Residence Permits

Permanent Residence can be granted for a period of ten years (it is unclear what happens after this time) if a non citizen has been in possession of an Occupation Permit for three years.

Occupation Permits (this is a combination Residence and Work Permit) are issued within a short period of time - see guidelines below - to the following applicants who have registered with the Board of Investment.

IRS residents now qualify for Occupation Permits (June 2007). It is unstated whether and how this permit can acquire Permanent Residence Status and allow the holder to purchase immovable property outside of the IRS.

The procedure is as follows:

Register with the Board of Investment
Submit medical results and documents
Apply for Occupation Permit

The published guidelines do not cover all the requirements. Contact Frontfin before you visit Mauritius and we will plan and coordinate everything for you, making sure you bring the right documents with you, scheduling your medical, and liaising with the necessary government departments including the BOI. This will save you a lot of time and frustration. You should be in Mauritius for a week to get this all done.

The table below sets minimum qualification levels for Occupational Permits and Permanent Residence. The Retiree gets a residence permit rather than an occupation permit. Conversion to Permanent Resident requires performance for three years at this minimum level before being granted.

*Professional: this was announced in the budget of June 2007 and as yet, we have not seen any published regulations so this is our best guess of how it is.

Category	Occupation Permit	Permanent Residency
Investor	Turnover Rs3m p.a.	Turnover Rs15m pa
Self Employed	Income Rs600 000 p.a.	Income Rs3m p.a.
Professional	Salary Rs30 000 p.m.	Salary exceeding Rs150 000 pm ($5 000)
Retiree	$40 000 per annum	$40 000 per annum

Guidelines for obtaining an Occupation Permit (PDF)

Application form for an Occupation Permit (PDF)

Professionals (employees) - salary must exceed Rs30 000.

Registration Form for Professionals (PDF)

Investors (owners) - turnover must exceed Rs3 million.

Registration Form for Investors (PDF)

Self Employed (owner who is employee)- Income must exceed Rs600 000.

Registration form for Self Employed applicants (PDF)

Residence Permits are issued to:

Retired Non Citizens - Must bring $40 000 in each year.

Guidelines for applying for a Residence Permit

Registration with Board of Investment as Retiree. PDF

Application form for Residence Permit (Word)

Permanent Residence Permits are issued after three years to

Investors - with a turnover of Rs15 million per annum for the past three years
Self Employed - with an income over Rs3 million per annum
Professionals - with a salary exceeding Rs150 000 per month (approx $5000).
Retired Non - Citizens - who must have brought in $40 000 for the past three years.
Please note that this permanent residence is only available for ten years. It is unclear what happens thereafter, but assuming that the permanent residency lapses, so does the right to own property. In terms of current legislation it would be possible at this stage to start all over again with a three year residence permit or occupational permit followed by a reapplication of permanent residency for another ten years.

Spouses and dependents of Permanent Residence Permit holders may also live, work and invest in property in Mauritius.