Issue · October 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · Mauritius

Mauritius

Mauritius runs a Premium Visa expressly for remote workers, retirees and long-stay visitors: free of charge, valid up to one year, renewable, on proof of roughly USD 1,500 a month per adult from sources outside the island. Above it sit the Occupation Permits for the self-employed and for locally employed professionals, whose thresholds were rewritten in the June 2026 Budget and the Finance Act 2026. The thing to know before applying is that the Premium Visa keeps the holder out of the local labour market entirely, and money paid into a Mauritian bank account is taxable unless a declaration is made that tax was paid on it abroad.

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Researched 9 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Nomad visa

    Premium Visa

    Mauritius Premium Visa (also styled Premium Travel Visa)

    Remote employees and freelancers paid from outside Mauritius, retirees and long-stay visitors who want to stay more than 180 days in a calendar year, with or without family.

    Income floor
    USD 1,500 per month for each adult applicant and USD 500 per month for each dependent child under 24, evidenced by three months of bank statements plus an employment contract or attestation of monthly revenue (EDB FAQ, November 2023). Some private guides describe the requirement as USD 1,500 for the applicant doubling for a spouse, which matches the per-adult wording; an earlier private summary quoting USD 250 per child does not match the EDB document.
    Duration
    More than six months up to one year, multi-entry, renewable; the EDB FAQ states no limit on renewals and applicants on forums report renewing two or more times. Issued for one year from the date of arrival when applied for abroad; when applied for in-country on a tourist stay, validity is aligned to the health insurance and return ticket, which must cover more than six months.
    Cost
    Free. The EDB states there is no processing fee. The USD 50 application fee introduced for Occupation and Retired Residence Permits from 1 December 2025 does not apply to the Premium Visa.
    Processing
    No statutory time is published. Applicants on the Expat.com forum report about 41 days for a first grant and eight weeks or more for renewals.
    Eligibility
    Nationals of the 114 countries in the EDB annex may apply before travel; others enter on a tourist visa and apply from inside Mauritius. The applicant must not enter the Mauritian labour market, the main place of business and source of income must be outside Mauritius, and travel and health insurance must cover the initial stay. Other basic immigration requirements apply.
    Work rights
    Remote work for employers or clients abroad only. The holder must not enter the Mauritian labour market; a foreigner working for a local branch or subsidiary needs a work or occupation permit instead.
    Dependants
    Spouse and dependent children under 24 can be included; each adult needs USD 1,500 a month and each child USD 500 a month in evidenced income.
    Leads to
    No direct path. Time on a Premium Visa does not count toward the 20-year Permanent Residence Permit; the EDB FAQ points holders who want to work or invest locally to an Occupation Permit or a retired non-citizen Residence Permit.
    Apply
    Online only, through the EDB business portal (business.edbmauritius.org); the e-visa is emailed. No consulate visit or appointment.

    Documents Online Premium Visa application form · Passport bio-data page and passport-size photo · Airline ticket including a return ticket for a stay beyond six months · Travel and health insurance for the intended stay · Accommodation letter: hotel booking, rental agreement or host invitation with proof of address and host ID or residence permit · Bank statements for the last three months · Proof of monthly income: employment contract or attestation of monthly revenue · Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates in English or French, plus consent letter where one parent travels alone · Certified English or French translation of any foreign-language document

    Official page →

  2. Freelance / self-employed

    Self-Employed Occupation Permit

    Occupation Permit – Self-Employed

    Freelancers and consultants who want to serve Mauritian clients or run a one-person services business from the island, and who can front USD 50,000.

