Clear and attractive schemes in 2026
Mauritius Guide
Visa & Permits
Mauritius
Live, work, invest: your complete 2026 guide.
Working, starting a business, retiring or moving with your family: every plan has its own permit, and the rules changed on 1 July 2026. Thresholds, durations, renewal conditions and pitfalls to avoid, updated for the 2026-2027 Budget.
Key takeaways
The essentials at a glance to prepare your project.
Several routes depending on your profile (investor, professional, retiree…)
A stable and transparent legal framework
An exceptional setting to live and invest with peace of mind
01 Work permits
Working in Mauritius
Several work permits exist depending on your profile. Applications are processed by the Economic Development Board (EDB), and the permit allows you to live and work legally in Mauritius.
Investor Permit
For entrepreneurs investing in a business in Mauritius.
- Minimum initial investment of USD 100,000
- A viable project that benefits the local economy
USD 100,000initial investment
Self-Employed Permit
For independent professionals working on a self-employed basis.
- Minimum initial investment of USD 50,000
- Business plan and proof of income
USD 50,000initial investment
Professional Permit
For skilled employees recruited by a Mauritian company.
- Minimum salary of MUR 50,000 per month
- Employment contract and recognised qualifications
MUR 50,000minimum monthly salary
Technical Permit
A new 2026 category for specialised staff, under government-to-government agreements.
- For specialised technical staff
- Conditions set by agreements between states
2026 categoryspecialised staff
01 In detail
What has changed, and each work permit
1 July 2026
What has changed
If you prepared your project with 2025 figures, most of them no longer apply.
3 changesstructural since 1 July 2026: a single MUR 50,000 threshold, a Technical category, the Family Occupation Permit removed
The 2026-2027 Budget raised Occupation Permit thresholds, merged two categories and abolished one.
The criteria now focus on the company's performance over time rather than cumulative turnover. Three changes are structural: the Professional permit moves to a single threshold of MUR 50,000 whatever the sector, a Technical category is created, and the Family Occupation Permit is abolished. A Golden Visa has also been introduced for investments of one million dollars and above.
| Category | Previous rule | Rule applicable since 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation Permit Investor | Two options depending on investment capacity, with cumulative turnover over five years | USD 100,000 initial investment Turnover of MUR 5M from year 3 Turnover of MUR 8M from year 5 for renewal |
| Occupation Permit Self-Employed | USD 50,000 contribution and cumulative turnover | Business income of MUR 2M from year 3 MUR 3M from year 5 for renewal |
| Occupation Permit Professional | Two salary tiers depending on the sector and the type of permit | MUR 50,000 basic monthly salary, across all sectors |
| Permit Technical | Did not exist | 3 years, renewable, under a government-to-government framework |
| Family Occupation Permit | Available | Abolished |
| Golden Visa | Did not exist | 2-year renewable E-Visa, USD 1M invested within 12 months |
The thresholds for the retired residence permit and for residence through property investment were not changed by this Budget: they remain at USD 2,000 per month and USD 375,000 respectively.
Which status for your profile
Seven routes, and only one really applies to you. Start with what you are coming to do.
7 routesand only one really matches what you are coming to do in Mauritius
The choice is not about the length of the permit but about the nature of your activity.
An Occupation Permit is both a work authorisation and a residence permit: it is for those who come to earn an income in Mauritius. A residence permit, by contrast, does not give the right to work: it is for those who come to live in Mauritius on income from abroad, or by owning a property. Choosing the wrong family of permits costs several months.
- You are starting a business — Investor Occupation Permit. A USD 100,000 contribution, then turnover targets in year 3 and year 5.
- You work on your own — Self-Employed Occupation Permit. A USD 50,000 contribution, then MUR 2M of business income from year 3.
- You are an employee — Professional Occupation Permit. A MUR 50,000 basic monthly salary. The employer handles the application.
- You are retiring — Retired residence permit. Age 50, USD 2,000 transferred each month, a 10-year permit.
- You are buying a property — Residence through property, from USD 375,000 under an approved scheme — with exemption from the Occupation Permit.
