Working in Mauritius in 2026: Visas and work permits (complete guide)

Maurice is not someone you can just wing.

If you're looking for how working in Mauritius In 2026, the key is to choose the good status (Occupation Permit, Work Permit, Premium Visa…) then follow the correct procedure (NELS / e-Work Permit Portal) with the required supporting documents. This guide clearly explains the options, conditions, official costs, and steps, with concrete examples.residency.mu)

Understanding the difference: visa, Occupation Permit, Work Permit and residence

In Mauritius, people often confuse “visa” and “right to work”. In practice:

The visa (tourism, long stays…) mainly manages the’entrance and the length of stay.
The Occupation Permit (OP) is the flagship title for live and work legally in Mauritius in several categories (Professional, Self-Employed, Investor, Young Professional).residency.mu)
The Work Permit is another route (Ministry of Labour + Passport & Immigration Office), generally used outside the OP scheme (depending on profiles/sectors) and relies on a dedicated portal (e-Work Permit Portal). (e-gov.mu)

Important point (2026 fees): The EDB indicates that a Application fee of USD 50 (non-refundable) is in effect since December 1, 2025 for Occupation Permit and Residence Permit applications.residency.mu)

What status should I choose to work in Mauritius in 2026?

Here are the most frequent cases:

You have been recruited by a company in Mauritius. → Occupation Permit (Professional). (residency.mu)
You are a freelance/consultant (local and international clients) → Occupation Permit (Self-Employed). (residency.mu)
You are starting/running a business in Mauritius → Occupation Permit (Investor) (according to the scheme and the revenue/renewal criteria).residency.mu)
You come to work remotely, without entering the Mauritian job market. → Premium Visa (telework). (residency.mu)
You are a graduate of a Mauritian institution → Young Professional Occupation Permit (YPOP). (residency.mu)

Simple rule: if your employer/clients and your income are Mauritians, you are aiming for a work permit (often via the Occupation Permit). If your income remains abroad and that you do not enter the Mauritian market, the Premium Visa may be sufficient (teleworking only).residency.mu)

Key permits for working in Mauritius in 2026 (conditions + rights)

1) Occupation Permit (Professional): employee recruited in Mauritius

The “Professional” permit is aimed at expatriates employees in Mauritius (local or multinational company). The official EDB website specifies a minimum monthly basic salary of 30,000 MUR and a validity that can go up to 10 years depending on the contract duration.residency.mu)

Right to invest: A holder of a “Professional” OP can invest, but without being employed within the company and without perceiving salary/benefits from this company; he may also hold shares in the company that employs him, provided he does not hold a majority stake.residency.mu)

Concrete example: You sign a 3-year contract in Ébène (tech/finance sector). If your base salary is 45,000 MUR/month, you are above the minimum and can aim for a "Professional" OP aligned with the contract duration.residency.mu)

2) Occupation Permit (Self-Employed): freelance / consultant

The "Self-Employed" permit is designed for self-employed individuals (service providers). The EDB specifically mentions:

Minimum investment: 50,000 USD in professional activity.residency.mu)
Commercial evidence: 3 letters of intent, of which 2 of potential local customers.residency.mu)
Income criteria: minimum income/business income of 750,000 MUR from year 1, progressing up to a cumulative amount of 6 million MUR by year 5 (according to the renewal criteria indicated).residency.mu)

Important point to note: The EDB specifies that the initial transfer of funds (USD 50,000) must be carried out within 60 days following the issuance of the permit.residency.mu)

3) Occupation Permit (Investor): entrepreneur / manager

The “Investment of USD 50,000” (EDB) scheme is an entry point for entrepreneurs. Key features include:

Minimum investment: 50,000 USD. (residency.mu)
Validity: 10 years, renewable.residency.mu)
Revenue targets: 1.5 million MUR minimum from year 1, and 20 million cumulative MUR by year 5; then 5 million MUR/year from year 6 (renewal criterion mentioned).residency.mu)

Starting a business: EDB refers to the Corporate and Business Registration Department (CBRD) via the business registration platform. (residency.mu)

4) Young Professional Occupation Permit (YPOP): young graduates in Mauritius

The YPOP is aimed at foreign students who have graduated from a higher education institution in Mauritius (or hold a recognized professional qualification), with a minimum monthly basic salary of 25,000 MUR and a maximum validity indicated at 3 years according to the contract.residency.mu)