    Income floor
    An initial transfer of USD 50,000 into a local business bank account (EDB rules as described in Sunibel's 2026 guide, pre-Budget). Under the Finance Act 2026 the business must show a minimum annual business income of MUR 2 million from year three and MUR 3 million for renewal from year five (EDB, August 2026). The EDB's August 2026 note does not restate the initial transfer figure.
    Duration
    10 years, renewable subject to the income tests.
    Cost
    A USD 50 application fee applies from 1 December 2025. The full EDB fee schedule was not retrieved for this month.
    Processing
    Approval in principle is issued within 15 to 20 working days according to Sunibel; no statutory deadline is published.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; service activities only; the applicant works for their own account; standard immigration checks apply.
    Work rights
    Local clients allowed; the holder may also serve foreign clients. Local salaried employment falls under the Professional category instead.
    Dependants
    Spouse, children and parents may apply for residence as dependants; the spouse of an Occupation Permit holder does not need a separate permit to work in Mauritius (Sunibel).
    Leads to
    Yes. After three years on an Occupation Permit the holder may apply for a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit, subject to EDB criteria. Citizenship is a separate naturalisation process not tied to the permit.
    Apply
    Online via the EDB's National Electronic Licensing System, in-country or from abroad.

    Documents Passport and photograph · Proof of the USD 50,000 transfer to a Mauritian business bank account · Business plan and evidence of the service activity · Health and character documents as requested by the EDB

    Official page →

  3. Long stay

    Professional Occupation Permit

    Occupation Permit – Professional (merged ProPass and Expert Pass)

    Remote workers whose employer sets up or already has a Mauritian entity and hires them locally; anyone taking a job with a Mauritian company.

    Income floor
    Minimum basic monthly salary of MUR 50,000 across all sectors under the Finance Act 2026 (EDB, August 2026). Before the 2026 Budget the ProPass floor was MUR 30,000 and the Expert Pass MUR 250,000.
    Duration
    10 years, renewable on continued employment.
    Cost
    USD 50 application fee from 1 December 2025; full fee schedule not retrieved.
    Processing
    Approval in principle within 15 to 20 working days according to Sunibel.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; a Mauritian employer and an employment contract at or above the salary floor; transitional provisions for existing ProPass and Expert Pass holders.
    Work rights
    Local employment with the sponsoring employer.
    Dependants
    Spouse, children and parents may reside as dependants; the spouse may work without a separate permit (Sunibel).
    Leads to
    Yes. Eligible for a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit after three years on the permit, subject to EDB criteria.
    Apply
    Online via the EDB's National Electronic Licensing System.

    Documents Passport and photograph · Employment contract from the Mauritian employer at MUR 50,000 basic or more · Employer's company documents · Qualifications and character documents as requested by the EDB

    Official page →

  4. Investor

    Investor Occupation Permit

    Occupation Permit – Investor

    Founders who want to run a real company from Mauritius; rarely used by nomads and only worth it for a genuine business.

    Income floor
    Minimum initial investment of USD 100,000 (Finance Act 2026), with annual turnover of MUR 5 million from year three and MUR 8 million for renewal from year five. Innovative start-ups may be judged on performance indicators instead.
    Duration
    10 years, renewable subject to the turnover tests.
    Cost
    USD 50 application fee from 1 December 2025; full fee schedule not retrieved.
    Processing
    Approval in principle within 15 to 20 working days according to Sunibel.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; investment into a Mauritian company; the EDB stresses business sustainability, economic substance and transparency.
    Work rights
    Runs and works in the Mauritian company; local clients allowed.
    Dependants
    Spouse, children and parents as dependants; spouse may work without a separate permit (Sunibel).
    Leads to
    Yes, 20-year Permanent Residence Permit after three years subject to criteria.
    Apply
    Online via the EDB's National Electronic Licensing System.

    Documents Passport and photograph · Proof of the USD 100,000 investment · Company incorporation documents and business plan

