What is the Mauritius Golden Visa investment requirement?

The Mauritius Golden Visa requires a minimum US$1 million investment deployed within 12 months of arrival into qualifying sectors: fintech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, or global treasury operations. This is not a non-refundable contribution but actual deployed investment in Mauritius.

Is the Mauritius Golden Visa a residence permit or citizenship programme?

Neither. The Mauritius Golden Visa is a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 2 years, renewable through fresh application. It is not a residence permit and does not directly lead to citizenship. However, holders can convert to an Occupation Permit or Retirement Residence Permit from within Mauritius, which may eventually lead to permanent residency and citizenship (7 years continuous residence, or 5 for Commonwealth nationals).

How long does Mauritius Golden Visa processing take?

The Mauritius Economic Development Board targets 5 working days for Golden Visa processing. Due diligence involves a two-stage process: EDB screening including world check verification, followed by Passport and Immigration Office review. This is significantly faster than European golden visas which typically take 3-12 months.

What are the tax benefits of the Mauritius Golden Visa?

Mauritius offers a 15% flat income tax rate for residents (183+ days/year). Golden Visa holders benefit from additional exemptions: no tax on expenditure in Mauritius via foreign credit/debit cards, and no tax on foreign-source income remitted to a Mauritian bank account if tax has already been paid abroad. There is no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no wealth tax in Mauritius.

Can I use a Lombard loan to fund the Mauritius Golden Visa investment?

Yes. The US$1 million Mauritius Golden Visa investment can be financed via Lombard loan at 50% LTV, requiring approximately US$2 million in portfolio collateral. Unlike real estate programmes, Mauritius requires deployment into operating businesses in qualifying sectors, which may generate returns to offset Lombard interest costs. Consult with specialist advisors on structuring the investment vehicle.

How does Mauritius Golden Visa compare to UAE Golden Visa?

Mauritius requires US$1 million deployed investment for a 2-year renewable visa. UAE Golden Visa requires AED 2 million (US$545,000) in property for a 10-year residence visa with path to citizenship. UAE offers zero income tax versus Mauritius 15%, but Mauritius provides better treaty access for tax planning and is OECD-compliant. UAE suits pure tax minimisation; Mauritius suits investors wanting legitimate substance for international tax planning.

What is the lifestyle like in Mauritius for golden visa investors?

Mauritius offers world-class luxury island living that no other golden visa destination can match. As Africa's safest and most democratic nation (Global Peace Index #1 in Africa), investors enjoy pristine beaches, turquoise lagoons, championship golf courses (12 courses including Ernie Els-designed Anahita), Five-Star resorts (One&Only, Four Seasons, St. Regis), year-round tropical climate (17-33°C), direct flights to Dubai (5.5hrs), London (12hrs), and Singapore (7.5hrs), plus English as an official language. Unlike crowded Mediterranean destinations, Mauritius offers exclusive, uncrowded tropical paradise with European-standard infrastructure.

When will the Mauritius Golden Visa launch?

The Mauritius Golden Visa was announced in May 2026 following cabinet approval on April 10, 2026. As of the announcement date, implementation regulations, application forms, and fee schedules have not yet been published. No official launch date has been confirmed. Prospective applicants should monitor the Mauritius Economic Development Board for updates.

Mauritius: Island Living with Multiple Residency Options

⚡ Key Takeaways: Mauritius Residency at a Glance

Route	Investment	Processing	Residency	Best For
Property (PDS)	US$375K	3-6 months	20 years	Families wanting luxury home
Business Investment	US$1M	5 days	2 years (renewable)	Entrepreneurs in tech/fintech
Hotel Unit (IHS)	US$500K	3-6 months	10 years	Passive rental income seekers
Smart City	US$375K	3-6 months	20 years	Urban apartment preference
Retirement	US$40K/year	3 months	10 years	Retirees 50+
Premium Visa	US$270/month	48 hours	1 year	Digital nomads testing waters

Tax Benefits: 15% flat income tax • 0% capital gains • 0% inheritance tax • 46 double tax treaties

Finance Strategy: Use a Lombard loan to fund your property purchase—keep your portfolio invested while it grows.

