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.

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.

• 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.

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.

Residence permit for pensioners

Foreign nationals over the age of 50 can retire to Mauritius with a residence permit.

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?

• ​​​​Investor: holder of an employment permit for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application for a permanent residence permit

• ​minimum annual gross income of at least MUR 15 million for the 3 years prior to application

• or a total turnover of MUR 45 million in any consecutive period of 3 years during his/her current 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.​​