Residence permit for employment
Any person wishing to seek employment in Mauritius must obtain a residence permit issued by the Immigration and Passport Office and a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training.
What documents are required to obtain a residence permit for employment?
The main applicant must provide:
Application form for entry to Mauritius, completed and signed by the applicant or a representative on his behalf
Two recent photos of the passport applicant
A photocopy of the applicant's passport data pages
Sponsor letter from company or local counterpart
Documentary confirmation that an application for a work permit has been submitted.
The dependent (if necessary) must provide:
Applicant must provide documentary proof of family relationship if accompanied by family or any dependents, such as birth and marriage certificates
Two recent photos of the passport applicant
Children under the age of 24 can apply for a residence permit.
Additional information on a residence permit for employment:
An applicant who entered the country on a tourist or business visa will not be eligible to work in Mauritius.
If the applicant is abroad, he/she should ensure that approval is obtained from the relevant authorities (for example – residence permit) before starting any trip to Mauritius
The application must be submitted using the prescribed form "Application for entry to Mauritius"
All of the above documents must be submitted in original and a legible photocopy of each for consideration (the original will be returned after verification).
Dependents are not allowed to seek employment without a valid work permit.
Residence permit for internship
There are certain requirements for obtaining such a permit:
A non-citizen intending to undertake practical training or an on-the-job training or an internship for the purpose of improving qualifications must provide the Passport and Immigration Service with proof of acceptance from the relevant institution/business in Mauritius.
He/she must have a degree.
He/she must not receive remuneration in Mauritius.
How to apply for a residence permit for internship?
An application for a trainee residence permit must be submitted to the Passport and Immigration Service by the sponsoring Mauritian institution/business on behalf of the foreigner or by the foreigner himself.
What documents are required to obtain this permit?
Application for entry to Mauritius, duly completed and signed by the applicant
Two recent photos of the passport applicant
A photocopy of the biodata pages of his/her passport valid after the end of the period of stay
Documentary proof of acceptance/admission for a practical training course or an industrial placement or internship in a well-known and reputable local firm/companies in sectors such as textile, banking, hotel, consulting firms, professional organizations, etc., as part of the course requirements in the educational institutions abroad or in accordance with the requirements of the head office of the company located abroad
Details of the duration of the practical training/on-the-job training/internship and confirmation from the local firm/company accepting that the internship/training is full-time
Documentary confirmation from a foreign educational institution or business that the training to be undertaken in Mauritius is part of the course of study the applicants are undertaking or is a requirement for further training and experience of the trainee
A tripartite agreement involving the intern, the educational institution or business abroad and the host organization to Mauritius, duly signed by all parties and stamped by the institution and the host organization
Documentary proof of funds or financial ability to cover the costs of your stay in Mauritius, latest bank statement for a period of 6 months, sponsorship letter from parent or guardian, copy of ID card or passport of parent or guardian
Letter of accommodation (confirmation of address in Mauritius and a copy of the tenant's identity card)
A medical certificate stating that the applicant does not suffer from any contagious or infectious disease. HIV test, hepatitis B and chest X-ray taken in the country of origin.
What is the maximum period of internship in Mauritius?
The maximum duration of the internship shall be six (6) months.
Is it possible to extend the residence permit for internship?
Yes, the permit can be extended by first submitting the following documents:
Cover letter from the host organization
A letter from the institution to confirm if the intern needs to extend the permit
A new tripartite agreement involving the intern, the educational institution and the host organization, duly signed and sealed by all parties
Bank account statement
Letter of accommodation (confirmation of address in Mauritius and a copy of the tenant's identity card).
Additional information regarding the extension of a residence permit for internship:
Non-citizens traveling to Mauritius as tourists/visitors will not be granted any permit or visa extension for study/training.
Prospective students/interns are only allowed to travel to Mauritius once their application to study/train in Mauritius has been approved.
Residence permit through marriage
Any non-citizen who is civilly married to a Mauritian citizen has resident status under the Immigration Act.
How to apply for a residence permit?
Husband and wife must personally call the office to apply and receive a residence permit.
What documents must be submitted to obtain a permit?
The application for entry to Mauritius is filled out and signed by the applicant.
Birth certificate and national identity card of spouse/husband who must be a citizen of Mauritius and has not lost or renounced his/her Mauritian citizenship.
Two recent passport-sized photos of the applicant + dependents (if any)
Full birth certificate of the applicant duly legalized/attested by the competent authority
Civil Marriage Certificate (if the marriage took place outside Mauritius, the marriage certificate must be legalized/attested by a competent authority)
Divorce decision (court decision) of both parties (if available)
Death certificate of former spouse and certificate of previous marriage (if available)
A recent criminal record/certificate of previous convictions (less than six months from the date of issue) which must contain all names and the names of the applicant as per his birth certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of origin and residence
A letter from a Mauritian citizen who must state in writing whether he/she supports the application and whether he/she has/has not lost or renounced Mauritian citizenship
If a person has acquired any foreign citizenship, a certificate of foreign citizenship must be presented
A photocopy of the pages with the data of his valid passport and dependents (if any)
Complete birth certificate of the child/children. If you were born abroad, the certificate(s) must be duly legalised/attested by a competent authority and have a Hague Convention Apostille of 5 October 1961 by the relevant country of birth (where applicable)
Documentary proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself and your family (the most recent personal or joint bank statement from a bank in Mauritius or a payment statement from Mauritius for the last three months)
Any other documents required by the immigration officer.
