{"id":331091,"date":"2026-09-21T14:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T10:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/real-estate-mauritius.mu\/?p=331091"},"modified":"2026-09-21T18:15:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T14:15:09","slug":"mauritius-golden-visa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/real-estate-mauritius.mu\/en\/mauritius-golden-visa\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauritius Golden Visa: Requirements and How It Differs From Buying Property"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mauritius’ Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of USD 1,000,000 in a designated economic sector, while the residence permit obtained by buying property only requires USD 375,000. The two schemes look similar on paper but grant very different rights: the Golden Visa is a temporary two-year multiple-entry visa built for entrepreneurs, while the property-based permit lasts for as long as the buyer owns the property, with no fixed term. Mixing up the two means picking the wrong route.<\/p>\n

Mauritius Golden Visa: requirements and investment amount<\/h2>\n

The Golden Visa was introduced by the Mauritian government to attract investors and entrepreneurs into high-value sectors. Guidelines published by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in August 2026 set the minimum investment at USD 1,000,000, to be committed within the first 12 months of residence. At application stage, the applicant must sign a written undertaking confirming this commitment, backed by a bank statement showing the funds are available in their name or in the name of an entity of which they are the beneficial owner. The initial source of income must originate outside Mauritius.<\/p>\n

The visa is multiple-entry, valid for up to two years with an option to renew, and covers the holder’s spouse and children. There is no processing fee, and the EDB has committed to a five-working-day turnaround for complete applications. Domestic workers accompanying the holder benefit from a matching fast-track process for their own work permit.<\/p>\n

The qualifying sectors are listed exhaustively by the EDB: financial services, fintech, ICT, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and wellness, education, renewable energy, the blue economy, innovative or knowledge-based activities, and creative industries. Buying residential property is not on that list: putting USD 1 million into a villa or apartment does not satisfy the Golden Visa’s investment condition.<\/p>\n

The residence permit obtained by buying property: IRS, RES, PDS and G+2<\/h2>\n

The property-based residence permit works on a different legal basis, set out in the Immigration Act and detailed in the EDB’s guidelines for buyers under the IRS, RES and PDS schemes. It is granted once a non-citizen acquires a residential property worth more than USD 375,000, under an IRS, RES, PDS or Smart City project, or an apartment in a building of at least two floors above ground level (G+2).<\/p>\n

This permit has no fixed duration: it stays valid for as long as the non-citizen owns the property, and lapses on resale or if the holder notifies the authorities that they no longer wish to hold it. It does not create automatic tax residency either \u2014 a distinction our article on tax residency versus citizenship in Mauritius<\/a> sets out in detail. The owner’s spouse and children can obtain the same permit as dependants, on the same principle as a standard dependent permit<\/a>. The application carries a non-refundable EDB processing fee of MUR 25,000, on top of notary fees and registration duty on the purchase.<\/p>\n

The scheme chosen changes the buying experience: the practical differences between PDS and IRS for a foreign buyer<\/a>, and how to select a PDS project<\/a>, are covered in dedicated articles. To put a USD 375,000 budget into context, our overview of property prices by region<\/a> and our selection of eligible new-build programmes<\/a> give concrete benchmarks.<\/p>\n

One detail affects the budget directly: for a purchase funded with money transferred from abroad, 85% of the price must be paid to the promoter in Mauritian rupees, with the remaining 15% payable in hard currency or rupees.<\/p>\n

Golden Visa vs. residence permit by property purchase<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Criterion<\/th>\nGolden Visa<\/th>\nResidence permit by property purchase<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Minimum amount<\/td>\nUSD 1,000,000<\/td>\nUSD 375,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nature of the investment<\/td>\nEconomic activity in a designated sector<\/td>\nResidential property (IRS, RES, PDS, Smart City, G+2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Duration<\/td>\n2 years, renewable<\/td>\nFor as long as the property is owned<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Family covered<\/td>\nSpouse and children<\/td>\nSpouse and children<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Processing fee<\/td>\nNone<\/td>\nMUR 25,000 (EDB filing fee)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Route to Permanent Residence Permit<\/td>\nPossible once the investment is completed<\/td>\nNot provided under this mechanism<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Can a Golden Visa holder still buy property?<\/h2>\n

Yes, but that purchase remains separate from the investment condition. The EDB’s guidelines list the acquisition of a residential property under IRS, RES, PDS, Smart City, or a G+2 apartment among the benefits available to a Golden Visa holder \u2014 alongside enrolling children in a private school or bringing pets into the country. That purchase does not count towards the USD 1 million that must go into an eligible sector: the two are parallel steps, each governed by its own rules.<\/p>\n

Which route fits which project<\/h2>\n

The Golden Visa suits a specific profile: an entrepreneur or investor looking to set up in fintech, healthcare, education, renewable energy or one of the other listed sectors, with the intention of building an activity and eventually moving to a Permanent Residence Permit. The property-based permit answers a different need: securing a second home, a retirement base or a rental investment, with a residence link that simply follows ownership of the property, without any obligation to create or run a business. Our step-by-step guide to buying property in Mauritius as a foreigner<\/a> covers that second path in detail.<\/p>\n

Sources and verification<\/h2>\n