Aleph Expats

1. Occupation Permit (Residence and Work Permit)

The Occupation Permit (OP) allows foreigners to live and work in Mauritius under three main categories: Investor, Professional, and Self-Employed. The OP acts as both a residence and work permit.

1. Investor Occupation Permit

Available to individuals who wish to invest and start a business in Mauritius.

Initial Investment

Option 1:

• Minimum USD 50,000, transferred into a Mauritius bank account within 60 days of permit issuance.
• Minimum turnover in Year 1: MUR 1.5m
• Minimum turnover in Year 5: MUR 20m
• Minimum turnover from year 6 onward: MUR 5m

Option 2:

• Minimum USD 100,000, transferred within 60 days.
• Minimum turnover in Year 1: MUR 1m
• Minimum turnover in Year 5: MUR 15m
• Minimum turnover from year 6 onward: MUR 5m

Duration and Renewal

• Issued initially for up to 10 years.
• Can be renewed provided ongoing performance (annual turnover targets from Year 6 onward) is met.

Innovative Start-Ups

• A third pathway exists for innovative projects (e.g., registered with an accredited incubator), with criteria defined by the EDB.

2. Professional Occupation Permit

The previous single Professional category has been replaced with two tiers:

1. ProPass – Standard professional category
2. Expert Pass – For highly paid/expert professionals

ProPass (Professional)

• Minimum monthly basic salary: MUR 30,000 (approx. ~USD 700).
• Intended for skilled foreign professionals employed by a Mauritian company.
• This replaces the older threshold (previously around MUR 22,500).

Expert Pass

• Minimum monthly basic salary: MUR 250,000 (approx. ~USD 5,900).
• Intended for highly skilled or senior professionals where a significantly higher salary is offered.
• This is a new category introduced in 2025.

Permit Duration and Renewal

• The Occupation Permit under both categories is generally valid up to 10 years, often aligned with the employment contract period.
• It can be renewed if the employment and salary conditions continue to be met.

3. Self Employed Occupation Permit

• Initial Investment
  Minimum investment of USD 50,000 (or equivalent in freely convertible currency) to be transferred to a Mauritius bank account within 60 days of the permit being issued.
• Business Viability Documentation
  Applicants must provide at least three (3) letters of intent, including at least two (2) from potential local Mauritian clients, as evidence of prospective business activity and economic contribution.
• Revenue / Business Income Targets
  The business must meet progressive income milestones:
  Minimum business income of MUR 750,000 in the first year.
  Cumulative business income of at least MUR 6 million by the end of Year 5.

2. Permanent Residency Permit (PRP)

The Permanent Residence Permit  allows foreigners to live in Mauritius for a period of 20 years and is renewable. Foreigners can apply for PRP through various categories, such as investors, professionals, or property owners.

Permanent Residence in Mauritius now requires:
5 years living in Mauritius on a valid permit (Investor / Professional / Self-Employed).
Investors must show steady business performance (MUR 15 m/yr or 75 m total over 5 years).  Professionals must earn a high salary (MUR 400 k/month for 5 years).
Self-Employed must show business earnings (MUR 3 m/yr or 15 m total over 5 years).
Real estate investment still can qualify under certain investment schemes — check the latest EDB guidance.

3. Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit

Purpose:
A special long-stay residence permit for foreign retirees who want to live in Mauritius without engaging in paid employment or business activities.

Eligibility Requirements

Age: Applicant must be 50 years old or older.

Financial Requirement (Income Support):
Retirees must demonstrate the ability to support themselves by transferring funds to a Mauritian bank account:

• Initial transfer: Minimum of USD 2,000 into a local bank account within 60 days of permit issuance.
• Ongoing transfers: At least USD 2,000 per month (or USD 24,000 per year) thereafter, deposited into a Mauritian bank account.

No Employment:
Retired permit holders cannot engage in paid work or receive a salary from any business in Mauritius. They are permitted to invest in a business as long as they do not earn employment income from it.

Duration:
The Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit is generally valid for 10 years, and renewable provided the ongoing financial transfer requirements are met.

Foreigners can obtain a residence permit by investing in real estate in Mauritius under certain government-approved schemes. These permits are often tied to investments in luxury residential properties.

Eligibility:

Foreigners must invest a minimum of USD 375,000 in real estate in specific schemes, such as:

• Property Development Scheme (PDS): Allows the development of residential properties aimed at high-net-worth foreigners.
• Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS): Offers foreigners the opportunity to invest in luxury resorts and villas.
• Real Estate Scheme (RES): Targeted at smaller-scale luxury developments.
• Smart City Scheme: Designed for large mixed-use projects promoting smart urban planning.

The residence permit is granted to the buyer and their family members (spouse and children under 24 years old).

The permit is valid for as long as the property is owned.

If you studied in Mauritius and graduated from a local university, the Young Professional Occupation Permit lets you:

Stay and work in Mauritius for up to 3 years
Work without meeting a minimum salary threshold
Gain local professional experience

After 3 years, you must switch to another permit category if you wish to remain in Mauritius long-term.

6. Premium Travel Visa

Mauritius also offers a Premium Travel Visa for individuals who wish to live in Mauritius for an extended period (up to 12 months) while working remotely.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must provide proof of their remote work or business activity that is conducted outside Mauritius.
• Must have sufficient funds to support their stay in Mauritius.

The visa is ideal for digital nomads or those who work remotely for companies based outside Mauritius.

7. Dependent Residence Permits

Spouses, children under 24 years old, and dependent parents of foreigners holding an occupation permit, residence permit, or permanent residence permit can apply for dependent residence permits, allowing them to live in Mauritius alongside the primary permit holder.

Application Process

Applications for the various residence permits are managed by the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius, which provides online and offline services for permit applications. Here’s an outline of the typical steps:

Conclusion

Mauritius offers a wide range of residence permits catering to different types of foreign nationals, including investors, professionals, retirees, and digital nomads. The country’s attractive tax regime, stable economy, and excellent quality of life make it a popular destination for long-term residence.