- You work remotely — Premium Visa. One year, renewable, free, for stays of more than 180 days, with income from outside Mauritius.
Investor Occupation Permit
The permit for those who set up or take over a Mauritian company.
USD 100,000initial investment, then MUR 5M turnover from year 3 and MUR 8M from year 5
USD 100,000 of initial investment, then MUR 5 million of turnover from the third year and MUR 8 million from the fifth year to secure renewal.
The Economic Development Board has moved the goalposts: the requirement no longer rests on a total spread over five years, but on a level of activity reached by specific deadlines. A company that starts slowly is therefore assessed earlier than before.
The intent of the reform is explicit in the EDB's communication: to encourage businesses that genuinely contribute to the Mauritian economy, rather than structures created to hold a residence permit. In practice, this changes how an application is prepared — a business plan that does not reach MUR 5 million of turnover in year three puts the permit at risk from its first renewal.
The legal set-up matters as much as the amount. The company must be incorporated in Mauritius and the funds actually transferred to a Mauritian bank account, within the deadline set by the guidelines in force at the time of filing. This is a point to have confirmed by your adviser: the deadline has varied from one edition of the guidelines to the next.
Self-Employed Occupation Permit
For working alone in a service activity, with no employees or partners.
USD 50,000contribution, then MUR 2M of business income from year 3 and MUR 3M from year 5
Business income of at least MUR 2 million a year from the third year, and MUR 3 million from the fifth year.
This is the new rule for 2026, and a structural one: the test now looks at annual income reached by a given date, no longer at cumulative turnover. The initial contribution of USD 50,000 to the business account remains the entry point.
This category is aimed at consultants and at advisory, digital and creative professionals who invoice in their own name. It allows neither hiring nor partnership: as soon as a salaried structure appears, the Investor permit becomes the right framework.
The step up between year 3 and year 5 deserves to be planned from the first year. Going from MUR 2 million to MUR 3 million of income means either higher rates or more volume, and that is prepared well before the renewal date.
Professional Occupation Permit
The permit for employees recruited by a Mauritian company.
MUR 50,000basic monthly salary, across all sectors
A basic monthly salary of MUR 50,000, now the same in every sector.
This is the most visible change of 2026. The ProPass and Expert Pass categories, which applied two thresholds far apart from each other, have been merged into one. The EDB presents this harmonisation as a clarification for employers recruiting internationally.
In practice: if you still read, on a website or in a brochure, about two separate tiers — one around MUR 30,000, the other at MUR 250,000 — the information predates July 2026. There is now a single threshold.
The application is made by the employer, not by the employee. The Mauritian company files the application on behalf of the future employee, through the EDB's online platform. A candidate therefore cannot prepare this permit alone: they first need a contract.
New 2026
The new Technical permit
A category created in 2026 for specialised staff.
3 yearsrenewable, under a government-to-government framework
A 3-year renewable permit, issued under cooperation between governments.
This category responds to shortages of skilled labour in identified sectors — notably agriculture, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, hotels and restaurants, transport, trade, information technology, education and financial services. It does not follow the usual Occupation Permit route.
The scheme is open to companies, public bodies, NGOs and individual employers legally established in Mauritius. The application goes through the EDB's online platform, which then forwards it to the body in charge of skills development: that body advertises the positions, screens the candidates and prepares a shortlist, which the employer receives before conducting the interviews.
It is therefore not an individual route: it requires a Mauritian employer committed to the process, and an agreement between governments for the candidate's country of origin.
02 Residence options
Getting a residence permit
Several solutions allow you to obtain a residence permit in Mauritius, depending on your personal situation and your goals.
Retired Permit
- From age 50
- Minimum income of USD 2,000/month or USD 24,000/year
Ideal for retiring in the sun
Residence through Property
- Through approved schemes (PDS, IRS, RES, Smart City)
- From USD 375,000 of investment
The simplest route for families
Dependants Permit
- Spouse, children, parents
- Linked to the main holder's permit
Bring your family to Mauritius
Premium Visa
- 1 year, renewable
- For people with income from abroad
- No local employment allowed
Work remotely from Mauritius
Golden Visa
- USD 1 million investment in eligible sectors
- Long-term residence
A lasting commitment to Mauritius
02 In detail
Each residence option
Created in 2026
The Golden Visa
Created in 2026 for high-net-worth investors.