How much does a residence permit by marriage cost?
The residence permit is free of charge.
Residence permit for pensioners
Foreign nationals over the age of 50 can retire to Mauritius with a residence permit.
What is the validity period of a residence permit for pensioners?
A residence permit for pensioners is issued for a maximum period of ten years with the possibility of extension in accordance with established criteria.
Permanent residence permit
A Permanent Resident Permit (PRP) is a permit that entitles a non-citizen to work and/or reside in Mauritius for a period of 20 years, provided the criteria are met.
What are the criteria for obtaining a permanent residence permit?
Qualified worker: holder of a work permit for at least 3 years with a basic monthly salary of at least MUR 150,000 for 3 consecutive years
Self-Employed: Holder of a work permit for the next 3 years who apply for a permanent residence permit before the application date, with an annual business profit of at least MUR 3 million for the next 3 years
Non-Citizen Retiree: Holder of residence permit as a non-citizen retiree for 3 years with remittance of at least USD 54,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency during the 3-year period preceding application
An investor who invests at least USD 375,000 in a qualified business activity:
Relevant activities: Agro-industry, Audio-visual equipment, Cinema and communications, Banking, Construction, Education, Environmentally clean and green energy products, Financial services, Fisheries and marine resources, Freeport, Information technology, Infrastructure, Insurance, Recreation, Manufacturing, Marina development, Tourism and warehousing, Primary public placement.
What documents must be submitted to obtain a permanent residence permit?
Presentation of the passport and provision of a copy of the page with biodata
Four recent passport-sized photographs (not older than three months)
An affidavit that the applicant has not been convicted of any criminal offense in their country of origin or residence within the last 10 years
In the case of the category "Investor, self-employed, non-citizen, professional" - a certificate of income from the Mauritius Revenue Authority for the last three years preceding his application
In the case of the "investor" category of USD 375,000, the applicant must provide a registration certificate issued by the Economic Development Board
In the case of a non-citizen pensioner, bank documentation that the applicant has remitted from abroad to Mauritius an amount of USD 54,000 or its equivalent in a freely convertible currency during each of the previous three years, and a copy
A medical certificate issued by a doctor in Mauritius, accompanied by the results of tests and the conclusion of a chest x-ray, as well as a copy of the documents.
Mauritian citizenship can be obtained at birth or later in life through naturalization.
Acquisition of citizenship by birth
Children born anywhere to at least one Mauritian parent who was born in Mauritius can acquire citizenship at birth, but children born abroad to Mauritian citizens cannot pass their citizenship on to their future children.
Acquisition of citizenship by naturalization
Naturalization may be granted to persons who understand English or another dialect of the territory and have resided in Mauritius for a sufficient period of time to prove that they understand the customs and traditions of the country. The general provisions are that applicants must be of good character and understand the duties of a citizen.
Generally, applicants must have lived in the country for six years.
Who can obtain citizenship by naturalization?
Citizenship can be obtained by:
Children legally adopted by one parent from Mauritius automatically acquire Mauritian citizenship at the completion of the legal adoption, with the proviso that if the adoption is by two parents, the spouse must be Mauritian
Minor children may be naturalized at the discretion of the authorities when their parents acquire citizenship
Wife of a citizen of Mauritius after four years of residence
Citizens of the Commonwealth are granted preferential naturalization
Individuals who have made significant investments in the development of the country, USD 500,000 since 1999, after fulfilling the two-year residency requirement.
Note: The Commonwealth is an association of independent states formerly part of the British Empire that recognize the British monarch as a symbol of free union.
Loss of citizenship
Citizens of Mauritius may renounce their citizenship pending approval by the state. Mauritians by birth cannot be deprived of their citizenship.
What are the reasons for losing citizenship?
Naturalized persons may be denaturalized in Mauritius:
for committing crimes against the state or state security
for ordinary crimes
for disloyal acts or behavior as if someone were a citizen of another country, such as voting in an election
staying outside the country for a long time without government permission
for fraud, misrepresentation or concealment in the application for registration.
Individuals who previously held citizenship and wish to repatriate, if they voluntarily lost their status through marriage and the marriage ended, must apply for reinstatement.
Can you buy Mauritius citizenship?
Mauritius requires a minimum investment of USD 500,000 to obtain a passport or USD 1 million for citizenship. The details of how a stateless passport will be issued are still being clarified. Mauritius passport holders already have visa-free access to the UK and Schengen countries.