Different types of permits that you can apply for in Mauritius.
The Occupation Permit (OP) is a combined work and residence permit which allows foreign nationals to work and reside in Mauritius under 3 specific categories namely:
- Investor including Investor for innovative start-ups;
- Professional; and
- Self-Employed.
Foreign nationals, above the age of 50 years, may also choose to retire in Mauritius as retired non-citizens. Such nationals shall be issued with a Residence Permit as Retired Non-Citizens.
An Occupation Permit (Investor and Self-employed) and Residence Permit as Retired Non Citizen shall be issued for a maximum period of ten years, renewable thereafter as per established criteria.
An Occupation Permit under the Professional category shall be issued for a maximum period of three years depending on the duration of the contract of employment, renewable thereafter as per established criteria.
Dependents of OP holders or Retired Non-Citizens may also apply for residence permit for a duration not exceeding that of the main holder.
Under the Immigration Act, an Investor means:
a person who is not a citizen of Mauritius, an association or body of persons, whether corporate or incorporate, the control or management of which is vested in persons who are not citizens of Mauritius and registered as such with the Economic Development Board.
Options and criteria
An investor is eligible to apply for an OP under the following options:
Option 1 (Normal):
An initial transfer of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible currency in the bank account of the company under which the application will be made.
Option 2 (Net Asset Value):
Net asset value of at least USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency, for existing businesses and businesses inherited and a cumulative turnover of at least 12 million rupees during the 3 years preceding the application.
Option 3 (High Technology Machines & Equipment):
An initial investment of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible currency, of which:
- a minimum transfer of at least USD 25,000 to the bank account of the company under which the application will be made
And
- the equivalent of the remaining value in high technology machines and equipment, subject to such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may determine, such as:
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- The high technology machines and equipment will be evaluated based on the invoice issued by the supplier and a report from a recognized Chartered Valuator in the country of origin.
- In case the high technology machines and equipment is yet to be shipped to Mauritius, the investor should submit the bill of lading to the Occupation Permit Unit at time of submission of the application.
- Investment in high technology machines and equipment must be in a qualifying activity including but not limited to agro-industry, aquaculture, healthcare, ICT-BPO, fin-tech, life sciences, biotechnology, manufacturing, ocean economy and renewable energy.
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Note:
- The investor should transfer the remaining balance in freely convertible foreign currency in case the value of the high technology machines and equipment is less than that submitted on the invoice and bill of lading, when being evaluated by the Custom Department in Mauritius.
- The high technology machines and equipment must be used for the proposed business activity.
For renewal of an OP in the Investor category, the company should generate a minimum gross income of 4 million rupees per year as from the third year of registration.
- A Professional, as defined under the Immigration Act, is a foreign national employed in Mauritius by virtue of a contract of employment and registered as such with the Economic Development Board.
- A Professional should earn a monthly basic salary of at least MUR 60,000.
- For Professionals in the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT), business process outsourcing (BPO), pharmaceutical manufacturing and food processing, the monthly basic salary should be at least MUR 30,000.
- Professionals may also apply for a Short-term Occupation Permit for a period not exceeding 9 months. The permit may be extended only once for a period not exceeding 3 months.
- A Self-Employed is defined as a non-citizen engaged in a professional activity under the services sector only and registered with the Registrar of Businesses under the Business Registration Act 2002. A Self-Employed should operate a one-person business activity, working exclusively for his/her own account.
- A Self-Employed should make an initial transfer of USD 35,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency at the time of issuance of the OP to his/her local bank account in Mauritius.
- For renewal, the business activity should generate a business income of 800,000 rupees per year as from the third year of registration.
- A Retired Non-Citizen is defined as a person who is not a citizen of Mauritius and aged 50 years or above.
- A Retired Non-Citizen should make an initial transfer of at least USD 1,500 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency at the time of issuance of the OP to his/her local bank account in Mauritius.
- Thereafter, the Retired Non-Citizen should transfer at least USD 1,500 monthly or the aggregate of at least USD 18,000 per year or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency during the 10 years’ validity of the residence permit.
- At the end of each year, the Retired Non-Citizen should submit to the Economic Development Board, the evidence of transfer of funds into his/her local bank account.
Right to Invest by Retired Non-Citizen
A holder of Residence Permit as Retired Non-Citizen may invest in any business provided that: –
- he/she is not employed in the business
- he/she does not manage the business
- he/she does not derive any salary or employment benefits from the business
The Dependents of Occupation Permit holders and/or Retired non-citizens are eligible to apply for a residence permit. Dependents are defined as spouse (including Common Law Partner of the opposite sex), parents, and children including stepchildren or lawfully adopted children, under 24 years of age.
A holder of an Occupation Permit or Residence Permit as a Retired non-citizen is eligible to apply for a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit provided the following specific conditions are met:
- Investor: Holds an OP for at least 3 years, with:
- a minimum annual gross income of at least MUR 15M for 3 years preceding the application. Or
- an aggregate turnover of MUR 45M for any consecutive period of 3 years preceding the application
- Professional: Holds an OP for at least 3 years, with a basic monthly salary of at least MUR 150,000 for 3 consecutive years immediately preceding the application for the Permanent Residence Permit.
- Self-Employed: Holds an OP for at least 3 years with an annual business income of at least MUR 3 million for the 3 consecutive years, immediately preceding the application for the Permanent Residence Permit.
- Retired Non-Citizen: Holds an RP as a Retired Non-Citizen for at least 3 years with transfer of at least USD 54,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency during the period of 3 years preceding the application.
A non-citizen is eligible for a residence permit upon the purchase of a villa under the PDS scheme when he has invested more than USD 375,000 or its equivalent in any freely convertible foreign currency. Non-citizens who have a residence permit under PDS will be exempted from an Occupation or Work permit to invest and work in Mauritius.
The residence permit granted to the non-citizen remains in force until such time the non-citizen shall hold the residential property under the scheme or where the person nominated by the company’s secretary, director, gerant or qualified trustee, of the entity, as the case may be, informs the Economic Development Board to terminate the residency.
