DNR Consulting : The most affordable way to Live, Work and Invest in Mauritius

FAQ

Visas

Do I need to apply for a visa before traveling to Mauritius?

Nationals of most countries, including South Africa, do not require a visa prior to traveling to Mauritius, e.g commonwealth countries, EU. A visa, tourist or business, is normally given for 2 months. The visitor should hold a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months, a valid return ticket and sufficient funds to meet the costs of stay in Mauritius.

I am from a country where a visa is needed to come to Mauritius. Where do I apply for a visa?

You may apply for a visa at a Mauritian embassy or consulate. If there is no embassy or consulate in your country, please contact us and we will assist you.

What is the maximum stay allowed under a visa?

A tourist visa may be issued for up to 180 days per calendar year. A business visa may be issued for up to 90 days per calendar year.

Occupation Permit / Residence Permit

I have obtained my Occupation Permit. Are my accompanying spouse and children eligible for a residence permit?

The spouse and children under 18 of an Occupation Permit holder may obtain a residence permit. A marriage certificate should be produced. An unmarried partner may obtain a residence permit for 6 months only, renewable every 6 months. In that case, evidence of cohabitation should be produced (certificate of civil partnership, concubinage, common law partner, etc). Same sex couples are not considered for residence permits as dependents.

Can I switch from one category to another, for example from professional to investor?

You cannot switch automatically from one category to another. You should first request for the cancellation of one permit and then apply for the other. Upon cancellation, you will be deregistered, and registered again for the other permit.

I want to apply as a professional. Does an Occupation Permit alone allow me to work in Mauritius?

A professional employed by a company can start work as soon as he obtains an Occupation Permit, except in the case of regulated activities. For such professions (e.g doctor, civil engineer, pharmacist, etc) the professional should register with the appropriate council or body after he obtains his occupation permit. The employer should know about the registration requirements and should inform the professional accordingly. The onus lies on the employer to ensure he complies with all rules and regulations.

Is there any restricted activity for foreign nationals?

Any activity that contravenes any existing legislation is prohibited. There are also certain tourism related activities that are restricted to Mauritian nationals only (e.g diving centres). Any investor or professional wishing to operate a tourism related activity should first consult us to check whether he will be allowed to carry out his intended activity.

I hold an Occupation Permit. Can my son or daughter who is older than 18 obtain a residence permit as my dependent?

Children over 18 years old are not be eligible for a residence permit as your dependent. They may however obtain a residence permit if they intend to pursue full time education in Mauritius.

I hold an Occupation Permit as investor. Can my parents who depend on me accompany me to Mauritius?

Your parents can accompany you on a tourist visa. If they intend to stay short term in Mauritius, they may stay as tourists for a maximum period of six months per calendar year. They will not be eligible for a residence permit as your dependents. However, if they can bring at least 40,000 USD annually to Mauritius, they may be eligible for residence permit as retired.

I hold a residence permit as retired non-citizen. Am I allowed to work or invest in a business?

As a retired non-citizen, you are not allowed to undertake any paid work in Mauritius. However, if you want to invest your funds in a business activity, you are free to do so but you cannot work or hold office as a full time company director.

Is there any minimum period one is legally obliged to stay in Mauritius under an Occupation Permit or Residence Permit?

The law does not provide for a minimum number of days per year to stay in Mauritius under an Occupation Permit or Residence Permit. However, to be considered as a 'resident' for tax purposes, you should stay in Mauritius for a minimum of 183 days per calendar year.

Permanent Residence

If I am eligible for permanent residence, will my family be eligible?

The spouse and children under 18 of a Permanent Residence holder are eligible for permanent residence. An unmarried spouse will not obtain permanent residence, but will obtain a residence permit renewable every six months.

I understand that a permanent residence is for 10 years. What happens after 10 years?

After 10 years, you may apply for another 10-year permanent residence.

If I obtain permanent residence, do I need to continue satisfying the criteria for Occupation Permit or Residence Permit?

Yes, you should continue to satisfy the criteria. For example, if you are a professional, you should continue to earn a salary of at least Rs 150,000 per month. As an investor, you should continue to generate over Rs 3 million turnover per year. As a self employed, you should continue to derive an annual income exceeding Rs 600,000. As a retired non-citizen, you should continue to bring a minimum of 40,000 USD per year to Mauritius.

How does the Regulating Authorities check whether permit holders are respecting the criteria and conditions of the permit?

All professionals, self-employed or investors have to file an annual tax return with the Mauritius Revenue Authority. All employers have to register their employees with the tax office. They are therefore able to check whether your annual returns are in line with our criteria with regards to income/turnover. They may also ask you to provide information in the form of audited company accounts, pay slips, etc. The Tracking Team of the Passport and Immigration Office, on its side, is very active in field monitoring. The Team may check with employers whether the professionals employed under an Occupation Permit are working as per the conditions specified. Retired non-citizens on the other hand, will be requested to produce a certificate from their bank to show the amount of funds transferred to Mauritius annually.

We usually provide a service for annual filing with the authorities which we will discuss with you after you obtain a residence permit.

Are Medical Tests Required To Qualify for A Residence Permit in Mauritius?

Medical tests have to be done no longer than six months before date of submitting an application. The applicant and dependents are required to do a set of compulsory medical tests as set out below. Children under 12 years of age are not required to do blood tests.

List of medical tests required:

Blood tests for:
- Haemoglobin and Full Blood Count;
- Hepatitis B Surface Antigen;
- Anti HIV screening test for AIDS;
- VDRL test.
Urine tests for albumin and sugar;
Stool test for parasites;
Chest x-ray

Out of these tests, the following three tests should compulsorily be done in Mauritius: Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, HIV and Chest x-ray. These tests may be done at any private medical laboratory or clinic registered with the Ministry of Health. Although the remaining tests may be done in the applicant’s country before coming to Mauritius we recommend that all tests are done locally to speed up the process when submitting your applications.

All the tests results must be submitted to a local doctor who will issue a medical certificate after an examination. The medical certificate and the reports for the three tests done in Mauritius (HIV, Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and chest x-ray) must be submitted at the time of application.

Regrettably, No application for an Occupation Permit will be accepted if there is evidence that the applicant is suffering from any infectious or contagious disease.