An occupation permit allows a non-national to work in Mauritius. It is both a work and a residence permit. A complete application is made through the Board of Investment to the Passport and Immigration Office. Applicants must register with the Board of Investment and registration is done at the same time that an application is submitted.
An investor, a professional or a self-employed person may be eligible under the following conditions:
- For an Investor, the proposed business activity should generate an annual turnover in excess of Rs 3 million.
- For a Professional, the basic monthly salary of a professional under a contract of employment should exceed Rs 30,000.
- For a Self-employed, the annual income from the proposed activity should be in excess of Rs 600,000.
Accessing Permanent Residence Status
Immigration laws in Mauritius allow foreign nationals who have been resident in Mauritius for at least three years to become eligible for a Permanent Residence Permit. A Permanent Residence Permit is valid for a period of ten years.
To qualify, the investor must have generated an annual turnover exceeding Rs 15 million, the self-employed an annual income in excess of Rs 3 million and the professional a basic monthly salary of a least Rs 150,000.
The retired non-citizen must have transferred at least US Dollar (USD) 40,000 every year for three years before becoming eligible for a Permanent Residence Permit.
It takes three days to process and obtain an occupation permit which is issued for a maximum period of three years. The dependents of an occupation permit holder may also apply for residence permits.
Work Opportunities for First-Class Professionals
As a growing professional services platform in this part of the world, Mauritius offers huge scope for further advancement to qualified and experienced French and English-speaking professionals, eager to avail themselves of the many opportunities offered by a booming country with regional outreach.
Opportunities exist for accountants, finance and marketing professionals, architects, investment bankers and risk managers, business consultants, IT and multi-media professionals amongst others.
For further information, please visit: www.contactmauritius.com
Business-Friendly Mauritius
Mauritius has been endowed with a natural gift for business ever since she was a major trading post for the renowned French "Compagnie des Indes" two centuries ago. Further still, in the years 1600’, she was referred to as the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. The entrepreneurial spirit lives on.
The business community is active and the government is instrumental in making things happen. Today, any foreign investor can settle hassle-free in Mauritius and be operational in just 3 days. Add to this one of the world’s most generous tax regimes, where personal and corporate tax are harmonized at a low 15% and where dividends are tax free. A country with no exchange control. A country where export oriented operators enjoy duty-free privilege for their inputs and equipment. Mauritius also has signed non-double taxation agreements with 33 countries so far and is signatory to a number of Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements.
Mauritian traditional investors are also very receptive to partnering with their international counterparts. An increasing number of joint ventures are being witnessed today, in the traditionally strong sectors as well as in a growing number of innovation-driven emerging sectors.
Last Updated on: 19-04-2010
