Mauritius
MUSMauritius is an Indian Ocean island state with a high-income, well-developed financial-services economy and strong legal infrastructure inherited from French + British colonial history. English and French are official languages. Mauritius offers a robust suite of long-stay programmes: the 1-year renewable Premium Travel Visa for remote workers, the 10-year Permanent Residency permit for property buyers above USD 375,000, the Occupation Permit (employment / investor / self-employed / professional), and family schemes. Mauritius is on the FATF white list, has 47+ tax treaties, and is widely used as a structuring jurisdiction for India-Africa-Asia investment. Naturalisation requires 5 years of legal residence; dual citizenship is permitted.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Mauritian rupee (MUR)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Port Louis
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 1,260,000
- Cost-of-living
- 50 /100
Passport Rank
#28
Visa-Free
153
destinations
Country Details
- Capital
- Port Louis
- Currency
- Mauritian rupee (MUR)
- Languages
- English, French, Mauritian Creole
- Population
- 1,260,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical / oceanic
- English Proficiency Rank
- #21
Mauritius operates a 15% flat personal income tax (10% Solidarity Levy on income above MUR 3M brings effective rate to 25% for high earners). The Premium Visa holder regime exempts foreign-source income from Mauritian tax for the duration of the visa.
Indices
Cost of Living
50
Safety
70
Healthcare
70
Quality of Life
160
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Special Tax Regime
- Mauritius operates a 15% flat personal income tax (10% Solidarity Levy on income above MUR 3M brings effective rate to 25% for high earners). The Premium Visa holder regime exempts foreign-source income from Mauritian tax for the duration of the visa.
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Louis / Ebène | $750 | $540 | $320 | $90 | $30 |
| Grand Baie | $950 | $700 | $340 | $95 | $30 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Port Louis
Rainfall range: 60–165 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Ebene
Rainfall range: 65–180 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Premium Visa (Long-stay)
- Occupation Permit (Professional/Self-Employed/Investor/Retired)
- Family
- Student
- Permanent Residence Permit
- Authority
- Passport and Immigration Office (PIO)
- Official Portal
- passport.govmu.org
- Phone
- +230 213 2200
- pio@govmu.org
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $100
- Processing
- ~12 months
Real Estate
- Avg price/sqm (capital)
- $2,500
- Transaction taxes
- 5%
Foreign buyers: Foreign nationals may only purchase property in Mauritius through government-approved schemes: the Property Development Scheme (PDS), Smart City Scheme, Ground Floor Apartment Scheme, and similar. PDS properties must be above MUR 6 million (~USD 135,000) minimum. Port Louis MUR 80,000-150,000/sqm ($1,800-3,300). Grand Baie and Tamarin coastal areas command significant premiums ($3,000-5,000/sqm). Purchase under PDS schemes automatically grants permanent residency. Registration duty 5% (reduced for PDS approved schemes). No capital gains tax on property in Mauritius.
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Preparatory School Mauritius | Pamplemousses | British / IGCSE | $10,000–$16,000 |
| Le Bocage International School | Mont Ory | IB | $12,000–$20,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
95 Mbps median
80% fibre coverage
eSIM: Mauritius Telecom, Emtel, MTML
Driving
IDP required
Local licence required after 12 months
Exchange eligible: Drives on the LEFT. IDP valid for foreign visitors. Bilateral exchange agreements with several countries allow direct licence exchange without retesting — including UK, France, and others. Mauritian Roads and Traffic Authority (NTA) manages licence applications. Most EU and Commonwealth country holders can exchange directly.
Pet Relocation
Quarantine: none
Rabies titre required
EU pet passport: not accepted
Safety
GPI Rank
#26
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠taxi overcharging from SSR International Airport — negotiate fares in advance or use metered cabs
- ⚠"special deal" tours by unlicensed operators on beaches
- ⚠inflated prices at tourist-area restaurants without menus displayed
- ⚠online villa rental scams for peak season bookings
Examples of areas to avoid: Port Louis Plaine Verte and certain areas of the capital at night, Isolated beaches without lifeguards during cyclone season (Nov-Apr)
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Not recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- —
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Sample Citizenship Test Questions
Q1. Mauritius gained independence from Britain in which year?
Answer: 1968
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs — Mauritian Citizenship
Q2. What is the name of the extinct flightless bird that was native to Mauritius and is now a symbol of the island?
Answer: Dodo
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs — Mauritian Citizenship
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa Programs
Citizenship by Descent
Sources & last verified
- Last verified