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / SwitzerlandNo visa required; tourist stays are capped at a cumulative 180 days per calendar year, with the Passport and Immigration Office granting up to six months case by caseNo published rule addresses remote work on a tourist stay. The EDB says the Premium Visa is required only for stays beyond 180 days in a calendar year, and applicant reports treat short remote-working stays as tolerated. Grey rather than expressly permitted.
  • United KingdomNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismSame position: not addressed in published rules, tolerated in practice as reported, Premium Visa expected beyond 180 days.
  • United StatesNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismSame position as above; grey.
  • CanadaNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismSame position as above; grey.
  • AustraliaNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismSame position as above; grey.
  • IndiaNo visa required (Passport and Immigration Office list dated 22 June 2022); cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismIndia is on the EDB annex, so Indian nationals may apply for the Premium Visa before travel. Remote work on a tourist stay is not addressed in published rules.
  • BrazilNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismOn the EDB Premium Visa annex; remote work on a tourist stay not addressed in published rules.
  • South AfricaNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismSouth Africans are the largest reported Premium Visa user group; remote work on a tourist stay not addressed in published rules.
  • TurkeyNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismOn the EDB Premium Visa annex; remote work on a tourist stay not addressed.
  • JapanNo visa required; cumulative 180 days per calendar year for tourismOn the EDB Premium Visa annex; remote work on a tourist stay not addressed.
  • RussiaNo visa required (2022 list)On the EDB Premium Visa annex; remote work on a tourist stay not addressed.
  • Philippines / Nigeria / PakistanPhilippines: visa for 60 days on arrival. Nigeria: visa for two weeks on arrival. Pakistan: visa required before travel (2022 list)None of the three is on the EDB annex, so a Premium Visa application must be lodged from inside Mauritius during a tourist stay.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
An individual is tax resident for an income year (1 July to 30 June) if present in Mauritius for at least 183 days in that year, or for 270 days or more in aggregate over that year and the two preceding years, or if domiciled in Mauritius unless the permanent place of abode is outside the country (PwC, reviewed 15 June 2026). Residence is not conferred by the Premium Visa itself; a treaty tie-breaker looks first at permanent home and centre of vital interests, with day counts only as a later test (Magellan, July 2026).
Special regime
No newcomer or nomad regime. Residents are taxed on worldwide income, but foreign-source income is taxable only to the extent received in Mauritius. For Premium Visa holders the EDB states that Mauritian-source income, including pay for work done remotely from the island, is taxed on a remittance basis; spending through foreign credit or debit cards is not a remittance, while money deposited in a Mauritian bank account is taxable unless a declaration is made that tax was paid on it in the country of origin or residence. Rates from 1 July 2025: 0% on the first MUR 500,000 of chargeable income, 10% on the next MUR 500,000, 20% above. A Fair Share Contribution of 15% applies to net income above MUR 12 million for income years from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028.
Social security
The Contribution Sociale Généralisée applies to employment in Mauritius: employee 1.5% and employer 3% on monthly salary up to MUR 50,000, employee 3% and employer 6% above that, plus National Savings Fund levies. PwC records no exemption for non-citizens. A Premium Visa holder with no Mauritian employer is outside this payroll system; the self-employed CSG position for permit holders was not verified for this month. Mauritius has no published certificate-of-coverage arrangements with the countries whose nationals most use the visa, so home-country contributions continue under home rules.
Treaties
Mauritius allows a unilateral foreign tax credit limited to the Mauritian tax on the same foreign income, and treaty relief where a double taxation agreement gives more. The partner list was not opened for this month, so coverage is not stated here. In practice a remote employee who stays under the residence tests and is paid abroad has little Mauritian exposure; one who passes 183 days and brings pay into a local account can be taxed on it, and a Tax Residence Certificate from the Mauritius Revenue Authority is what banks and foreign tax offices rely on for treaty relief.

Practicalities

Bank account
Banks ask for a passport, proof of address such as a rental contract or utility bill, and proof of income or funds. Applicants on the Expat.com forum report that ABSA opened accounts on a Premium Visa with only the visa, passport and proof of address; other banks are reported as stricter with non-residents. Deposits into a local account fall within the Premium Visa tax rule above.
SIM registration
Mandatory under the ICT Authority's SIM registration regulations of 2023. Tourists show a passport or travel document and an address of stay; resident non-citizens show the passport data page, a residence or occupation permit and a recent utility bill or proof of address.
Health insurance
Travel and health insurance covering the whole intended stay is a condition of the Premium Visa and sets its validity when applied for in-country. Occupation Permit holders are not on a public scheme by right; private cover is the norm.
Address registration
No separate municipal registration was found. Proof of accommodation is instead built into the visa and permit applications, and operators and banks ask for a utility bill or lease.
Tax number and filing
Residents and anyone with Mauritian-source income deal with the Mauritius Revenue Authority, whose income year runs 1 July to 30 June; a Tax Residence Certificate is issued on application once residence is met. The specific process for obtaining a tax account number was not verified.
Extensions and overstay
The Passport and Immigration Office issues visas and extensions of stay free of charge. No published fine schedule for overstaying was found; the Immigration Act provides for removal, and the EDB advises submitting a Premium Visa renewal before expiry to avoid overstaying.

