Mauritius Residence Options for UAE Residents
An overview of the investor, self-employed, professional, retirement, property and permanent residence routes available to UAE-based founders, professionals and families considering Mauritius.
Mauritius offers several residence and permit routes, and the right one depends on your profession, your income structure and whether you plan to work in Mauritius or manage foreign interests from there. For UAE residents, the most common routes are the Investor, Self-Employed and Professional Occupation Permits, each administered by the EDB with its own investment or income threshold. Those who do not intend to work locally can consider the Premium Visa, which allows an extended stay without access to the Mauritian labour market, or, from age 50, the Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit.
Property buyers can obtain residence linked to a qualifying real estate purchase under schemes such as PDS, IRS, RES, Smart City or G+2. After five years on a qualifying permit, a Permanent Residence Permit becomes possible under an investor or professional route. Each permit carries specific financial thresholds, renewal conditions and reporting obligations, and the EDB reviews compliance against those conditions over time; some permits, such as the Investor Occupation Permit, can be revoked if turnover targets are not met.
Dependants, including a spouse, children and parents, can generally be added under a dependant permit once the main applicant holds a qualifying permit. This page sets out the main options, how they typically map to different profiles, and what to check before choosing one. Processing times vary and cannot be promised, and every case should be reviewed individually against current EDB rules before an application is filed.
How to Approach the Choice
Choosing the right route
The Investor and Self-Employed Occupation Permits suit those actively running a business from Mauritius, with different capital and turnover thresholds. The Professional Occupation Permit suits an employee on a Mauritius payroll meeting the minimum salary. The Premium Visa and Retired Non-Citizen Permit suit those who want a base in Mauritius without joining the local labour market.
Bringing dependants
A spouse, children and parents of a permit holder can generally obtain a dependant permit once the main application is approved, and a spouse holding a dependant permit may work in Mauritius. The Family Occupation Permit contribution scheme was abolished in the 2026-27 Budget, so dependant status now runs through the main permit holder rather than a separate family investment route.
Timelines are not fixed
Processing times depend on the permit category, the completeness of the file and the volume of applications the EDB is handling, and no timeline can be promised in advance. Gathering documents, source-of-funds evidence and business or employment details before filing is the main factor within an applicant's control.
What the EDB reviews
Beyond the initial application, several permits carry ongoing conditions: minimum turnover or income from year three, higher thresholds at renewal in year five, and compliance reviews against the figures declared at application. The Investor Occupation Permit, for example, can be revoked if turnover targets are missed, so the underlying business plan should be realistic, not aspirational.
The Main Residence Routes
Investor Occupation Permit
For founders setting up or investing in a Mauritius company. The minimum investment is USD 100,000; the former USD 50,000 option is no longer available for new applications. From year three, the business must generate turnover of at least MUR 5 million per year, rising to at least MUR 8 million for renewal in year five. The permit is granted for up to 10 years, subject to ongoing compliance review, and can be revoked if the turnover targets are not met. It suits UAE residents who intend to actively build and run a business based in Mauritius.
Self-Employed Occupation Permit
For an individual providing a professional or business service on their own account rather than through a company with employees. The initial investment required is USD 50,000. Business income must reach at least MUR 2 million per year from year three, rising to at least MUR 3 million for renewal in year five. This route suits consultants, freelancers and small service providers relocating from the UAE who want to trade individually in Mauritius rather than set up a full company structure, subject to meeting the income conditions at each review point.
Professional Occupation Permit
For an individual employed under a Mauritius employment contract, combining a work permit and residence permit in a single category. The minimum basic salary is MUR 50,000 per month. This route suits UAE residents taking up an executive, technical or specialist role with a Mauritius-based employer, rather than those setting up their own business. It does not, on its own, provide the higher-turnover route to Permanent Residence available to investors, but five preceding years at a basic salary of at least MUR 400,000 per month can qualify a professional for permanent residence under the professional route.
Premium Visa
For those who want to spend extended periods in Mauritius without joining the local labour market. It is granted for up to one year and is renewable, but the holder's professional activity and income must remain outside Mauritius throughout. It suits UAE residents who work remotely for a UAE or other foreign employer, or run a business based outside Mauritius, and want a lifestyle base on the island without applying for a work-linked permit.
Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit
For applicants aged 50 and above who wish to retire in Mauritius. It requires a monthly transfer into Mauritius of at least USD 2,000, or at least USD 24,000 over a year. The permit runs for 10 years and is renewable. It does not permit local employment; it is designed for UAE-based retirees living on pension, investment or other income earned outside Mauritius.
Property-linked residence
Buying qualifying real estate under schemes such as PDS, IRS, RES, Smart City or G+2 gives the buyer and their dependants a residence permit tied to ownership, provided the purchase price is at least USD 375,000. This route suits UAE residents who want a residence status linked directly to a property investment rather than to a business or employment situation, and it can be combined with other activities subject to the applicable permit conditions.
Permanent Residence Permit
Available after five years of continuously holding a qualifying permit. Under the investor route, it requires turnover of at least MUR 15 million per year over five years, or MUR 75 million in aggregate, or a direct investment of USD 375,000; under the professional route, a basic salary of at least MUR 400,000 per month over the five preceding years. It runs for 20 years and removes the need to renew an underlying occupation permit each cycle, subject to meeting the applicable threshold at the time of application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Mauritius permit is right for me as a UAE resident?
It depends on your situation. If you plan to run a business from Mauritius, the Investor or Self-Employed Occupation Permit is usually the starting point, depending on capital and structure. If you are taking a job with a Mauritius employer, the Professional Occupation Permit applies. If you do not intend to work in Mauritius, the Premium Visa or, from age 50, the Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit may fit better. A confidential review of your income, business plan and family situation is the reliable way to identify the right route, subject to eligibility.
Can my spouse, children and parents come with me?
Generally yes. Once the main applicant holds a qualifying permit, a spouse, children and parents can apply for a dependant permit. A spouse holding a dependant permit may also work in Mauritius. The former Family Occupation Permit contribution scheme has been abolished under the 2026-27 Budget, so family members are now attached to the main applicant's permit rather than obtained through a separate investment route.
How long does it take to get a Mauritius residence permit?
Processing times vary by permit category and by how complete the application file is, and no timeline can be promised in advance. Preparing the required documents, proof of funds and business or employment evidence before submission is the main way to avoid delays, but the EDB's own processing time is outside an applicant's control.
Is the Mauritius Golden Visa an option for UAE residents?
A USD 1 million Golden Visa was announced in the Mauritius Budget 2026-27, but its entry into force has not been confirmed. It should not be treated as available until the scheme is formally in place; check current status before including it in any plan.
Can I keep working for my UAE employer while living in Mauritius?
The Premium Visa is designed for this: it allows an extended stay of up to one year, renewable, provided your professional activity and income remain outside Mauritius. If you take up local employment or start earning Mauritius-source business income, a different permit, such as the Professional or Self-Employed Occupation Permit, would generally apply instead.
What happens if my business does not meet the turnover targets under the Investor Occupation Permit?
The Investor Occupation Permit requires turnover of at least MUR 5 million per year from year three and at least MUR 8 million for renewal in year five, and compliance is reviewed against those figures. Missing the targets can lead to the permit being revoked, so the underlying business plan should reflect a realistic, achievable level of activity rather than a best-case projection.
Can buying property in Mauritius give me residence without a business?
Yes. Purchasing qualifying real estate under schemes such as PDS, IRS, RES, Smart City or G+2, at a minimum price of USD 375,000, gives the buyer and dependants a residence permit tied to the property. This route does not require running a business or taking local employment, and it can suit UAE residents whose main interest is a base in Mauritius rather than commercial activity there.
How do I move from a temporary permit to Permanent Residence?
After five years of continuously holding a qualifying permit, Permanent Residence becomes possible. The investor route requires turnover of at least MUR 15 million per year over the five years (or MUR 75 million in aggregate) or a direct investment of USD 375,000; the professional route requires a basic salary of at least MUR 400,000 per month over the same five years. Permanent Residence is granted for 20 years, subject to meeting the applicable threshold at the time of application.