Mauritius Residency Requirements 2026: A Complete Guide

Thanks to its favorable tax policies, political stability, and a relaxed and family-focused lifestyle, Mauritius is one of the premier relocation destinations for high-net-worth individuals. You can get Mauritius residency through one of several residency programs, including those aimed at business and property investors.

In this article, we’ll explain the Mauritius residency requirements for each of the country’s designated pathways and walk you through the application process.

An Overview of Mauritius Residence Permit Types

While Mauritius doesn’t offer a citizenship-by-investment scheme, it still provides several ways to enjoy its investor- and business-friendly environment through its residence programs. The best-known residence pathways include:

• Occupation Permits: Available to individuals looking to invest, develop their business, or work in Mauritius
• Residency by Property Acquisition: Aimed at individuals looking to acquire real estate to live in, invest in, or rent
• Retired Non-Citizen Residency Permit: Perfect for people looking to spend their retirement in a safe country with a high quality of life
• Permanent Residence: An option for existing residents who want to extend their status for a longer period 

Mauritius also offers a residence program for whole families, known as the Family Occupation Permit program, as well as a program for young professionals. 

Mauritius Occupation Permit Requirements

Mauritius offers three types of Occupation Permits (OP) to non-citizens:

1. Investor
2. Self-employed
3. Professional

Each type of permit grants resident status for up to 10 years, with the option of renewal if you meet the permit-specific criteria. 

Investor Occupation Permit

Depending on the type of business you want to start and the amount of money you’re willing to invest, you have three options when applying for the Investor Occupation Permit in Mauritius:

Investment Option	Requirements
Investor USD 50,000	Initial investment of USD 50,000 or equivalent in foreign currency Bank statement as proof of funds A written undertaking to transfer the funds to a Mauritius bank account within 60 days of being issued an OP A minimum turnover of Rs 1.5 million in the first year of registration A minimum turnover of Rs 20 million by the fifth year of registration
Investor USD 100,000	Initial investment of USD 100,000 or equivalent in foreign currency Bank statement as proof of funds A written undertaking to transfer the funds to a Mauritius bank account within 60 days of being issued an OP A minimum turnover of Rs 1 million in the first year of registration A minimum turnover of Rs 15 million by the fifth year of registration
Investor for innovative startups	No initial investment requirement Submission of an innovative project to Mauritius’ Economic Development Board, or Registering with an incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council

For permit renewal, the business you invested in should reach an annual turnover of Rs 5 million by the sixth year since registration. If you created an innovative startup in Mauritius, renewal is granted at the discretion of the CEO of the Economic Development Board.

Self-Employed Occupation Permit

As a self-employed entrepreneur in the services sector, you can apply for a Mauritius Occupation Permit if you meet the following criteria: 

• You plan to invest USD 50,000 or the equivalent in other currencies into your business
• You are able to provide proof of funds and a written undertaking demonstrating your intent to transfer the funds to a Mauritius bank account within 60 days of being issued an Occupation Permit
• You are able to produce a letter of intent from three potential clients, two of whom have to be local to Mauritius

To maintain your residence status, your business needs a minimum income of Rs 750,000 from the first year of registration. The income should grow, reaching a cumulative turnover of Rs 6 million by the fifth year of registration. 

For residency renewal, your business should generate at least Rs 1.5 million per year, starting with the sixth year of operation.

Professional Occupation Permit

If you’re an employee of a company that operates in Mauritius, you can apply for a Professional Occupation Permit, which is issued under two different categories depending on your salary:

1. ProPass, if your monthly salary is at least Rs 30,000
2. Expert Pass, if you’ll earn at least Rs 250,000 a month

Other than the employment status and salary expectations, there are no other qualifying requirements for this type of Occupation Permit.

Occupation Permit Application Process

Mauritius has a two-step online application process for an Occupation Permit. If you’re applying as an investor or a self-employed entrepreneur, you should first:

1. Create a profile with the National Electronic Licensing System of Mauritius
2. Gather all of the supporting documents, which include your birth certificate, a business plan, a copy of the biodata page of your passport, recent digital photographs, proof of funds, and any other specific required document
3. Fill out the necessary forms and submit the documents online

If you’re applying for a Professional Occupation Permit, your employer should handle the application process for you.

After you’ve received Approval-in-Principle, you can proceed to the second step. It requires you to provide documentation related to your business, such as a registration card, certificate of incorporation, licenses for regulated activities, and proof of transfer of funds. 

You should also prepare a medical certificate that is no older than six months, a marriage or divorce certificate, and the last entry visa pages from your passport. Finally, you should provide proof of payment of the USD 1,000 processing fee.

Mauritius Residency by Property Acquisition Requirements

Mauritius offers a residency pathway to non-citizens willing to acquire a property in the country for at least USD 375,000. If you choose this path, you will:

• Maintain the Resident status as long as you own the property
• Be exempt from the Occupation Permit requirements if you plan to invest or work in Mauritius
• Be able to extend the Resident status to your dependents

To be eligible for a Residency by Property Acquisition, you have to purchase the property through one of the pre-approved schemes:

Scheme	Description
The Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS)	Allows you to purchase residential properties in existing resort complexes
The Real Estate Scheme (RES)	Lets you purchase residential properties in exclusive residential developments
The Property Development Scheme (PDS)	Allows you to purchase luxury properties
Invest Hotel Scheme	Under the scheme, you can become the owner of a room or a unit in a new or existing hotel
Smart Cities Scheme	Allows you to purchase residential properties in sustainable, innovative Smart City developments
G+2 Scheme	You can purchase an apartment in a building that’s at least two stories tall (ground floor not counting), even if it’s outside of a pre-approved scheme

Residency by Property Acquisition Application Process

After acquiring the property, the company with which you’ve made the purchase has to inform the CEO of the Economic Development Board of Mauritius of the registration of the property. They should also submit a notary certificate attesting to it. 

