Mauritius Premium Travel Visa
Mauritius MUS
Mauritius's Premium Travel Visa (introduced October 2020) is a 1-year renewable visa for foreign nationals from countries with which Mauritius has visa-free or visa-on-arrival arrangements (~110 countries) who wish to live and work remotely in Mauritius. The visa is FREE to apply for and confers full residence rights without conferring tax residency on foreign-source income — the holder remains exempt from Mauritian tax on income earned from outside Mauritius. The visa was originally designed as a COVID-era response and has been extended through subsequent renewals. Holders may bring spouse, children, and parents subject to the additional income proof.
Program Details
- Category
- Digital Nomad
- Processing Time
- 1 months
- Application Fee
- $0
- Minimum Income
- $1,500/mo
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- +USD 500/month per dependent
- Path to PR
- No
- Path to Citizenship
- No
- Physical Presence
- 1-year initial validity, renewable. No minimum presence requirement during the visa period.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Premium Travel Visa holders are NOT considered Mauritian tax residents and are exempt from Mauritian tax on foreign-source income for the duration of the visa, even if they remain in Mauritius for more than 183 days. This is a unique structural feature among nomad visas.
- Renewal Cost
- $0
USD 1,500/month for the principal applicant; +USD 500/month per accompanying dependent. Income must be from sources outside Mauritius.
Key Requirements
- ✓Citizenship of a country eligible for Mauritian visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry (~110 countries — full list at passport.govmu.org)
- ✓Monthly income of at least USD 1,500 from foreign sources (+USD 500 per dependent)
- ✓Valid passport (6+ months beyond visa)
- ✓Comprehensive travel + health insurance valid in Mauritius
- ✓Proof of accommodation in Mauritius
- ✓Long-term plans to remain (booking confirmations, work contracts)
Am I eligible for Mauritius Premium Travel Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $1,500/month.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Online application at edbmauritius.org
home countrySubmit online application via the Economic Development Board (EDB) Mauritius portal. No application fee. Upload passport, income proof, accommodation, insurance.
Typical duration: 1-4 weekssource ↗
- 02
Receive electronic visa, travel to Mauritius
destinationReceive electronic visa by email. Travel to Mauritius. On arrival, present visa + supporting documents at passport control. Initial 1-year stay granted.
Typical duration: Same weeksource ↗
- 03
Renewal at end of year 1
destinationApply for renewal via EDB portal before visa expiry. Same documentation requirements; same fees (free).
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport (6+ months) | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Income proof (USD 1,500+/month from foreign sources) | Bank / employer | No | en | 90 |
| Accommodation proof in Mauritius | Landlord / hotel | No | — | 90 |
| Travel + health insurance | Insurer | No | — | 365 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
No application fee — Mauritius Premium Visa is free. Most cost is health insurance + relocation. The 0% Mauritian tax on foreign-source income for the visa duration is a major structural benefit not captured in the fee table.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 12 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 12 months
- Renewal fee
- $0
- Requirements
- Continued income proof at USD 1,500/month threshold; valid passport, accommodation, insurance.
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Territorial (in-country only)
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Premium Visa Foreign-Income Exemption0% Mauritian tax on foreign-source income for the visa duration, regardless of physical presence in Mauritius
Premium Travel Visa holders only
source ↗
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse may accompany; separate work permit required for Mauritian employment
- Child school enrolment
- Children may attend international schools (Mauritius has ~30 international schools — French, English, IB curricula)
- Parent inclusion
- Eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Visa is FREE — beware third-party agencies charging fees for the application service
- ⚠Foreign-income tax exemption is unique: most nomad visas trigger tax residency at 183 days; Mauritius Premium Visa explicitly does not
- ⚠Renewal is annual; long-term residents typically convert to Permanent Residency or Occupation Permit
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment with Mauritian employers (separate work permit needed)
- ×Conversion to permanent residency without switching to a different permit category
Recent Legislative Changes
2024-01-01
Mauritius extended Premium Travel Visa eligibility list and digitised the renewal portal.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the visa really free?+
Yes — the application is administered by the Economic Development Board Mauritius and there is no government fee. Some agencies advertise fee-based 'fast-track' services; the official process is free and straightforward.
Will I become a Mauritian tax resident if I stay 6+ months?+
No — this is the visa's most distinctive feature. Premium Visa holders are explicitly exempted from Mauritian tax residency on foreign-source income, regardless of physical presence in Mauritius. Locally-earned income (Mauritian employer or Mauritian client) IS taxable; this exemption applies only to income earned from outside Mauritius.
How is this different from the Permanent Residency programme?+
The Premium Travel Visa is a 1-year renewable temporary visa for remote workers and is free. Permanent Residency requires USD 375,000+ property purchase and confers 10-year (renewable) residency with eventual citizenship pathway. The Premium Visa is for nomads / temporary stays; PR is for long-term commitment to Mauritius.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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