USD 1Minvested within 12 months: a 2-year renewable E-Visa, family included
A renewable two-year E-Visa, in return for one million dollars invested within the first twelve months.
The scheme extends to the holder's spouse and dependent children. The investment must be made in a qualifying sector, not in just any passive placement.
Eligible sectors include financial services, fintech, information and communication technologies, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and wellness, education, renewable energy, the blue economy and the creative industries — and the list extends to innovative and knowledge-based activities.
- Twelve months to invest. The one-million-dollar investment must be made within the first year of the visa's validity.
- Family included, and household staff too. The spouse and dependent children are covered. Work permits for domestic staff accompanying the holder are issued within five working days.
- A gateway to permanent residence. Once the investment is made, the holder becomes eligible for the Permanent Residence Permit.
The retired residence permit
Living in Mauritius on income from abroad, with no local activity.
USD 2,000transferred each month, from age 50 — a 10-year permit
Aged 50 or over, with USD 2,000 a month, or USD 24,000 a year, transferred to a Mauritian account.
The permit is issued for ten years and is renewed on proof that these transfers continue. No local business activity is required — nor allowed without a separate permit: it is a residence permit, not a work authorisation.
It is the clearest route in the Mauritian system, and the one whose conditions have changed the least. After five consecutive years, the holder can apply for a twenty-year Permanent Residence Permit.
The amount is assessed on actual transfers to a Mauritian bank account, not on income declared elsewhere. This is where applications most often stumble: the banking channel must be organised before filing, not after. It is one of the points Westimmo prepares with you, ahead of filing.
Residence through property investment
Buying an eligible property opens a right of residence — and exempts you from the Occupation Permit.
USD 375,000in an approved scheme: residence for as long as you hold the property, spouse and children under 24 included
From USD 375,000 in a property under an approved scheme, the residence permit is granted for as long as the property is held.
It extends to the spouse and children under 24. The schemes concerned are the PDS, the IRS, the RES and the Smart City Scheme. Below this threshold, buying remains possible in some cases but gives no right of residence.
One advantage is regularly overlooked, even though it changes everything for an entrepreneur: the holder of a residence permit obtained through property is exempt from an Occupation Permit or Work Permit to invest and work in Mauritius. In other words, a purchase above the threshold settles both the question of residence and the question of activity.
Choosing the development is therefore not just a matter of assets: it determines your status. We cover the six acquisition schemes, their thresholds and resale constraints in our guide to buying property in Mauritius, and the administrative process on our page dedicated to getting a residence permit.
03 Family and dependants
Bringing your loved ones
Mauritius allows you to bring your family under certain conditions. Spouse, children, parents: each can benefit from a suitable permit.
Spousemarried or common-law partner
Childrendependent, under 24
Parentsdependent, subject to conditions
03 In detail
Bringing your family
Who counts as a dependant, for how long, and what a dependant may not do.
24 yearsage limit for unmarried dependent children; spouse and parents included
Spouses, parents and unmarried children under 24 can obtain a residence permit.
The definition includes common-law partners, stepchildren and legally adopted children. A dependant's permit cannot outlast the main holder's: it is aligned with it and ends with it.
A common misconception
You often read, including on agency websites, that the spouse of an Occupation Permit holder can work without a separate permit. The official guidelines say the opposite: a dependant may not engage in gainful activity, and must obtain their own Work Permit or Occupation Permit in order to be employed.
We have found no published text establishing the exception that is often claimed. If your spouse's work is key to your plans, have their situation confirmed by the EDB before committing.
The property route is simpler
A residence permit obtained by buying a property from USD 375,000 covers the spouse and children under 24, and exempts the holder from an Occupation Permit to work and invest. For a family, it is often the shortest route.
The Family Occupation Permit no longer exists
This category was abolished under the 2026-2027 Budget. Brochures and pages that still present it as an option are not up to date — a good freshness test for any source you consult on the subject.
