Relocating to Mauritius

Visa & Permit Types Compared

As of: August 2026

Six routes to a fixed base in Mauritius – from the free remote-work solution to permanent settlement. Premium, Self-Employed, Investor, Professional, Retired and Permanent Residence, side by side.

Jump to 01 · Premium Visa 02 · Self-Employed 03 · Investor 04 · Professional 05 · Retired 06 · Permanent Residence
Key principle

A Company Does Not Give You Residency

No company structure automatically brings residency – incorporating a company and obtaining the right to reside and work are separate processes. Settling permanently always additionally requires one of the six visas or permits compared below.

01 Remote Work

Premium Visa

DimensionDetails
Target groupRemote workers/digital nomads with exclusively foreign clients or income who want to stay in Mauritius longer than as a tourist.
RequirementsNo minimum age, no investment; proof of sufficient funds, health insurance, and that income/clients are based abroad.
Validity & renewal1 year, renewable indefinitely; free of charge.
Local work allowed?No – explicitly not intended for the local labour market or local clients.
Company/structure required?No.
Family/dependantsSpouse and children can be included.
Path to Permanent ResidenceNo direct path – a pure bridging/trial solution that must be converted into another category.

02 Freelancers

Self-Employed Occupation Permit

DimensionDetails
Target groupSole proprietors/freelancers who want to serve local and international clients from Mauritius.
RequirementsNo fixed minimum age; USD 50,000 investment into a Mauritius bank account; income thresholds of around MUR 2m from year 3 and MUR 3m from year 5 (as of 2026, verify with the EDB).
Validity & renewalUp to 10 years, renewable subject to meeting the income thresholds.
Local work allowed?Yes, within the individual's own sole proprietorship.
Company/structure required?Yes – Sole Proprietorship (Entreprise Individuelle), registered via form BRF1. See structures →
Family/dependantsSpouse, children and parents can be included as dependants.
Path to Permanent ResidenceAfter roughly 5 years of sustained fulfilment of the income thresholds – 20-year Permanent Residence Permit.

03 Business Owners

Investor Occupation Permit

DimensionDetails
Target groupFounders/investors of a Domestic Company or Global Business Company (GBC).
RequirementsMinimum investment USD 100,000 (as of 2026); turnover thresholds of MUR 5m from year 3 and MUR 8m from year 5 for renewal.
Validity & renewalUp to 10 years, renewable subject to meeting the turnover thresholds.
Local work allowed?Yes, as investor/manager of the individual's own company.
Company/structure required?Yes – Domestic Company or GBC. See structures →
Family/dependantsSpouse, children and parents can be included as dependants.
Path to Permanent ResidenceAfter several years of sustained fulfilment of the turnover thresholds, or separately via a qualifying real-estate investment (typically from USD 375,000) – 20-year Permanent Residence Permit.

04 Employees

Professional Occupation Permit

DimensionDetails
Target groupEmployees of a Mauritian company – including one's own (e.g. as a salaried manager rather than as an investor).
RequirementsStandardised minimum basic salary of MUR 50,000/month across all sectors; valid employment contract with a registered Mauritian company.
Validity & renewalUp to 10 years, renewable subject to a continuing qualifying employment contract.
Local work allowed?Yes, within the scope of the relevant employment relationship.
Company/structure required?Yes, but not necessarily one's own – any registered Mauritian company as employer is sufficient.
Family/dependantsSpouse, children and parents can be included as dependants.
Path to Permanent ResidencePossible with a sustained higher salary over several years; verify the exact salary/duration thresholds with the EDB.

05 Retirement

Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit

DimensionDetails
Target groupIndividuals aged 50 and above who want to spend their retirement in Mauritius without being locally employed.
RequirementsMinimum age 50; proof of USD 24,000 or a guaranteed monthly income of USD 2,000; annual proof of USD 24,000 required at renewal.
Validity & renewal10 years, renewable for successive periods; processing fee USD 1,000.
Local work allowed?No – investing in businesses is permitted, but being employed by or drawing a salary from them is not.
Company/structure required?Not mandatory – investing is possible, but not a requirement for the permit itself.
Family/dependantsSpouse, parents and unmarried, non-working children can obtain their own permits of matching duration.
Path to Permanent ResidenceAfter 5 consecutive years – 20-year Permanent Residence Permit.

06 Long-Term Settlement

Permanent Residence Permit (PR)

DimensionDetails
Target groupHolders of an Occupation Permit or Retired Permit seeking a long-term solution less dependent on ongoing thresholds.
RequirementsSustained fulfilment of the relevant income/turnover thresholds over several years (category-dependent), or alternatively a qualifying real-estate investment (typically from USD 375,000).
Validity & renewal20 years – substantially longer than the underlying 10-year permits.
Local work allowed?Yes, with greater flexibility than under the underlying permits.
Company/structure required?Not directly – but the PR usually builds on an already-existing company structure/activity.
Family/dependantsDependants who already held a permit in the same category can generally be included.
Path to Permanent Residence— (this is already the Permanent Residence Permit).
In short

Which Route Fits Whom

Anyone who only wants to work remotely and try Mauritius without commitment starts with the free Premium Visa. Anyone who wants to actively build their own business chooses between the Self-Employed OP (sole proprietorship), the Investor OP (Domestic Company/GBC), or the Professional OP (employment). From age 50 and without the intention to work, the Retired Permit is the appropriate option. All categories except the Premium Visa lead, after several years, to the 20-year Permanent Residence Permit.

This overview is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or immigration advice. Thresholds, fees and timelines reflect the position as of August 2026 (Economic Development Board, Passport & Immigration Office) and should be reconfirmed with the EDB or licensed Mauritius counsel before being relied on.

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Which Permit Is Right for You?

The right route depends on your business activity, your income source and how long you intend to stay. Let's work it out together.