1. Main Visa and Work Permit Categories

The categories above are the main routes covered by this guide. They are not an exhaustive list of every visa category available in Mauritius.

1. Short-term Tourism and Business Visits

Tourists and business visitors must satisfy the visa, return-travel and financial requirements applicable to their nationality.

Business visits are normally limited to no more than 120 days per visit and a cumulative total of no more than 180 days in each calendar year.

Visitor status cannot be used as the basis for long-term employment in Mauritius.

Whether an activity qualifies as a business visit depends on the work actually performed. It should not be determined solely from the name of the trip or the location from which the individual is paid.

Activities such as equipment installation, repairs, training and services performed at a customer’s premises require particular review to determine whether a work permit or specific exemption is required.

2. Professional Occupation Permit

The Professional Occupation Permit applies to foreign professionals hired by a genuine employer in Mauritius who satisfy the applicable Professional Occupation Permit requirements.

Applications under the professional employment category currently generally require a basic monthly salary of at least MUR 50,000. This standard applies uniformly across industries.

The transitional eligibility of existing permit holders should be confirmed separately under the applicable requirements.

The employer, position, employment contract and salary must be genuine. An applicant entering a regulated profession must also obtain the applicable professional authorization.

The validity period of the initial permit is determined by the Occupation Permit approval and the employment contract. Its validity should not be assumed solely from the duration of the employment contract.

At renewal, the applicant must continue to satisfy the following conditions:

1. The basic salary meets the applicable threshold.
2. The actual position remains within the approved scope.
3. The employment contract remains valid.
4. The employer continues to satisfy the applicable requirements.
5. Any authorization required for a regulated profession remains valid.

Before changing the employer or position or adjusting the salary, the parties should confirm with the Economic Development Board or immigration authorities whether a new application or amendment is required.

When the employee leaves the position, the cancellation of the permit, change of status or departure arrangements should be completed promptly.

3. Ordinary Work Permit and Employment Residence

The ordinary work permit and employment-residence route applies to foreign employees hired by a genuine employer in Mauritius under the ordinary work permit system who do not qualify for the Professional Occupation Permit route.

The applicant and employer must satisfy the applicable requirements concerning foreign recruitment within the relevant industry, occupational skills, country of origin and employer eligibility.

They must also comply with the applicable health, age, accommodation and benefit requirements.

The work permit and employment-residence authorization are separate approvals and must both be obtained.

Obtaining a work permit does not mean that employment residence has automatically taken effect. Similarly, employment-residence authorization does not replace the work permit.

The initial period of status is determined by whichever expires first among the work permit, employment-residence authorization and employment contract.

At renewal, the employment authorization and residence authorization must be renewed separately.

Completing only one renewal does not provide a complete basis for continuing to work and remain in Mauritius lawfully.

A change of employer, position or industry, or a change affecting the applicable country-of-origin conditions, requires a new application or the appropriate amendment procedure.

After the employee leaves the position, the employer should arrange the cancellation of the permits and, depending on the circumstances, organize repatriation, departure or a change of status.

2. Entry, Family Members and Other Arrangements

1. Entry and Status Coordination

The applicant’s visa, Occupation Permit, work permit and employment-residence documents should remain consistent with their actual activities.

The validity periods of the different documents should also remain properly aligned.

A pending application, employment contract or invitation letter is not evidence that the applicant has already received authorization to enter, reside or work in Mauritius.

2. Accompanying Family Members

Eligible family members of a Professional Occupation Permit holder may apply for a Dependant Permit.

Whether a family member may work in Mauritius depends on the authorization obtained by that individual.

Family members of an ordinary work permit and employment-residence holder should apply separately through the dependant or another applicable residence route.

A family member planning to work must obtain the work authorization applicable to their own employment.

Family, study, transit and other personal immigration categories have separate conditions. The principal applicant’s permit cannot be used directly as an entry or employment document for a family member.

3. Renewals, Changes, Termination and Status Maintenance

Mauritius’s entry visa, Occupation Permit, ordinary work permit and employment-residence authorization must be managed separately.

When the employer, position, salary, industry or employment contract changes, the applicable labor and immigration requirements should be reviewed at the same time.

4. How sailglobal Can Help

If your company plans to arrange for personnel to travel to Mauritius for business visits, take up professional positions, employ other foreign workers, perform short-term projects or bring accompanying family members, sailglobal can help you understand the applicable route and application requirements based on the individual’s status, job responsibilities, salary, industry, employer circumstances and travel arrangements.

Visa, work permit and residence applications are independently reviewed by the relevant Mauritius authorities. sailglobal cannot guarantee an approval result or a fixed issuance date.