Visa
The warm temperatures assured by the tropical climate are a major drawcard for expats looking for a new place to live. Mauritius is the place to be whether you want to settle, retire, work or invest – not necessarily in that order.
The warm temperatures assured by the tropical climate are a major drawcard for expats looking for a new place to live. Mauritius is the place to be whether you want to settle, retire, work or invest – not necessarily in that order.
Life on this little island in the Indian Ocean has myriad benefits. Chief among them are political and social stability, an attractive tax regime,
and wonderful people representing a multitude of cultures.
Location is key. Mauritius is a gateway to Asia. As a result, the national airline, Air Mauritius, uses the Air Corridor between Mauritius and Singapore to fly travellers between Africa and Asia. This promotes tourism and business between both continents. Furthermore, Mauritius is only a
four-hour flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Indeed, the islanders love welcoming visitors to their paradise island and sharing the sense of wellbeing that comes from living in such a beautiful environment. Sunlight on the ocean creates brilliant shades of blue, contrasting with the white sandy beaches and the lush green of sugarcane fields, indigenous vegetation and arresting mountains.
The Mauritius government introduced a Premium Travel Visa in 2020 designed to motivate tourists, retirees, professionals and their families
to stop dreaming and start packing for an extended island stay.
Today, more people want and are able to work remotely. A workation is the ideal solution to satisfy the need for travel to unexplored destinations while still earning an income. Now, noncitizens can satisfy their wanderlust in Mauritius. And because Mauritius is a safe destination, the Premium Travel Visa offers the ideal opportunity for foreigners to get a feel for life on a tropical island, before deciding whether they want to make the move
more permanent.
The visa is valid for one year, renewable, and applicants can apply for it online. To qualify, simply fulfil the basic immigration requirements, and produce proof of your long-stay plans (purpose of visit and confirmed accommodation). In addition, you must have enough travel and health insurance for your intended workation. It’s important to note that applicants should not enter the Mauritius labour market.
The Premium Travel Visa encourages noncitizens and their families to make long-stay plans to live and work in Covid-safe Mauritius. Successful applicants can stay on the island for one year, with the option to renew.
The Premium Travel Visa is valid for one year, renewable. This is the option for people wanting to stay on the island for more than 180 days in a calendar year. Anything less qualifies for a Tourist Visa, which is granted on arrival in Mauritius.
Anyone from the countries listed below may apply for a Premium Travel Visa. Those who wish to apply from other countries can visit Mauritius on a Tourist Visa. Once on the island, they can apply for the Premium Travel Visa.
Note that all documents supplied in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified translation into English or French.
Valid passport
Copy of return air ticket
Passport-size photograph
Valid email address
Proof of pre-booking for accommodation post-quarantine period, if applicable, and confirmed before arrival date
Proof of travel and health insurance for the stay
Letter of parental consent for dependent child if accompanied by only one parent
Copy of marriage certificate (for dependent spouse, if applicable)
Proof of funds (bank statement/ bank attestation or employment contract for professional working remotely); monthly minimum is USD 1,500/ EUR 1,300 per applicant and USD 500/ EUR 400 per dependent younger than 24 years.
Applicants can apply for the Premium Travel Visa online. Simply fulfil the basic immigration requirements. Produce proof of your long-stay plans (purpose of visit and accommodation) as well as travel and health insurance for that period. Applicants should not enter the Mauritius labour market and their source of income should be off the island.
The visa will be issued via email. Applications are processed within 48 hours Monday to Friday. Those submitted over the weekend will be processed on the next working day, which is Monday. Travellers can apply for the visa close to their intended departure date, but it is better to do this well
in advance.
A Tourist Visa is applicable for leisure travel not more than 180 consecutive days in a calendar year.
The Premium Travel Visa is free.
Noncitizens living on the island under a Premium Travel Visa may apply for an Occupation Permit if they intend to work or invest in Mauritius. Retired noncitizens living on the island under a Premium Travel Visa may apply for a Residence Permit.
Yes, you can.
Foreigners may buy residential property under the Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS), Real Estate Scheme (RES), Property Development Scheme (PDS) or Smart City Scheme (SCS). They can also invest in an apartment in a building comprising at least two floors above ground (G+2).
You will not have to pay tax when you use your foreign credit or debit cards in Mauritius. But if you become a tax resident (because you spend 183 days or more on the island), you will have to pay tax.
All travellers must have the following documents:
Proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test conducted not more than seven days before the boarding date at the last point of embarkation
Valid return air ticket to Mauritius
Proof of payment for accommodation, on a full-board basis, at an authorised hotel for the mandatory 14-day in-room quarantine, if applicable.
Note that further PCR tests will be conducted on the travellers’ day of arrival as well as days seven and 14 after that. If a traveller tests positive for Covid-19, they will be transferred to a public medical facility for treatment.
Call the Economic Development Board on +230 203 3800 or email hpd@edbmauritius.org for more information or advice.
A long-stay visa is another incentive to motivate foreign investment on the island. Foreigners who buy an apartment in a building comprising at least two floors above ground (G+2) for more than USD 500,000, or its equivalent in any freely convertible currency, may apply for a long-stay visa.
These apartments must be outside one of the other residential schemes approved for this purpose. This type of visa enables noncitizens and their dependents to stay in Mauritius for 10 years total, renewable as long as they own the apartment.
The Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) is designed for expats who want to make Mauritius their second home and still be able to work there. It is offered to investors, retirees, professionals, self-employed entrepreneurs and their families, and is valid for 20 years. However, the Economic Development Board notes that the PRP may also be obtained under different circumstances. It is renewable for a further 20 years as long as the residency requirements have been fulfilled.
You can apply for permanent residency after at least three years of residency under the following conditions:
An investor must achieve annual gross income of at least MUR 15m for three consecutive years before submitting the PRP application. Alternatively, they must achieve aggregate turnover of MUR 45m for any consecutive three-year period before applying.
A retired noncitizen must transfer at least USD 54,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible currency for three consecutive years before submitting the PRP application.
A professional must receive a monthly basic salary of at least MUR 150,000 for three consecutive years before applying.
A self-employed individual must have turnover of at least MUR 3m for three consecutive years before applying.
Note: A noncitizen who has been living in Mauritius under an Occupation or Residency Permit for at least three years, and which was valid on September 1, 2020, is eligible to apply for a PRP. Renewability will be relevant to the terms applicable to those permits.
Yes, you can. Your dependents, which include your spouse, common law partner of the opposite sex, children 24 years and younger as well as your parents are all eligible for a PRP.
All Rights Reserved
Residency Mauritius ltd