Leaving the greyness of the cities to take to the sea and find something new on the shores of a paradise beach: who has not dreamt of this at least once? What was once a dream is becoming a reality for a growing number of French people who, shaken by the profound questions raised by the COVID health situation, decide to take the plunge. Mauritius has a place of choice among the dream destinations of entrepreneurs, employees or retirees who wish to soften their daily life, with or without children.
We have reviewed the steps involved in a successful expatriation project to Mauritius.
Contents
Preparing your long stay in Mauritius
How to set up for the long term: investment, retirement and property purchase
Preparing your long stay in Mauritius
Although the formalities for moving from one country to another are less onerous than is commonly believed, it is still necessary to prepare well for the move and arrival.
Visa and residence permit
There are several scenarios for expatriation, depending on whether you have already decided to reside for a long period of time, particularly in the case of employees and pensioners, or whether you prefer to stay for a tourist stay and possibly apply for a residence permit later. We will look at the details of long-term residence in a second section.
As far as tourist residence permits are concerned, they are valid for 3 months, easily renewable for another 3 months at the Passport and Immigration Office. Only a few conditions must be met to obtain it:
have a return ticket to the country of origin;
have a passport valid for more than 6 months after the date of return specified on the ticket;
be able to provide details of local hotel or rental accommodation;
a certificate of international vaccination against yellow fever and COVID-19.
Note: European, Swiss and Canadian residents do not need a visa for this type of residence permit.
Work, insurance, health coverage
Depending on your situation (employee, entrepreneur, job seeker, student, retiree), different steps will be necessary to successfully complete your arrival in Mauritius.
As an employee, if you have already found a job there, do not forget to ask your company for all the information concerning the facilities offered locally, in particular concerning your social security cover or childcare facilities.
People looking for a job on the island, whether you are in professional transition or following your spouse, can do so very easily thanks to Mauritius' well-developed economic fabric and infrastructure. For example, by visiting the Meet Your Job or MyJob websites. Many of our clients have quickly found a salaried or freelance job through these services.
Children: daycare or school
Parents, don't worry: Mauritius offers well-developed childcare and education facilities, either in French high schools or on the British school model. You can contact any of the schools or nurseries on the island directly. In any case, you will need to present a birth certificate, a copy of the school book, transcripts and a certificate of expulsion from the school of origin.
Moving to a home on the island
Of course, you will need an address to stay on the island. Whether you have a return date planned or you already know you want to and can stay on the island permanently, Ilkeys Realty offers a wide range of accommodation, villas and flats to rent for any length of time, or to buy.
Once you have found your destination address, you will have to organise the move. There are many companies that can take care of the move from any country to Mauritius, even if you are at a distance!
How to set up for the long term: investment, retirement and property purchase
Now you know: the quality of life on the island has convinced you to stay for a long time and to officially expatriate. There are several types of permits and procedures to follow to make your dream come true!
Retired residence permit
This permit is initially issued for three years, renewable for ten years. The following conditions must be met:
not be a Mauritian national;
be over 50 years of age;
not working
not being a majority shareholder in a Mauritian company
make a monthly transfer of $1500 to a local account in Mauritius
Pensioners can apply for permanent residence after three years if they have fulfilled these conditions and are able to provide evidence of this.
Employee and contractor permits
Employees can obtain a three-year residence permit, renewable for 10 years thereafter, provided they earn a basic monthly gross salary of 150,000 Mauritian rupees, or about US$ 3,500 and EUR 2,900.
As for entrepreneurs, the conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit after 3 years are stricter, as they have to transfer $35,000 (about '29,500) and prove a cumulative income over three years of about 60,000 dolalrs (about '60,000).
Occupation permits for investors
Mauritian law recognises several types of investors, namely in machinery, start-ups, and real estate.
Good to know: by investing $500,000 in a property, real estate investors can automatically become permanent residents of the island for as long as they own the property, provided they stay at least 183 days per year on Mauritian soil.