Mauritius: a free one-year Premium Visa, and a pricier permit ladder above it

Where remote workers base and why

Mauritius sells itself on the Premium Visa's simplicity: no fee, an online form, an emailed e-visa and no requirement to be inside the country when applying for most Western, Indian, Brazilian, South African and Turkish passports. The visa exists because the government wanted long-stay spending after the pandemic, and it has kept it with only minor document changes since.

The trade-off is cost of living relative to the region and the tax rule on local bank deposits. Remote workers who keep their pay abroad and spend on foreign cards fall outside Mauritian income tax under the EDB's published treatment, which is why most stay on the Premium Visa rather than moving to an Occupation Permit unless they need local clients or a route to permanent residence.

Grand Baie and the north-west coast, the Tamarin and Black River side, and the Ebene business district near Port Louis are the areas most referenced by applicants for coworking and rentals, though official material does not rank them.

What applicants report about the process

First-time Premium Visa grants are reported at around six weeks, with one Expat.com poster citing 41 days. Renewals run longer, at eight weeks or more, and at least one applicant was asked to resubmit documents already supplied. Another reported two straightforward renewals, and an EDB officer is quoted as confirming there is no cap on renewals so long as the conditions are met each time.

Because the Premium Visa can be lodged from inside Mauritius during a tourist stay, the common pattern is to arrive visa-free, secure a lease, buy insurance covering more than six months and then apply. When applying from abroad the visa is issued for one year but must be used for travel within six months, and the year starts on arrival.

Occupation Permit applicants describe the National Electronic Licensing System as workable but document-heavy, with approval in principle in three to four weeks and the final permit after the applicant is in the country. The June 2026 Budget changes have introduced transitional provisions for existing ProPass and Expert Pass holders, and private advisers are still updating their guidance on the initial USD 50,000 self-employed transfer, which the EDB's August 2026 note does not restate.

Banking, money and daily admin

Opening an account is possible on a Premium Visa but bank-dependent; ABSA is the name applicants cite most often for accepting the visa, passport and proof of address. A local account is convenient for rent and a Mauritian SIM, but it triggers the EDB's rule that money deposited locally is taxable unless the holder declares that tax has been paid on it abroad. Many nomads therefore keep a foreign account and card for most spending.

SIM cards must be registered against a passport and an address under the 2023 regulations, and resident non-citizens must also show their permit and a utility bill. Visas and extensions from the Passport and Immigration Office are free.

What is changing

The largest shift this year is above the nomad tier: the Finance Act 2026 doubled the investor threshold to USD 100,000, merged the two professional passes at MUR 50,000 a month, set business-income tests for the self-employed from year three, created a Technical category and abolished the Family Occupation Permit. None of this touches the Premium Visa's conditions, which still trace to the November 2023 FAQ.

The Budget 2026-27 also announced a pre-travel e-Visa or Electronic Travel Authorisation for all non-citizens with a fee to be prescribed. No launch date or exemption list has been published, so for September 2026 visa-exempt travellers still arrive without pre-clearance. The Fair Share Contribution on incomes over MUR 12 million runs until 30 June 2028 and is unlikely to touch a typical remote worker.

Researched from edbmauritius.org · edbmauritius.org · edbmauritius.org · passport.govmu.org · passport.govmu.org · residency.mu · taxsummaries.pwc.com · taxsummaries.pwc.com · taxsummaries.pwc.com · taxsummaries.pwc.com · the authority