Mauritius (MU)
Indian Ocean island state with bilingual English-French administration, strong financial services, occupation permits, premium visa options, beaches, private healthcare and a high-trust but paperwork-heavy expat environment.
Capital: Port Louis
Region: Africa
Language: English
Currency: MUR (Rs)
Cost of living: Affordable (index 52)
Emergency: 112
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Mauritius.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Permanent Residence Permit (PRP)
Eligibility
Mauritius offers a formal 20-year Permanent Residence Permit to qualifying foreign nationals. The primary route is for holders of an Occupation Permit (investor, professional, self-employed or retired non-citizen) who have held the permit continuously for at least 5 years and met their respective income/investment thresholds. Investors with a turnover of MUR 15 million or more during the qualifying period, professionals earning at least MUR 150,000/month, and retired non-citizens with a monthly transfer of at least USD 1,500 into Mauritius are the main qualifying categories.
Duration
20-year permit, renewable indefinitely while conditions are maintained
Requirements
- ✓5 consecutive years of holding a qualifying Occupation Permit (investor, professional, self-employed or retired non-citizen)
- ✓Investor category: cumulative turnover of MUR 20 million over the 5-year period (MUR 1.5M in Year 1, progressive growth)
- ✓Professional category: minimum MUR 400,000/month basic salary (raised from MUR 150,000/month)
- ✓Retired non-citizen category: minimum USD 1,500/month transfer to Mauritius
- ✓Tax compliance — no outstanding tax obligations
- ✓Good character — clean criminal record
- ✓Application through the Economic Development Board (EDB) / Mauritius immigration authorities
The 20-year PRP provides strong long-term residence stability without annual renewal. Thresholds are set by Finance Acts and can change — verify current figures with the EDB before planning. The PRP does not lead automatically to citizenship; a separate naturalisation application is required after meeting the residence requirement for citizenship.
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Citizenship
Name
Mauritian Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Commonwealth citizens who have resided lawfully in Mauritius for at least 5 years. Non-Commonwealth nationals require 7 years of lawful residence. Foreign spouses of Mauritian citizens may apply after 4 years of cohabitation in Mauritius. An accelerated investor route exists: investors with a qualifying investment of USD 500,000 or more in Mauritius may apply after 2 years.
Duration
Permanent citizenship once granted
Requirements
- ✓Commonwealth nationals: 5 years of lawful residence in Mauritius
- ✓Non-Commonwealth nationals: 7 years of lawful residence in Mauritius
- ✓Spousal route: 4 years of cohabitation as spouse of a Mauritian citizen
- ✓Investor route: USD 500,000+ qualifying investment and 2 years of residence
- ✓Good character — clean criminal record from Mauritius and home country
- ✓Knowledge and integration requirements where assessed
- ✓Renunciation of prior citizenship — naturalised Mauritian citizens must renounce their prior nationality (dual citizenship is not permitted for naturalised citizens)
- ✓Government discretionary approval
Naturalisation is discretionary and not an automatic right on meeting the time threshold. The renunciation requirement is a significant deterrent for most Western expats. Most long-term foreign residents maintain Occupation Permit or PRP status rather than pursuing citizenship. Mauritian citizenship grants a passport with visa-free or on-arrival access to approximately 148 countries.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Citizenship by Descent (Persons of Mauritian Origin)
Eligibility
Persons of Mauritian origin — those born to a Mauritian citizen parent or who can prove Mauritian parentage — may hold dual citizenship under the Citizenship Act 1995 provisions for persons of origin. Dual citizenship has been permitted for persons of origin since 1995. Citizenship by descent is available to children of Mauritian citizen parents regardless of country of birth.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship
Requirements
- ✓Proof of Mauritian parent's citizenship (birth certificate, Mauritian passport)
- ✓Child's birth certificate showing Mauritian parentage
- ✓Application to the Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office or the nearest Mauritian consulate
Persons of Mauritian origin who hold dual citizenship are treated differently from naturalised citizens — they do not need to renounce their prior nationality. This is the primary route through which dual citizenship operates in Mauritius. Diaspora Mauritians who wish to reconnect with Mauritian citizenship should explore this route if they have a qualifying Mauritian parent.
Occupation Permit and Retired Non-Citizen Permit (Long-Stay Routes)
Eligibility
Investors, professionals, self-employed persons and retired non-citizens meeting statutory income/investment thresholds may obtain an Occupation Permit or Retired Non-Citizen Permit — the main long-term residency instruments before reaching PRP eligibility. Key 2025-2026 thresholds: investor: USD 50,000 minimum investment + MUR 1.5M Year 1 turnover target; professional ProPass: MUR 30,000/month; Expert Pass: MUR 250,000/month; retired non-citizen: USD 1,500/month in transfers.
Duration / Outcome
3–10 year initial permits, renewable; leads to 20-year PRP after 5 years
Requirements
- ✓Qualifying investment, income or pension/transfer amount
- ✓Business registration or employment contract as applicable
- ✓Tax compliance and good character
- ✓Application through the Economic Development Board (EDB)
These permits are the practical long-term residency route for most foreign professionals, investors and retirees in Mauritius. After 5 consecutive qualifying years, the holder becomes eligible for the 20-year PRP. Thresholds are subject to change — verify current figures with the EDB.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
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Dual citizenship is not allowed — Mauritius does not permit dual citizenship for naturalised citizens — those who naturalise as Mauritian must renounce their prior nationality. However, persons of Mauritian origin (those with a Mauritian citizen parent) have been permitted to hold dual citizenship since the Citizenship Act 1995. Your home country's rules apply separately. Most long-term foreign residents choose to maintain their Occupation Permit or PRP status rather than naturalise, precisely because of the renunciation requirement.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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