04 Permanent residence
A long-term move
The Permanent Residence Permit is issued for twenty years, after five consecutive years of lawful residence. It is open to holders of an Occupation Permit or a residence permit, provided they meet the income or turnover conditions of their category over the period. Golden Visa holders become eligible once their investment is made.
Continuity matters as much as duration: five consecutive years are required. A permit allowed to lapse, or a poorly prepared change of category, can reset the clock. That is why the path is planned from the very first application, not as year five approaches.
More about permanent residence →Mauritius is not just a place to live, it is a place to build your future.
05 Steps of the process
How to get your permit
The process is mainly online with the EDB. Here are the 6 key steps — and at each one, Westimmo can support you.
- 1Choose the right permitBased on your profile and goals
- 2Prepare the documentsID, financial proof, business plan…
- 3Open a Mauritian bank accountAn essential step
- 4Transfer the fundsFrom your country of residence
- 5Apply onlineOn the EDB portal
- 6Get approval and the permitTiming varies by type of permit
05 In detail
The order of operations
The process is fully online, but the order of operations matters.
USD 50application fee since 1 December 2025, for the Occupation Permit and the retired residence permit
Everything is filed online with the EDB, but it is the Mauritian bank account that sets the timetable.
The Economic Development Board does not charge for processing applications: only successful applicants pay the statutory fees due to the State. In practice, the length of an application rarely depends on the administration: it depends on banking compliance and on the traceability of the funds transferred, which must be started first.
- Identify the right permit. This is the step most often skipped, and the one that costs the most when it is missed. A mixed project — living on foreign income while developing a local activity — sometimes falls under two schemes, and the wrong choice costs months.
- Gather the supporting documents. Passport, proof of income or funds, a business plan for the entrepreneurial categories, insurance for the Premium Visa, civil status records for dependants. Documents should be requested early: some must be legalised in the country of origin.
- Open the Mauritian bank account. Everything else depends on it. Banking compliance is demanding about the origin of funds and takes time; it is the first step to start, not the last. Westimmo starts it with you and coordinates it with the bank.
- Transfer the required funds. USD 100,000 for the Investor, USD 50,000 for the Self-Employed, monthly transfers for retirees. The transfer must be traceable and documented; a cash payment or a payment by an unidentified third party blocks the application.
- Apply online. Everything goes through the EDB's electronic platform, from submission to the issue of the approval-in-principle letter. For the Professional permit, the employer files the application.
- Obtain approval, then the permit. The EDB does not charge for processing applications; only successful applicants pay the statutory fees due to the Mauritian State. An application fee of USD 50 has applied since 1 December 2025 to Occupation Permit and retired residence permit applications.
06 Practical advice
Our recommendations
A few essential tips to secure your project and avoid pitfalls.
Check the date of your sources
The thresholds changed on 1 July 2026. A page that mentions two salary tiers for the Professional permit, cumulative turnover over five years, or a Family Occupation Permit predates this reform. The test is quick and reliable.
Property, often the simplest route
From USD 375,000 in an approved scheme, the residence permit is secured for as long as the property is held, covers the family, and exempts you from an Occupation Permit to work and invest. For many projects, it is the most direct route.
The bank account is a key step
Every scheme relies on traceable transfers to a Mauritian account. Banking compliance is the real critical path of an application: it should be started before anything else.
07 Related guides
Go further
Discover our other guides to Mauritius.
08 Sources & methodology
Reliable, up-to-date information
Our content is based on official sources and updated regularly.
EDBEconomic Development Board PIOPassport & Immigration Office RPResidence Permit Portal Budget2026-2027
Some points may require confirmation while transitional texts have not yet been published.
