Residency and citizenship by investment in Mauritius

Buy a home

USD 375,000

• Buy a home under one of the EDB property schemes (the Integrated Resort Scheme, Real Estate Scheme, Invest Hotel Scheme, Property Development Scheme or Smart City Scheme), or an apartment in a building with at least two floors above the ground floor, for at least USD 375,000.
• The US dollar value is worked out at the selling exchange rate on the day the title deed is signed.
• Buying with other people also counts, as long as your own share of the price is at least USD 375,000.
• Your spouse, dependent children, parents and other dependents can get residence permits through you.
• You don't need an occupation permit as well.
• If you're over 50, a senior-living home under the Property Development Scheme qualifies at more than USD 200,000.
• The 2026-2027 Budget announced that apartments built on State land and Pas Géométriques (State-owned coastal land) will no longer be sold to non-citizens, unless the lease was approved before 19 June 2026.

Sources: Attorney General's Office, Immigration Act 2022, consolidated text with amendments to 2026 ; Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026) ; Economic Development Board, Budget 2026-2027 highlights

Golden Visa

USD 1 million · Up to 2 years, renewable

• When you apply, you sign an undertaking to invest at least USD 1 million in Mauritius within 12 months of the visa being issued.
• The money has to go into a qualifying sector: financial services, fintech, ICT, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and wellness, education, renewable energy, the blue economy, innovative or knowledge-based industries, or the creative industries.
• You need a bank statement from your home country showing at least USD 1 million, in your name or in a company you own, and a business plan.
• Your initial source of income has to be outside Mauritius.
• It covers your spouse and children and allows multiple entries. There's no processing fee, and the EDB aims to decide within 5 working days of a complete application.
• Once you've invested the USD 1 million within the 12 months, you can apply for permanent residence.
• You can also switch to an occupation permit or a retiree residence permit, and buy a home under the EDB property schemes.

Source: Economic Development Board, Golden Visa Scheme guidelines (August 2026)

Investor permit

USD 100,000 · Up to 10 years, renewable

• Bring USD 100,000 from abroad into your Mauritian company's bank account within 60 days of the permit being issued. You show the funds with a certified bank statement from your home country.
• Your company needs a turnover of at least MUR 5 million from its third year, and at least MUR 8 million a year from its fifth year to renew.
• An innovative start-up can apply instead, by submitting its project to the EDB or by joining an incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council.
• Fees: USD 50 to apply (non-refundable), then USD 1,000 for the permit.

Source: Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026)

Self-employed permit

USD 50,000 · Up to 10 years, renewable

• For the services sector only. Bring USD 50,000 from abroad into your Mauritian bank account within 60 days of the permit being issued.
• You need at least 3 letters of intent, 2 of them from potential clients in Mauritius.
• Your business income must reach MUR 2 million from the third year, and MUR 3 million a year from the fifth year to renew.
• You can employ one local administrative staff member.
• Fees: USD 50 to apply, then USD 1,000 for the permit.

Source: Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026)

Professional permit

MUR 50,000 a month · Your contract's length, up to 10 years

• You need a job in Mauritius with a basic salary of at least MUR 50,000 a month, in any sector.
• Your employer applies for you and pays the permit fee, which ranges from USD 400 to USD 1,000 depending on the contract's length.
• For short assignments there's a short-term permit for up to 9 months, which can be extended once by up to 3 months.
• You can invest in other businesses, as long as you don't work for them or take a salary from them.
• Graduates of a recognised Mauritian university or college can get a Young Professional permit for up to 3 years with a salary of at least MUR 25,000 a month.

Source: Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026)

Retiree permit

USD 2,000 a month · 10 years, renewable

• You must be 50 or over.
• You need a bank statement from your home country showing at least USD 24,000.
• Transfer at least USD 2,000 to a local bank within 60 days of the permit being issued, then either USD 24,000 a year or USD 2,000 a month.
• You can't take a job, but you can invest in a business you don't work in. To work in certain sectors, you would need a work permit or an occupation permit.
• Fees: USD 50 to apply, then USD 1,000 for the permit.

