of the main benefits of this permit type is that certain property types also allow the permit holder to work in Mauritius without the need for a separate Occupation Permit.
Linked to Qualifying Schemes
Minimum Property Value
Permit Duration
Other Permits & Visas
Alongside these permits, Mauritius also offers the very popular Premium Visa (digital nomad visa) for those seeking shorter-term residency in the country, as well as residence permits for the non-citizen family members of Mauritian Citizens.
Check back soon for an in-depth article on the Premium Visa and more details on the application process with CoralBridge.
What to Take Away
The most important point to remember for anyone looking to make Mauritius their home is to ensure they have considered all possible solutions for their permit and taken into account all of their needs.
As an Immigration Consultancy specialising in Mauritian permit applications, at CoralBridge, we offer a free discovery session to help you determine the perfect path for moving to Mauritius and which permit type(s) will best suit your needs.
