Mauritius will always be big on wooing expats and foreign entrepreneurs. The country has a relatively small population base of about 1.3 million. This is rather a thin base for skilled manpower and investible funds needed to maximize Mauritian economic growth. For this reason, the government has continuously devised programmes to attract foreign skilled manpower and encourage entrepreneurs from overseas to invest in Mauritius.
The guidelines are straightforward and easy to follow for foreigners planning to form a local company or work in Mauritius. The only basic requirement for an aspiring foreign entrepreneur in Mauritius is to have a Business Visa. It also facilitates an Occupation Permit to work in the country.
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Fill business visa requirements
A Mauritian Business Visa provides a 120-day maximum stay duration per calendar year. The visa holder’s stay during each trip, however, should not exceed 90 days. A confirmed ticket for the return trip (or onwards to another destination) is also required for the visa.
A Business Visa applicant should submit a letter of endorsement from a local company or a Mauritian citizen sponsor. The applicant’s passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the 90-day stay period allowed in Mauritius. The visa applicant should have sufficient funds for the cost of the stay in the country (a minimum of USD100/day). There is no visa application fee, and the processing time is typically five working days.
The government offices in Port Louis can quickly unlock doors to foreign business ventures in Mauritius.
Incorporate in 3 days
The formal process of creating a company in Mauritius is even shorter—only about three working days. Such efficiency is evident in Mauritius’s World Bank ranking as the No. 1 in Africa in ease of doing business.
Any person who wishes to invest in Mauritius and incorporate a local company only has to submit an application form to the Registrar of Companies in Port Louis. Automatically, the Mauritius Revenue Authority registers a company as an employer upon its incorporation.
The Companies and Business Registration Department of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development issues the Business Registration Number (BRN) of any individual doing business in Mauritius. The BRN is for use in the invoices of the business.
Reading the opportunities
What could take some time though is conducting feasibility studies. There are many potential opportunities to invest in Mauritius, especially now that the country has embarked on an investment and recovery plan.
These opportunities were spelled out in the 2020-2021 Mauritian budget. It declared, amongst other things, that the country is “setting up the right ecosystem to allow entrepreneurs from here and elsewhere to turn their ideas into creation.”
The opportunity areas identified in the budget include the development of the data economy and strengthening of the value-chain of the ocean economy. The traditional areas where foreigners typically invest in Mauritius, such as real estate, financial services, and tourism, are also part of the growth roadmap for 2020–2021.
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