Mauritius takes pride in its cultural diversity that has served as one of the foundations of the country’s growth since it gained independence from Britain on March 12, 1968. More than a half-century hence, Mauritius remains firmly committed to harnessing its multicultural character to further advance the country’s fortunes and those of its nearly 1.3 million residents.
Out of this population, roughly 2 per cent are immigrants or expats, and their count of between 21,000 and 25,000 is expected to rise in the years ahead. This expectation has a sound basis. The Mauritian government has put in place various measures by which foreigners could get a permanent residence permit in Mauritius.
Check out these gateways to living in Mauritius on a permanent status amidst a thriving multicultural setting.
Table of Contents
1. Residency by investment
You can get a 20-year Residence Permit through the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius by investing a minimum of USD375,000. The investment has to be channeled to these business activities that the board has identified:
A permanent residence permit in Mauritius is granted if you buy a real estate property in the country under purchase plans approved and managed by the government’s EDB. Below are the expats or foreign nationals’ choices for buying real estate in Mauritius.
The PDS replaced two programmes the EDB implemented earlier—the Integrated Resort Schemes and Real Estate Schemes. Under the PDS, a mix of residences is open for sale to noncitizens, citizens, and members of the Mauritian Diaspora community dispersed globally. Noncitizens buying a property under the PDS valued starting from USD375,000 or its equivalent amount in any freely convertible foreign currency are eligible for a residence permit. In addition, the noncitizen and their dependents (spouse, children under 24 years of age, and parents) are granted a permanent residence permit.
Noncitizens canalso acquire high-end residential property under the IRS and RES. Thus, the noncitizen and their dependents (spouse, children under 24 years of age, and parents) obtain a residence permit when they buyproperty for a minimum amount of USD375,000.
These plans cover high-end properties, and the purchases are valued at not less than USD375,000. Properties bought under these schemes are rentable. The property owners gain Mauritius tax resident status with no restriction on the repatriation of funds or revenue from the sale or rental of their property.
This scheme allows non-citizens to buy apartment units in EDB-approved condo developments with at least two above-ground levels. Purchases should be not less than MUR6 million or its equivalent in any hard convertible foreign currency. Buying a condo unit under this scheme makes you eligible for a 10-year Mauritian visa. It is renewable and valid as long as you hold the residential unit. For any purchase above USD375,000 (or the equivalent in another currency) a noncitizen may apply to the EDB for permanent residency.
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3. Engage in a Mauritian occupation
Foreign nationals can get a combined occupation and residency permit as an enterprising investor, as a professional or as a self-employed individual.
You can also get a residency permit by working as an employee in Mauritius if your monthly basic salary is not less than MUR60,000 . But if you’re working in the Information and communication technologies (ICT), business processing outsourcing (BPO), pharmaceutical manufacturing and food processing sector, the minimum requirement for the salary is MUR30,000 .
Non-citizens can pursue a career and live in Mauritius as self-employed individuals but in the country’s services sector only. They also have to register with the government agency concerned as a one-person business activity. As self-employed in the country, they should have a deposit of at least USD35,000 in a Mauritian bank. The annual income of their one-man business should also be at least MUR600,000 a year.
4. Retire in Mauritius
Retirees can earn residency in Mauritius that grants such eligibility to those who are at least 50 years of age. They also have to make an initial transfer of at least USD150O or its equivalent in another hard currency to a local Mauritian bank.
Thereafter, they should transfer at least USD 18,000 per year or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency during the 10 years’ validity of the residence permit.
The government, however, does not allow the employment of foreign retirees on the island. Nonetheless, these retirees can apply for a permanent residence permit in Mauritius after living for three years in the country.
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