- Economic Development Board — EDB Newsletter, August 2026, “What’s New in Occupation and Residence Permits” and “New Golden Visa Scheme”
- Economic Development Board — FAQs Premium Visa
- Passport and Immigration Office — official Premium Visa page
- Official residence portal — Retired Non-Citizen, Property Development Scheme and Smart City Scheme pages, Occupation Permit and Permanent Residence Permit guidelines
- 2026-2027 Budget — higher thresholds, merger of ProPass and Expert Pass, creation of the Technical category, abolition of the Family Occupation Permit
Figures checked on 8 September 2026 against the official sources above. Two points are deliberately left open in this guide, for lack of a published text: the status of permits already issued under the new thresholds, and whether a dependent spouse can work without a separate permit. This guide does not replace advice from the EDB or from a legal adviser; conditions should be confirmed on the day of filing.
09 Frequently asked questions
Your questions about visas and permits
Clear answers to the most common questions.
Frequently asked questions about Mauritius visas and permits
An Occupation Permit, in one of its categories: Investor if you set up or take over a business, Self-Employed if you provide services on your own, Professional if you are employed by a Mauritian company. A Technical category was created in 2026 for specialised staff, under government-to-government agreements. The permit serves as both a work authorisation and a residence permit.
Since 1 July 2026, the minimum initial investment is USD 100,000. The business must then generate annual turnover of at least MUR 5 million from the third year, then MUR 8 million from the fifth year for the permit to be renewed.
These thresholds replace the two-option system introduced by the previous Budget, which no longer applies.
A basic monthly salary of MUR 50,000, now the same in every sector. It is the clearest change of 2026: the former ProPass and Expert Pass categories, which applied two very different thresholds, have been merged into one.
If you still read about two separate tiers — one around MUR 30,000, the other at MUR 250,000 — the information is out of date.
A contribution of USD 50,000 to the business account, then business income of at least MUR 2 million a year from the third year and MUR 3 million from the fifth year for renewal.
The test now looks at annual income reached by a given date, no longer at cumulative turnover over five years.
Yes, from USD 375,000 invested in a property under an approved scheme — PDS, IRS, RES or Smart City. The residence permit is granted for as long as the property is held, and it extends to the spouse and children under 24.
A point often overlooked: holders of a residence permit obtained through property are exempt from an Occupation Permit or Work Permit to invest and work in Mauritius.
Below USD 375,000, buying remains possible in some cases but gives no right of residence.
Being 50 or over and showing income of at least USD 2,000 per month, or USD 24,000 a year, transferred to a Mauritian bank account. The permit is issued for 10 years and is renewed on proof that these transfers continue.
No local business activity is required — it is a residence permit, not a work permit.
A scheme created in 2026 for high-net-worth investors. It takes the form of a renewable two-year E-Visa, extended to the spouse and dependent children, and requires an investment of at least USD 1 million within the first twelve months in a qualifying sector: financial services, fintech, information technology, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, education, renewable energy, the blue economy or the creative industries.
Once the investment is made, the holder becomes eligible for the Permanent Residence Permit.
Yes. The Premium Visa is free and the application is made entirely online. It allows a stay of one year, renewable, and is intended for stays of more than 180 days per calendar year — below that, a tourist visa is issued on arrival.
It requires proof of USD 1,500 per month per adult, plus USD 500 per dependent child, travel and health insurance, and that your main source of income remains outside Mauritius. Holders may not enter the Mauritian labour market.
Yes. Dependants are the spouse, parents and unmarried children under 24 — including stepchildren and legally adopted children. Their residence permit cannot run longer than the main holder's.
Beware of a common misconception: according to the official guidelines, a dependant may not engage in gainful activity and must obtain their own Work Permit or Occupation Permit in order to work. If your spouse plans to work in Mauritius, have their situation confirmed with the EDB before committing.
No. This category was abolished under the 2026-2027 Budget. Pages and brochures that still present it as an option are out of date.
The Permanent Residence Permit is issued for 20 years. Holders of an Occupation Permit or a residence permit can apply after five consecutive years, provided they meet the income or turnover conditions of their category over the period. Golden Visa holders become eligible once their investment is made.
The thresholds described here apply to new applications since 1 July 2026. We have not found any published transitional provision on permits that are still valid, and we prefer not to state anything on this point rather than give an answer that cannot be verified.
If you already hold a permit, have your situation confirmed with the EDB or your adviser before making any decision.