The starting point of any expatriation is the visa or permit. Without a visa or suitable permit, you cannot come for more than a 3-month tourist stay (renewable once) in the territory. You can use the simulator to find out which visa or permit best suits your situation.

You will need either a Occupation Permit which allows you to live and work in Mauritius, either from a residence permit which allows you to live in Mauritius.
Keep in mind that with a premium visa or a retired license you cannot work on Mauritian territory but you can work remotely from Mauritius.

You can also, without the right to work in Mauritius, invest in Mauritius in real estate or in a Mauritian company as long as you do not receive any remuneration from this company.

The page " Visas and residence permits » explains the conditions of each visa and permit.

Mauritius as a holiday destination is open to everyone, but to settle, live and work there there are defined requirements. 

Generally, the cost of living in Mauritius is a lot cheaper than in Europe but it will also depend on your lifestyle and consumption habits.

We have created a table to give you an idea. cost of living in Mauritius.

Among the most expensive expenses, we find: food shopping and the car. Indeed, food is imported, if you continue your same habits as in Europe, this risks increasing the price. Concerning cars, they are also imported and are about 20% more expensive than in Europe whether for rental or purchase.

Among the expensive expenses, also include that of a Health Insurance as well as private schools. These expenses depend mainly on age.

Housing, restaurants, communication and energy costs are cheaper than in Europe.

As a guide, a family of 4 people including 2 children studying in a private school, renting a 4 bedroom villa in the north of the island will need approximately 150 000 WALL (~ €3000) per month to live a comfortable life.

Expatriation in Mauritius, like everywhere in the world, requires before and after arrival in the land of fees of a certain amount

 

Mauritius is a place wonderful where to expatriate, a place safe and stable to raise his children, retire, There are also manyBusiness opportunities and it's a fantastic place for a happy, sunny, outdoor life.

The quality of life is high due to the mild weather all year round and the proximity to a beach wherever you live on the island.

However, it is not for everyone and we always suggest you come and discover the island first as a tourist. Do not commit to a 2-year contract on a property in the west of Mauritius for example if you do not know Mauritius well enough and have never visited it before. You can also consult the page where to settle in Mauritius.

Le premium visa gives you the opportunity to visit and try expatriation in Mauritius for one renewable year.

Mauritius to facilitate the procedures for obtaining visa and permit in order to attract more expatriates. Indeed, the objectives of its economic growth are to attract investors, entrepreneurs and Team professionals from all over the world to become a premium business destinationThe advantages of expatriating to Mauritius are as follows:

  • Proximity to beaches and lagoons or whether you live on the island and the pleasant climate throughout the year.

  • Most Mauritians are multilingual. English, French and Mauritian Creole are spoken which facilitates integration and daily life.

  • The cost of living is much more advantageous than in Europe.

  • Le little time difference with France. 2 hours in summer, 3 hours in winter, which also facilitates remote working from Mauritius.

  • The tax system is very favorable with a VAT of 15%, income tax is also 15%. There are no property taxes, housing tax or inheritance tax.

  • If you want register your business in Mauritius, you will follow a procedure that can be very simple and quick and you will benefit from advantageous taxation.

  • The possibility of expatriating as a retirement from the age of 50 and still have business interests across the world.

  • Enjoy a heavenly living environment while having modern and solid financial and banking institutions, offices and state-of-the-art facilities, good communication network, while being only 6 hours from Dubai, Africa, India and Singapore.

The starting point for expatriation to Mauritius is the permit or visa
There are several visa and permit options and each has specific requirements and criteria.

In addition to occupation permit and Team residence permit, there exists the Premium Visa
This allows you to move to Mauritius quickly and with few requirements as long as you do not earn money there. 
For retirees or teleworkers looking to change their lifestyle for a year or two, this may be for you. 

For an expatriate to work in Mauritius as an employee, he or she must necessarily receive a salary of a minimum of 60 MUR per month (~ €1300). In some areas, such as the call center sector, the minimum wage should be 30 MUR per month (~ €650).
These are the minimum thresholds required to obtain an occupation permit as a professional.

A “good salary” is a very relative concept but a salary of €1300 per month is very good for Mauritius.
We recommend that you refer to question 2 above for a rough estimate of monthly expenses.

There are two ways to get a permanent residence permit.

The first way is to first have a occupation permit or residence permit existing asinvestor, self-employed, professional ou retirement. At the end of the first 3 years spent on the Mauritian territory with an occupation or residence permit and if you have fulfilled the conditions of your permit, you will be eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit.  

The second way to obtain the permanent residence permit is tobuy real estate for a minimum amount of €375.

The permanent residence permit is issued for 20 years. It gives you the right to vivre , work andinvest in Mauritius without the need for any other special permit. Like other visas and permits, it gives the possibility to spouses, partners, children under 24 years of age to apply for a dependent permit.

Life in Mauritius, compared to France, generally costs around 40% cheaperCompared to some African countries, life is more expensive.

For example, buying a car in Mauritius costs around twice as expensive than in France, whereas real estate whether renting or buying costs around twice cheaper just in France.

International private schools are cheaper compared to other cities such as Paris or London.

So it depends a lot on your country of origin and your habits and needs. 

We have developed a pinboard to give you an idea of ​​prices and the cost of living in Mauritius.