5) Premium Visa: live in Mauritius and work remotely (without a local job)

THE Premium Visa (EDB) allows you to stay more than 6 months and up to 1 year, renewable, for tourist, retired or professional profiles in telework. Key conditions include: not entering the Mauritian labor market, having one's source of income outside Mauritius, and possessing travel/health insurance for the initial period. The visa is indicated. free (no processing fee).residency.mu)

Taxation (teleworking): The EDB mentions a principle of taxation "on a remittance basis" for certain Mauritian income of a Premium Visa holder and specifies conditions regarding sums deposited in a Mauritian bank account. (To be validated on a case-by-case basis with a tax advisor.)residency.mu)

Summary table 2026: permits, criteria and official fees (overview)

Quick comparison of options for working in Mauritius

Status	For whom?	Main criteria (official extracts)	Duration	Fees (excluding additional costs)
OP Professional	Employee recruited in Mauritius	Minimum monthly base salary. 30,000 WALLS (residency.mu)	Until 10 years according to contract (residency.mu)	Depending on duration: up to 1,000 USD (price list on the EDB page) + 50 USD application fees (since 01/12/2025) (residency.mu)
OP Self-Employed	Freelance / consultant	50,000 USD + 3 letters of intent (including 2 local ones) + minimum income. 750,000 MUR from year 1 (residency.mu)	10 years renewable (residency.mu)	1,000 USD “upon approval” + 50 USD application fees (since 01/12/2025) (residency.mu)
OP Investor (USD 50k)	Entrepreneur / manager	50,000 USD + revenue targets (1.5M MUR year 1; 20M cumulative year 5; 5M/year from year 6 onwards) (residency.mu)	10 years renewable (residency.mu)	1,000 USD “upon approval” + 50 USD application fees (since 01/12/2025) (residency.mu)
YPOP	Young graduate in Mauritius	Minimum monthly base salary. 25,000 MUR (residency.mu)	Max 3 years according to contract (residency.mu)	150 to 300 USD depending on duration (scale on the EDB page) + 50 USD application fees (since 01/12/2025) (residency.mu)
Premium Visa	Remote work / long stay	Income earned outside Mauritius, no access to the labor market, insurance (residency.mu)	From >6 months to 1 year, renewable (residency.mu)	Free (no processing fee indicated)residency.mu)

Steps: How to obtain a work permit in Mauritius (operational checklist)

Step 1 — Validate the category and the correct channel (NELS vs e-Work Permit)

For most expatriate profiles “executives / entrepreneurs / freelancers”: career path Occupation Permit via the official platform (NELS / Business EDB).residency.mu)
For a journey Work Permit (Ministry of Labour): filing via the’e-Work Permit Portal, with a request for Residence Permit managed by the Passport & Immigration Office.e-gov.mu)

Step 2 — Prepare the documents that most often cause problems

According to the EDB pages, the files frequently require (depending on category):

Passport (Biodata page), civil status records (birth, marriage/divorce if applicable).residency.mu)
Employment contract + job description (for OP Professional/YPOP). (residency.mu)
Degrees / qualifications (and certified translations if documents are not in English/French).residency.mu)
Business evidence : letters of intent from clients (Self-Employed); company documents (Investor/Professional via employer).residency.mu)
Medical certificate (often requested after “Approval-In-Principle”, dated less than 6 months ago on the YPOP page).residency.mu)

Step 3 — Online submission, “Approval-In-Principle”, then finalization

The EDB pages indicate that the application can be initiated online without immediate travel, then finalized with originals/supporting documents after the agreement in principle.residency.mu)

Specific case of investor/self-employed: Anticipate the account opening and the transfer of the required funds (the EDB mentions a delay of 60 days (after delivery for the initial transfer).residency.mu)

Costs in 2026: how much to expect (without inventing a “package”)

To estimate a realistic budget, separate:

The official permit fees (e.g., USD 1,000 “upon approval” for Investor/Self-Employed; rates based on duration for Professional/YPOP).residency.mu)
The application fee : 50 USD non-refundable in force since December 1, 2025 for OP/RP (according to the EDB/Residency website).residency.mu)
Additional costs (Variables): medical examinations, sworn translations, certified copies, any bank documents, etc. (Amounts not universally published: they depend on your country and your service providers.)

