Occupation Permit in Mauritius

The Occupation Permit (OP) allows non-residents to live and work in Mauritius, once for 10 years, renewable for 10 more years, and for 20 years if applying for permanent residence in Mauritius. It is aimed at 3 categories of expatriates:

• Investors (for innovative start-ups);
• Professionals;
• Independent workers.

The Occupation Permit for non-resident investors in Mauritius

Two categories of investors are concerned: Investors and Investors for Innovation. 

The conditions to be met for investors:

• Investment of 50,000 USD;
• Net asset value of 50,000 USD;
• Invest in high-tech machinery and equipment.

Conditions for innovation investors:

The minimum investment requirement does not apply to this category. Instead, you will either have to submit your innovative project to the Economic Development Board for evaluation and approval or register with an incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council.

Visit the EDB's Invest in Mauritius website to learn more about these categories.

Read also Invest in Mauritius

Occupation permit for self-employed foreigners in Mauritius

Conditions to be met to qualify for an Occupation Permit as a self-employed foreigners in Mauritius are the following:

• Be a non-citizen engaged in a professional activity in the service sector only and register with the Registrar of Businesses under the Business Registration Act 2002;
• Be a sole trader (exclusively);
• Make an initial transfer of 35,000 USD or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currencies to their local bank account in Mauritius;
• Have a business activity that generates a cumulative income of at least Rs 2,400,000 during the 3 years preceding the application for an occupation permit and with an income of at least Rs 600,000 per year.

The Occupation Permit for investors and self-employed persons is issued for a maximum period of 10 years, renewable thereafter according to the established criteria.

Read also Setting up a business in Mauritius  

Occupation Permit for professionals in Mauritius

Conditions to be met to qualify for an Occupation Permit as a foreign professional in Mauritius are the following:

• Not being retired, not being a Mauritian citizen and not being 50 years old or more;
• Making an initial transfer of at least 1,500 USD or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currencies to their local bank account in Mauritius;
• Transferring at least 1,500 USD per month or transferring amounts in installments or otherwise, the total of which would be at least 54,000 USD or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency, during the 3 years of the validity of the residence permit;
• At the end of each year, submitting to the Economic Development Board, proof of the transfer of funds to their bank account in Mauritius.

The Occupation Permit for professionals is issued for a maximum period of 3 years or for the duration of the work contract, renewable thereafter according to the established criteria.

Read also Work in Mauritius  

The Young Professional Occupation Permit in Mauritius

The Young Professional Occupation Permit or YPOP is intended for international students who have obtained at least an undergraduate degree from a Mauritian institution of higher learning and have a job offer in Mauritius. 

This work permit is valid for a maximum period of 3 years, depending on the duration of the employment contract and if an employer still requires the service of the foreign employee under YPOP after the 3 years, they can apply for a Professional Occupation Permit on behalf of the employee.

To apply for a YPOP in Mauritius, you have to meet the following requirements:

• Be the holder of at least an undergraduate degree from an institution of higher learning recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
• Submit the application no later than 6 months after the date of publication of the results.

When an individual holds a YPOP and intends to change jobs before the YPOP expires, requirement 2 does not apply.

The company's business activity must fall within the following areas: 

• Artificial Intelligence; 
• Architecture and Design;
• Biotechnology;
• Communication and Media;
• Creative Industries;
• Engineering;
• Fintech;
• Financial Services;
• Information Technology; 
• Logistics & Supply Chain;
• Robotics; 
• Travel, tourism and hospitality.

Good to know:

Regulations are subject to change and should not be considered final. 

Foreigners must be in possession of a passport with a validity date exceeding that of their stay in Mauritius. The name(s) on the passport must be exactly the same as the name(s) on the applicant's birth certificate. Otherwise, the applicant will have to provide an affidavit issued in their country of origin or residence to certify that the 2 names – the one on the passport and the one on the birth certificate – refer to the same person. 

Any application for a residence permit in Mauritius can only be submitted with the results of the mandatory medical examinations.