Occupation Permit for Professionals in Mauritius: The Minimum Salary Threshold
A foreign employee hired in Mauritius needs an Occupation Permit (Professional): minimum salary, duration, application file and costs, based on the EDB's own guidelines.
A foreign employee hired in Mauritius under a local employment contract needs an Occupation Permit in the Professional category. The threshold is a minimum basic monthly salary of MUR 50,000, standardised across all sectors under the Economic Development Board’s (EDB) Occupation Permit guidelines amended on 30 July 2024, and reconfirmed in the EDB’s August 2026 newsletter. Below that figure, the employer cannot file an application under this category.
Who this category applies to
Under the Immigration Act 2022, a “Professional” is a non-citizen employed in Mauritius under a contract of employment and registered as such with the EDB. This route assumes a Mauritian employer, or the local branch of an international group, hiring directly. It is separate from the two other Occupation Permit categories: the Investor permit, for someone setting up or taking over a business, and the Self-Employed permit, for someone working independently with no employer link. For an overview of the different statuses, see our guide to visas and residence permits in Mauritius, and for the job search itself, our article on working in Mauritius.
The salary threshold today
The EDB’s criterion is a basic monthly salary of at least MUR 50,000, regardless of sector. This single threshold replaced a system where the required amount used to vary by industry. One transitional clause remains: a professional already holding an active permit under the previous MUR 30,000 criterion is eligible for one renewal under that same criterion, but only one, before having to move to the MUR 50,000 threshold.
How long the permit lasts
An Occupation Permit for Professionals is granted for the duration stated in the employment contract or for 10 years, whichever is shorter. A Short-term Occupation Permit also exists, capped at 9 months and extendable only once, for a maximum of 3 further months, provided the extension is requested at least 15 days before expiry. Moving from a short-term to a long-term permit with the same employer requires a cancellation letter from that employer.
The application file, filed by the employer
The application is submitted by the employer on the EDB’s National E-Licensing Platform. The employment contract must clearly state the employee’s full name as it appears on their birth certificate and passport, the company name, job title, job description, contract duration and basic monthly salary.
On the employee’s side: an original birth certificate (with a certified/sworn translation if it is not in English or French), marriage or divorce certificate where applicable, a medical certificate and test results less than six months old, the passport biodata page, the most recent entry visa pages if already in Mauritius, three recent passport photos, a CV, and certified academic and professional qualifications.
On the employer’s side: a brief on the company’s activities, the business registration card, certificate of incorporation, the employment contract with a detailed job description, any licences required for regulated activities, the register of shareholders and directors, and the charter for foreign residents in Mauritius. An HR representative, or someone holding at least a managerial position, must accompany the employee at the appointment.
What the permit costs, and who pays
Permit fees are paid by the employer and scale with the length of the contract: USD 400 for up to 2 years, USD 500 for 2 to 3 years, USD 800 for 3 to 5 years, and USD 1,000 for anything beyond that and up to 10 years. For a Short-term Occupation Permit, the fee is USD 300 for the first application and USD 150 for the single allowed extension. A non-refundable USD 50 application fee is also due at the outset, payable by card on the platform, at the EDB counter, or by bank transfer to the Accountant-General’s account at the Bank of Mauritius.
Changing employer, losing your job
Switching employer requires a fresh Occupation Permit application, with a complete file and a check that the new job meets the current criteria. If the contract ends, the employer must notify the EDB’s Chief Executive in writing immediately after termination. The employee is then deregistered and the permit cancelled by the Passport and Immigration Office, leaving one month to leave the country, unless they are looking for new employment.
To stay in Mauritius while job-hunting, a Self-Undertaking Form must be filed with the EDB and the Passport and Immigration Office within two weeks of the termination date. Filing it opens a six-month window, from the termination date, to secure new employment and a new permit meeting the category’s criteria.
Spouse and children during the contract
A spouse (including an opposite-sex common-law partner), parents, and unmarried dependent children under 24, including stepchildren and lawfully adopted children, can obtain a residence permit as dependants of the main permit holder. This permit does not allow any paid activity: a family member who wants to work needs their own work permit or Occupation Permit. A dependant’s permit cannot run longer than the main holder’s, and the fee is USD 400 per dependant.
Permanent residence after several years
A professional can apply for a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit after holding an Occupation Permit as Professional, or a valid work permit, for at least 5 years, provided they earned a basic monthly salary of at least MUR 400,000 for the 5 consecutive years preceding the application. The application must be filed no later than 6 months after meeting that criterion; beyond that, the five-year clock has to start again. What to check before filing that application is covered in our piece on the Permanent Residence Permit in Mauritius.
The Occupation Permit paperwork usually runs alongside the rest of the move: a long-term rental while getting settled, then possibly a purchase once the status is stable. Westimmo can assist with permit applications alongside the property search.
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