Mauritius Occupation Permit: A Comprehensive Guide
Mauritius Occupation Permit: An Overview
The Mauritius Occupation Permit (OP) is the cornerstone of the nation’s strategy to attract foreign talent, entrepreneurs, and investors. It serves as a combined work and residence permit, granting non-citizens the right to live and be gainfully occupied in Mauritius for up to 10 years, with a clear, fast-track pathway to a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit.
The program is managed by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and is structured across three distinct categories: the Investor, the Professional, and the Self-Employed.
I. The Investor Occupation Permit
This permit is designed for high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs who wish to incorporate and operate a business in Mauritius. The Investor OP is issued for a maximum of 10 years, with renewal subject to the business’s sustained financial performance.
To qualify, the applicant must be a director and shareholder of a locally incorporated company and meet one of the following investment and turnover pathways:
Standard Investor Route
Initial Investment: A minimum of USD $50,000 (or equivalent in a convertible currency) must be transferred from abroad to the company’s bank account.
Performance Requirements: The company must demonstrate growing revenue to maintain and renew the permit:
- Minimum gross annual turnover of MUR 1.5 million in the first year.
- Achieve a cumulative turnover of MUR 20 million by the end of year five.
- Renewal after year five requires a minimum annual turnover of MUR 5 million.
Enhanced Investor Route
Initial Investment: A minimum of USD $100,000 (or equivalent) for slightly lower revenue targets.
Performance Requirements:
- Minimum gross annual turnover of MUR 1.0 million in the first year.
- Achieve a cumulative turnover of MUR 15 million by the end of year five.
Innovative Start-Up Route
This pathway has no minimum initial cash investment requirement. Instead, the applicant must submit a project focused on innovation, technology, or research and development (R&D) to the EDB or register with an accredited incubator. Renewal criteria are determined by the EDB based on the project’s merit and progress.
II. The Professional Occupation Permit
The Professional OP is aimed at skilled foreign workers who have secured a contract of employment with a Mauritian company. This permit is employer-sponsored and is valid for a maximum of 10 years, depending on the employment contract duration.
Qualification is based primarily on the basic monthly salary:
General Professionals: The minimum basic monthly salary must be MUR 60,000 (Mauritian Rupees).
Targeted Sectors: For professionals in priority sectors like ICT, BPO, Pharmaceutical, or Food Processing, a reduced minimum basic monthly salary of MUR 30,000 applies.
Young Professional Occupation Permit (YPOP)
This specialised permit is available to foreign students who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in Mauritius.
Duration: Up to 3 years.
Salary: Minimum monthly basic salary of $\ge$ MUR 25,000.
Eligibility: Must secure employment in a designated sector shortly after graduation.
III. The Self-Employed Occupation Permit
This permit targets individual consultants, freelancers, and high-level professionals who intend to operate a one-person business (an independent contractor or consultant) in the services sector. It is explicitly designed for professional services and generally excludes commercial trading activities.
The Self-Employed OP is valid for a maximum of 10 years and is renewable upon meeting the financial criteria.
Initial Investment: A minimum investment of $\ge$ USD $50,000 (or equivalent) in professional equipment or transferred to the business bank account.
Client Commitment: The application must be supported by at least 3 letters of intent from prospective clients, with at least two originating from local Mauritian clients.
Income Requirements: The professional activity must demonstrate consistent growth:
- Minimum annual business income of $\ge$ MUR 750,000 in the first year.
- Achieve a cumulative business income of $\ge$ MUR 6 million by the end of year five.
Application Process:
The application for an Occupation Permit is managed by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and is largely processed through an online platform, the National Electronic Licensing System.
Submission: The applicant (or their employer/agent) submits the application and supporting documents (e.g., passport, business plan, qualifications, clean criminal record, letters of intent/contract).
Approval in Principle (AIP): Upon meeting the initial criteria, an Approval in Principle is issued.
Finalisation: The applicant must then travel to Mauritius to complete required medical tests, transfer investment funds (for Investor/Self-Employed), and attend a final meeting with the EDB/Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) for the issuance of the permit card.
Denpendents:
The Occupation Permit holder is entitled to secure Residence Permits for their spouse/partner and all financially dependent children (including stepchildren and adopted children) up to the age of 24 years, as well as their parents.
Permanent Residency:
A key advantage of the Occupation Permit is the ability to transition to a highly secure 20-year Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) after successfully holding an OP for a continuous period of at least 3 years and meeting elevated financial thresholds:
For Investors: Must demonstrate an annual gross income of MUR 15 million for three consecutive years, or an aggregate turnover of MUR 45 million over any consecutive three-year period.
For Professionals: Must have maintained a basic monthly salary of MUR 150,000 for the three consecutive years preceding the PRP application.
For Self-Employed: Must have achieved an annual business income of MUR 3 million for the three consecutive years preceding the PRP application.
Official Links:
Mauritius Economic Development Board: https://residency.mu/