Yes, you can buy real estate in Mauritius.
Non-citizens can only buy in certain real estate programs; IRS/RES, PDS smart cities, And Ground + 2 developments (apartment in a building of at least 2 floors).

You can buy a property for any amount you want but to obtain the residence permit by acquisition of property, you must purchase a property in these programs for an amount minimum of €375. You will then be able to live and work in Mauritius.

If you buy a property for a amount less than €375, you will not get a residence permit and you will not be allowed to stay more than 3 months (renewable once) on the territory. If you wish to live in Mauritius in your accommodation, you will also have to apply for an occupation or residence permit.

You can consult the page " Residence permit » for more information on buying real estate.

Most Mauritians are trilingual, they speak English, French et Creole

The language no longer used is the French.

The official language and that used in Parliament and the Court as well as in the administration is english.

Business in Mauritius is mainly conducted in French, but English is used for foreigners when necessary. 

Creole is spoken at home by the majority of Mauritians, over time it has become very understandable by French speakers.

Most expats live in the North part or toWest

Some expats, less concerned with sun and sea, live in the centre, but there is usually a compelling reason for them to choose this, such as marrying a Mauritian whose family is there or for work. 

The North Mauritius is full of energy. 
The region has very beautiful beachesMany restaurants, the best night life of the island and many activities. 
You have a complete choice of shopping centers, schools, offices, accommodation andmedical facilities to only cite a few.
Grand Baie is the main town where Mauritians, expatriates and tourists come to have fun, whether it is shopping, going to the cinema or partying. 

West is incredibly beautiful with its large mountains next to the coast. This region is more savage and it is known for its many spots for water sports.
There are also shopping malls, schools, restaurants, but daily life is a little less active. Expats usually settle in Tamarin or to Flic en flac.

You can consult the page » Where to settle in Mauritius?  » to learn more about the regions.

It is a very place sure where to live, particularly appreciated by expatriates from France, Belgium and Switzerland. 

Mauritius is a wonderful place to live, offering a unique balance between quality of life et business opportunities in Africa. 

Expatriation in Mauritius is not for everyone. Most people who settle here, however, appreciate the island lifestyle nice people and fiscal advantages.

 All these factors combine to make Mauritius an excellent choice for expatriation.

The time to obtain a permit varies depending on several factors, including the jurisdiction and the type of permit.

As a general rule to obtain a occupation permit (investor, self-employed, professional) or one residence permit (retirement), the time from submitting the application to obtaining the permit isabout 2 months.

Obtaining the Premium Visa is faster, it takes approximately 1 month but may also vary depending on the administration.

The minimum wage in Mauritius is 10 000 WALL per month (approximately 230 € / month). In Mauritius, most employees receive a bonus of 13 rd month in December.

An expatriate to a minimum threshold to work as a professional in Mauritius which is 30 to 000 MUR ( approximately 650 € to 1300 € ) per month depending on the sector.

To expatriate to Mauritius as a retirement, you must have at least 50 years and it is necessary to transfer €1500 on a Mauritian bank account each month. A retiree does not have the right to work in Mauritius but he can continue to earn income outside Mauritius. You can consult the page « Retired license » to know the conditions of this permit in detail.

The government wants to make Mauritius a dream retirement destination. Senior residential programs with medical facilities are being built.

Mauritius is safe, stable and there is a genuine respect for elders in Mauritius, making it an ideal retirement destination. 

Mauritius ranks among the er rank in Africa for almost all business indices. 
It is a favorable jurisdiction to create a 100% foreign company and The process of starting a business is relatively simple.

The tax on companies is 15%, there is no exchange controls for the transfer of capital and there is no capital gains tax nor on dividends.

Business can be done with relatively few obstacles. 

There are many specialized schemes that provide 5-10 year tax breaks or greatly reduced corporate tax. Examples include investment broker license, family office and fund management, among others.

There is bound to be a little repetition, but we suggest think of things in this order :

Permit/Visa

What visa, occupation permit or residence permit do you need? 
If you don't retire, will you start a business, be employed by someone else, be able to work remotely? 
Make sure to meet all the conditions of the visa or permit you choose.
You can use the simulator to find out which visa or permit is right for you depending on your situation.

Business/

Do you need to start a business or find a job? 
If you want to work as an employee, find out about the job market because to be hired in Mauritius, certain conditions are required.

Accommodation and location

Are you going to buy or rent? 
Do you need a short term rental while you find your long term rental? 
Will you engage remotely? 
Are you going to live in the North or the West? 
The location of your accommodation is important, according to the desired lifestyle, one region will suit you better than another, you must also take into account your place of work as well as the location of your children's schools, whether you want to be in a residence or not.

Schooling

Are you looking for a nursery or school?
What type of education do you want for your child, English or French?
For many schools you will need to book places in advance for your children.

The domestic animals

Do you have a pet and want to take it with you to Mauritius?
Please note thatAn animal also needs a visa to be able to enter the territory. Pets also need certain vaccinations months before leaving. 


There are many other factors to consider, such as your personal effects, do you want to import them by container? Do you want to buy or rent a vehicle ? Moving abroad requires thinking about everything and preparing in advance. Keep in mind that your expatriation project must always start with the visa or permit.

There are real estate agencies and websites that cover all properties, including commercial and office properties. 
Offices in Grand Baie and Tamarin are being built permanently but most offices in Mauritius are in Ebene and Port Louis.