The Occupational Permit (OP) is a combined work and residence permit that takes a variety of forms:

The Investor Permit

An investor, as defined under the Immigration Act, is a shareholder and director of a company incorporated in Mauritius under the Companies Act 2001.

An investor is eligible to apply for an Investor Occupational Permit under the following options:

Option 1:

By making an initial transfer of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible currency in the bank account of the company under which the application will be made.

Option 2:

If his/her company – existing or inherited – has a net asset value of at least USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency, as well as a cumulative turnover of at least MUR 12,000,000 during the three years preceding the application.

To renew an Investor Occupational Permit, the company should generate a minimum gross income of MUR 4,000,000 per year, as from its third year of registration.

Option 3:

By investing in high technology machines and equipment, an initial investment of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible currency, including:

1. A minimum transfer of at least USD 25,000 to the bank account of the company under which the application will be made;
2. The equivalent of the remaining value in high technology machines and equipment, subject to such criteria as the Chief Executive Officer may determine: 
   • The high technology machines and equipment will be evaluated based on the invoice issued by the supplier and a report from a recognised Chartered Valuator in the country of origin. 
   • In case the high technology machines and equipment is yet to be shipped to Mauritius, the investor should submit the bill of lading to the Occupation Permit Unit at time of submission of the application.
   • Investment in high technology machines and equipment must be in a qualifying activity, including but not limited to agro-industry, aquaculture, healthcare, ICT-BPO, fintech, life sciences, biotechnology, manufacturing, ocean economy and renewable energy.

Option 4

By being an investor for innovative start-ups.

Foreign nationals are eligible to apply for an Innovator Occupational Permit under the following 2 sub-options:

1. No minimum investment required and submission of an innovative project to the Economic Development Board.
2. Registered with an incubator accredited with the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council.

Eligibility criteria

• The business plan should clearly depict all expenditures related to Research & Development (R&D) activities.
• The scheme applies to companies conducting R&D in qualifying sectors, including but not limited to life and health sciences, technology, ICT, fintech, biotechnology, nano technology, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and design.
• The R&D expense component should constitute of at least 20% of total operational expenditure during the research phase.
• The Economic Development Board will assess, on a case-to-case basis, each project on its own merit, to determine its eligibility to the scheme.

The Professional Permit

A professional, as defined under the Immigration Act, is an expatriate employed in Mauritius by virtue of a contract of employment.

A professional should earn a monthly basic salary of at least MUR 60,000.

For professionals working in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), pharmaceutical manufacturing and food processing, the monthly basic salary should be at least MUR 30,000.

Professionals may also apply for a short-term Occupational Permit for a period not exceeding nine months. The Occupational Permit may be extended only once, for a period not exceeding three months.

The Young Professional Occupational Permit (YPOP)

Foreign students having completed at least an undergraduate degree in a tertiary education institution in Mauritius, are eligible to apply for a YPOP, as provided in Section 13 of the Economic Development Board Act 2017 and Section 9A of the Immigration Act 1970.

The YPOP is an Occupational Permit valid for a maximum of three years, depending on the duration of the employment contract.

Self-employed

A self-employed is defined as a non-citizen engaged in a professional activity under the services sector only, and registered with the Registrar of Businesses under the Business Registration Act.

A self-employed should operate a one-person business activity, working exclusively for his/her own.

A self-employed should make an initial transfer of USD 35,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency to his/her local bank account in Mauritius.

To renew his/her permit, the self-employed’s business activity should generate MUR 800,000 per year, as from the company’s third year of registration.

The dependents of an Occupational or Residence Permit holder

The dependents of an Occupational or Residence Permit holder are eligible to apply for a Residence Permit. Dependents are defined as the Occupational or Resident Permit holder’s spouse (including common law partner of the opposite sex), parents and children (including stepchildren or lawfully adopted children under 24 years old).

Application for a Residence Permit cannot be submitted online. Application for a dependent permit is submitted after obtention of the Occupational Permit by the main holder, at the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO).

The holder of an Occupational or Residence Permit is eligible to apply for a 20-year Residence Permit, provided s/he is:

• An investor who has been holding an Occupational Permit for at least three years and who benefits from:
  • a minimum annual gross income of at least MUR 15,000,000; or
  • an aggregate turnover of MUR 45,000,000 for any consecutive three-year period.
• An investor who invests at least USD 375,000 in a qualifying business activity.
• A professional who has been holding an Occupational Permit for at least three years and who has earned a basic monthly salary of at least MUR 150,000 for the three years.
• A self-employed who has been holding an Occupational Permit for at least three years and who has earned an annual business income of at least MUR 3,000,000 for the three years.
• A retired non-citizen who has been holding a Resident Permit for at least three years and who has transferred at least USD 54,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency for the three years.

Qualifying activities: agro-based industry, audio-visual, cinema and communication, banking, construction, education, environment-friendly and green energy products, financial services, fisheries and marine resources, freeport, information technology, infrastructure, insurance, leisure, manufacturing, marina development, tourism and warehousing, initial public offerings.

A retired non-citizen is defined as a 50+ year-old who is not a citizen of Mauritius. The latter should make an initial transfer of at least USD 1,500 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency, to his/her local bank account in Mauritius.

Thereafter, the retired non-citizen should transfer at least USD 1,500 monthly, or the aggregate of at least USD 18,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency per year, during the ten-year validity of his/her Retired Permit.

At the end of each year, the retired non-citizen should submit to the Economic Development Board, the evidence of transfer of funds into his/her local bank account.