Following that, you can submit your application for a Mauritius residence with the following documents:

• An application to enter Mauritius form
• Certified true copy of your passport
• Medical and morality certificates
• A notary certificate attesting that the deed to the property has been registered and transcribed
• A certified copy of a marriage certificate

The application is submitted to the EDB at the following address: 

10th Floor, 

One Cathedral Square Building, 

16 Jules Koenig Street, 

Port Louis – Mauritius

Mauritius Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit Requirements 

For non-citizens older than 50 who are willing to spend their retirement days in the country, Mauritius offers two ways to get a Residence Permit:

1. By demonstrating an income of USD 2,000 per month or USD 24,000 per year 
2. By purchasing, renting, or acquiring a life right to a residential property of any value from an authorized PDS for the Senior Living scheme

Applicants under the income-based option may be granted residency in Mauritius for up to 10 years, while the property-based Senior Living program offers residency with no fixed duration limit. 

Applying for a residence permit based on income will allow your spouse and children to become eligible for Mauritian residence. However, if you choose the property acquisition pathway, only your spouse may be granted residence.

Retired Non-Citizen Resident Permit Application Process

If you’ve decided to apply as a retired non-citizen with a qualifying guaranteed income, you’ll follow a similar two-step application process as Occupation Permit applicants. In the first step, you’ll need to provide the following documents:

• Your birth certificate
• A scan of your passport’s biodata page
• Certificate of Character or police clearance for the last 10 years
• Three recent colored photos
• A signed undertaking

If you’re granted an Approval-in-Principle, you should upload a bank statement attesting to the transfer of funds to your Mauritanian bank, a marriage or divorce certificate, a medical certificate, and a copy of your passport’s visa pages showing the last entries. At this point, you should also pay the USD 1,000 application fee.

If you acquired property through a PDS for Senior Living scheme, you should only submit:

• An application to enter Mauritius form
• The first five pages of your passport
• Medical and morality certificates
• Your birth certificate
• A document certifying your lease, ownership, or life right

Mauritius Permanent Residence Requirements

Permanent residency in Mauritius is available through the Permanent Resident Permit program. It allows holders of Occupation Permits, Retired Non-Citizen Resident Permits, and qualifying investors to apply for a 20-year residence in the country, if they meet the following requirements:

Type of Permit	Requirements
Investor OP	At least three years with an Occupation Permit An annual gross income of at least Rs 15 million for the three years preceding the application, or a total turnover of at least Rs 45 million in any three consecutive years during their residency
Self-Employed OP	At least three years with an Occupation Permit A minimum annual income of Rs 3 million for three consecutive years
Professional OP	At least three years with an Occupation Permit A minimum basic monthly salary of Rs 150,000 for three consecutive years
Retired Non-Citizen	At least three years with an Occupation Permit A minimum transfer of USD 54,000 or equivalent in the three preceding years
Qualifying Investor	No current permit requirement A minimum investment of USD 375,000 The investment has to be in a qualifying business activity, such as agro-based industry, insurance, leisure, manufacturing, or IPOs (among others)

Mauritius Permanent Residency Application Process

Before applying for permanent residency in Mauritius, you should prepare the following documents: 

• A copy of your passport’s page containing biometric data
• Four recent passport-sized photos
• An affidavit that you haven’t been convicted in the last ten years
• A document from your bank, the Mauritius Revenue Authority, or the EDB, confirming that you meet specific income or investment requirements
• A medical certificate from a Mauritanian doctor
• Any previous Residence Permits

You should bring your original passport with you, and submit the documents to the Residence Permit Section on the 4th Floor of the New Government Centre in Port Louis. There’s also a USD 50 application fee, and a USD 3,000 fee you pay when your application is approved. To make sure you meet all the requirements and get application process support, contact Nomad Capitalist for complete residency guidance. 

Secure Your Mauritius Residency With Nomad Capitalist

Nomad Capitalist is a consultancy built to help high-net-worth individuals thrive by moving their business, and sometimes their entire lives, to tax-friendly countries such as Mauritius. 

Over the past 13 years, we’ve assisted over 1,500 clients with tax optimization, residency and citizenship applications, and locating new investment opportunities. 

We credit the success to our Action Plan, a strategy that gives us a 360° view of our clients’ needs and goals. The first step requires you to fill out a detailed form to see if we’re a good match. If we are, here’s what we’ll do next:

1. Schedule a 45-minute onboarding call to go into specifics
2. Assign you a team that will work on developing your Action Plan
3. Present the Plan to you in detail
4. Start implementing the Plan (when you give us the green light)

The relationships we build with our clients are long-lasting. The implementation of the Action Plan can take up to 12 months, depending on its size and complexity. That’s why our goal is to build partnerships with our clients and help them make sure they’re making the right decisions for themselves, their families, and their business. 

To find the most viable path to meeting Mauritius residency requirements and get guidance on the legal, business, and logistical aspects, contact us today.