Source: Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026)

Premium Visa

Free · More than 6 months, up to 1 year, renewable

• You need it if you plan to stay more than 180 days in a calendar year. Shorter stays use the tourist visa you get on arrival.
• You can't work for a Mauritian employer, and your main place of business or source of income must be outside Mauritius.
• You'll need proof of your plans for a long stay, somewhere to stay, and travel and health insurance.
• Apply online, free of charge. If your country isn't on the EDB's list, you can enter on a tourist visa and apply once you're in Mauritius.

Source: Economic Development Board (residency.mu), Premium Visa

Bringing your family

• Holders of an occupation permit or a residence permit can bring dependents: a spouse (including an opposite-sex common-law partner), parents, and unmarried children up to the age of 24, including stepchildren and adopted children.
• Dependents can't work, and their permit can't last longer than the main holder's.
• The permit fee is USD 400 for each dependent.

Source: Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026)

Permanent residence

A Permanent Residence Permit lasts 20 years. You can apply once you've held one of the permits above for at least 5 years and met its targets for all of those years:

• Investors: turnover of at least MUR 15 million a year, or MUR 75 million in total over 5 consecutive years.
• Professionals: a basic salary of at least MUR 400,000 a month for 5 consecutive years. Apply within 6 months of reaching that.
• Self-employed: business income of at least MUR 3 million a year, or MUR 15 million in total over 5 consecutive years.
• Retirees: transfers to Mauritius adding up to at least USD 200,000 over 5 consecutive years.
• Golden Visa holders: eligible once they've invested USD 1 million in a qualifying business within 12 months of the visa being issued.

Sources: Economic Development Board, Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026); Attorney General's Office, Immigration Act 2022, consolidated text with amendments to 2026; Economic Development Board, Golden Visa Scheme guidelines (August 2026)

Becoming a citizen

Mauritian citizenship is granted by naturalisation, at the Minister's discretion. The law also lets the Minister grant citizenship to anyone where it's in the public interest, but that's a discretionary power, not an investment programme with published criteria.

• Standard route: you must have lived in Mauritius continuously for the 12 months before you apply, and for at least 5 years in total during the 7 years before that, so at least 6 years in all. You also need to be of good character, have adequate English or another language used in Mauritius, understand the responsibilities of a citizen, and intend to keep living there.
• Investors: if you've invested at least USD 500,000 in Mauritius, the Minister may accept 2 years' continuous residence instead. This is discretionary, not an entitlement.
• Married to a Mauritian: you can apply to register as a citizen after living with your spouse in Mauritius for at least 4 years. Spouses start on a 2-year temporary residence permit, then move to a residence permit.
• Applying: applications go to the Secretary for Home Affairs. You sign them in front of a judge, the Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court or a district magistrate, and naturalisation applicants also have to place a notice in two daily newspapers.
• Citizenship gained this way can be withdrawn in some cases, including if you then live in another country for 5 years in a row without registering, or telling the Minister, that you intend to keep it.

Sources: Defence and Home Affairs Division, Citizenship services; Attorney General's Office, Mauritius Citizenship Act, consolidated text; Attorney General's Office, Immigration Act 2022, consolidated text with amendments to 2026

How to apply

• Occupation permits, retiree permits and the Golden Visa are applied for online, on the government's National Electronic Licensing System. The Premium Visa has its own online form on the EDB's residency site.
• The Economic Development Board answers questions on +230 203 3800. For the Golden Visa, email goldenvisa@edbmauritius.org.

Sources

• Occupation Permit, Residence Permit and Young Professional Occupation Permit guidelines (updated 8 October 2026) , Economic Development Board
• Golden Visa Scheme guidelines (August 2026) , Economic Development Board
• Premium Visa , Economic Development Board (residency.mu)
• Immigration Act 2022, consolidated text with amendments to 2026 , Attorney General's Office
• Mauritius Citizenship Act, consolidated text , Attorney General's Office
• Citizenship services , Defence and Home Affairs Division
• Budget 2026-2027 highlights , Economic Development Board

Last checked 13 October 2026.