Mauritius
MUSMauritius holds a strong passport with visa-free access to 150 destinations and operates active residency and tax incentive programmes including the Premium Visa and Occupation Permit for remote workers and investors. Its territorial-style taxation approach, flat 15% income tax rate, and growing fintech ecosystem make it an increasingly attractive hub for internationally mobile professionals and high-net-worth individuals seeking an island lifestyle.
Passport Rank
#30
Visa-Free
150
destinations
Country Details
- Capital
- Port Louis
- Currency
- Mauritian Rupee (MUR)
- Languages
- English, French, Mauritian Creole
- Population
- 1,300,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 7 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Tropical / Subtropical
- English Proficiency Rank
- #18
Mauritius Premium Visa and Occupation Permit for remote workers and investors provide structured long-stay rights, and the country's 15% flat income tax rate combined with favourable double taxation treaties makes it a compelling residency destination for internationally mobile individuals.
Indices
Cost of Living
50
Safety
68
Healthcare
64
Quality of Life
155
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 7 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Special Tax Regime
- Mauritius Premium Visa and Occupation Permit for remote workers and investors provide structured long-stay rights, and the country's 15% flat income tax rate combined with favourable double taxation treaties makes it a compelling residency destination for internationally mobile individuals.
Cost of Living by City
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| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Louis | $680 | $420 | $300 | $85 | $20 |
| Ebene | $750 | $480 | $310 | $88 | $20 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Port Louis
Rainfall range: 60–165 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Ebene
Rainfall range: 65–180 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $200
- Processing
- ~12 months
Real Estate
- Avg price/sqm (capital)
- $2,500
- Transaction taxes
- 5%
Foreign buyers: Foreign nationals may only purchase property in Mauritius through government-approved schemes: the Property Development Scheme (PDS), Smart City Scheme, Ground Floor Apartment Scheme, and similar. PDS properties must be above MUR 6 million (~USD 135,000) minimum. Port Louis MUR 80,000-150,000/sqm ($1,800-3,300). Grand Baie and Tamarin coastal areas command significant premiums ($3,000-5,000/sqm). Purchase under PDS schemes automatically grants permanent residency. Registration duty 5% (reduced for PDS approved schemes). No capital gains tax on property in Mauritius.
International Schools
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| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Preparatory School | Moka | IB + Cambridge | $8,000–$18,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
60 Mbps median
65% fibre coverage
eSIM: Emtel, Orange Mauritius (formerly Cellplus), MyT Mobile (Mauritius Telecom)
Driving
IDP required
Local licence required after 12 months
Exchange eligible: Drives on the LEFT. IDP valid for foreign visitors. Bilateral exchange agreements with several countries allow direct licence exchange without retesting — including UK, France, and others. Mauritian Roads and Traffic Authority (NTA) manages licence applications. Most EU and Commonwealth country holders can exchange directly.
Pet Relocation
Quarantine: none
Rabies titre required
EU pet passport: not accepted
Safety
GPI Rank
#26
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠taxi overcharging from SSR International Airport — negotiate fares in advance or use metered cabs
- ⚠"special deal" tours by unlicensed operators on beaches
- ⚠inflated prices at tourist-area restaurants without menus displayed
- ⚠online villa rental scams for peak season bookings
Examples of areas to avoid: Port Louis Plaine Verte and certain areas of the capital at night, Isolated beaches without lifeguards during cyclone season (Nov-Apr)
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Not recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- #62
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Sample Citizenship Test Questions
Q1. Mauritius gained independence from Britain in which year?
Answer: 1968
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs — Mauritian Citizenship
Q2. What is the name of the extinct flightless bird that was native to Mauritius and is now a symbol of the island?
Answer: Dodo
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs — Mauritian Citizenship
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.