Employment taxation in Mauritius: what an expat needs to understand

If you are employed in Mauritius, taxes are generally managed through the system PAID (withholding tax): the tax authorities publish a scale with 0% on the first 500,000 MUR, 10% out of the following 500,000 MUR, Then 20% on the rest (MRA table). (mra.mu)

The MRA also specifies that a Fair Share Contribution may apply to high incomes, collected under PAYE from July 1, 2025 and up to June 30, 2028 (subject to the conditions/thresholds indicated).mra.mu)

For teleworking under Premium Visa, The EDB details taxation principles related to sums "remitted" (spent/transferred) in Mauritius and bank deposits (to be validated with a tax specialist depending on your situation).residency.mu)

Coming as a family: dependents, schooling, spouse's right to work

Family reunification is clearly encouraged, but the right to work The spouse/dependent's residence permit is not automatic: on the "Professional" page, the EDB describes the dependents (spouse, children, parents, etc.) and indicates that the application for dependent residence permits is made to the Passport and Immigration Office. (residency.mu)

Permanent residence (PRP): when can one “settle down” permanently?

For those aiming for a longer term than permit renewals, the EDB presents the Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) with a validity of 20 years and a prerequisite of 5 years on an eligible permit, with demanding financial criteria (e.g., professional: 400,000 WALLS of basic monthly salary over 5 consecutive years; investor: revenue thresholds; retiree: USD 200,000 over 5 years).residency.mu)

Official resources to consult (useful links)

FAQ – Working in Mauritius: Frequently Asked Questions (2026)

Which permit should I choose to work in Mauritius as a freelancer?

For a freelancer (consultant, designer, developer, coach, etc.), the most structured path is generally...’Occupation Permit “Self-Employed”. The EDB indicates a minimum investment of USD 50,000 and the supply of 3 letters of intent (of which 2 of potential local customers), as well as a goal of earned income (at least 750,000 MUR (from the first year). Also plan for the transfer of funds into the 60 days after the permit has been issued.residency.mu)

What is the minimum wage to obtain an Occupation Permit (Professional) in 2026?

According to the EDB page dedicated to the driving licence Professional, THE The minimum basic monthly salary is 30,000 MUR. This is a sticking point: if the contract is below the threshold, the application is very likely to be refused or require a change of category. The EDB also specifies that the duration can be up to 10 years according to the contract. In practice, check that your contract clearly states the basic salary (not just bonuses).residency.mu)

Is it possible to come to Mauritius and then look for a job there?

Coming to Mauritius does not mean you can start working immediately. To work locally, you need a suitable qualification (often a Occupation Permit or a Work Permit). On the other hand, the EDB indicates that, for a “Professional” permit, The employer can start the online process without you having to travel. initially. If you are in Premium Visa (teleworking), the EDB reminds you that you do not have to enter the Mauritian job market, but you can later switch to a permit if your project evolves.residency.mu)

How much does a work permit cost in Mauritius (official fees)?

Fees vary depending on the category and duration. For example, EDB displays 1,000 USD “Upon approval” for certain schemes (Investor, Self-Employed) and time-based rates for “Professional” (up to 10 years) or “YPOP” permits. Also, note: the EDB/Residency website indicates a Non-refundable application fee of USD 50 effective from December 1, 2025 for Occupation Permit and Residence Permit applications. Then add the additional costs (medical, translations, etc.).residency.mu)

How long does it take to apply for permanent residence (PRP)?

According to the EDB, the Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) is a residence of 20 years (renewable), accessible after 5 years on an eligible permit, but with high financial criteria. Examples given: a “Professional” must demonstrate a basic monthly salary of at least 400,000 WALLS on 5 consecutive years ; an “Investor” must reach turnover thresholds (e.g. 15 million MUR/year over 5 years or 75 million MUR (agrégés); a retiree must transfer USD 200,000 over 5 years.residency.mu)

And now ?

If you want to move quickly (and avoid errors in category, documents, or timing), EXPAT MAURITIUS can assist you with the procedures related to... visas and permits, but also on setting up a business (housing, schools, banking, insurance), real estate, and starting a business. Start by consulting the page Living in Mauritius: turnkey expatriation and real estate and the expatriation guides. You can also request initial guidance via the’free evaluation on the site.