Quick Facts

Entry Point: US$375K (property) or US$1M (business)
Processing: 5 days to 6 months depending on route
Tax: 15% flat rate, no capital gains, no inheritance tax
Citizenship: After 7 years (5 for UK/Commonwealth)
Languages: English and French (both official)

Why Do Investors Choose Mauritius?

Safety: Africa's most peaceful country, stable democracy since 1968, English common law courts.

Lifestyle: Pristine beaches, 12 championship golf courses, Five-star resorts (Four Seasons, One&Only, St. Regis), year-round tropical weather (17-33°C).

Connectivity: Direct flights to Dubai (5.5 hrs), London (12 hrs), Mumbai (5 hrs), Johannesburg (4 hrs).

Tax benefits: 15% flat income tax, zero capital gains tax, zero inheritance tax, 46 tax treaties.

What Are Your Mauritius Residency Options?

Option 1: Buy Property (US$375K+)

The most popular route. Buy in an approved development, get 20-year residence.

Details
Minimum	US$375,000
Processing	3-6 months
Residence	20 years
Work rights	Yes
Family included	Spouse + children under 24

The catch: You can only buy in government-approved developments, not the open market. These are premium properties — beachfront villas, golf estates, luxury condos.

Option 2: Invest in Business (US$1M)

Announced May 2026. Invest US$1M in fintech, AI, biotech, or renewable energy.

Details
Minimum	US$1,000,000
Processing	5 working days
Visa	2 years, renewable
Work rights	In your investment sector

Best for: Entrepreneurs who want to build something, not just buy property. Your money goes into a real business — if it succeeds, you profit.

Note: Just announced — application forms and procedures are still being finalized.

Option 3: Hotel Unit (US$500K+)

Buy a unit in a Five-star resort. The hotel manages it and pays you rental income.

Details
Minimum	US$500,000-1.5M
Residence	20 years
Income	4-8% annual rental yield
Personal use	30-60 days/year

Best for: Hands-off investors who want income plus a vacation home.

Option 4: Work Permit (US$50K/year)

For entrepreneurs and remote workers. Transfer US$50K annually to a Mauritius bank.

Details
Investment	US$50,000/year transfer
Processing	2-4 weeks
Duration	10 years, renewable
Work rights	Full

Best for: Digital nomads and consultants who don't want to invest US$375K+ upfront.

Option 5: Retirement (Age 50+)

For retirees with pension income.

Details
Requirement	US$1,500/month income + US$40K deposit
Processing	4-8 weeks
Duration	10 years, renewable

Alternative: Buy property for US$375K+ and skip the income requirement.

What Is the Side-by-Side Comparison?

Route	Cost	Processing	Duration
Property	US$375K	3-6 months	20 years
Business	US$1M	5 days	2 years
Hotel Unit	US$500K+	3-6 months	20 years
Work Permit	US$50K/year	2-4 weeks	10 years
Retirement	US$40K + income	4-8 weeks	10 years

What About Citizenship?

All routes (except short-term visas) lead to citizenship after 7 years living in Mauritius. For UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other Commonwealth nationals, it's 5 years.

You can keep your other passport — Mauritius allows dual citizenship.

What Is the Tax Structure?

Tax	Rate
Income	15% flat
Capital gains	0%
Inheritance	0%
Wealth	0%
Dividends (foreign)	0%

Mauritius has 46 tax treaties, making it easier to defend to your home country's tax authority than zero-tax jurisdictions like UAE.

How Do You Finance a Golden Visa Without Selling Investments?

You don't need US$375K or US$1M in cash. Borrow against your investment portfolio:

Example: For a US$375K property

Pledge US$750K portfolio as collateral
Borrow US$375K (50% of collateral)
Pay ~US$11K/year interest (3%)
Your portfolio stays invested and keeps growing

If you buy a rental property, income can offset most or all of the interest cost.

What Are the Property Options?

Prices range from US$375K (entry-level approved units) to US$5M+ (beachfront estates). Popular areas:

Le Morne — UNESCO World Heritage, dramatic peninsula
Grand Baie — Marina, restaurants, nightlife
Anahita — Ernie Els golf course, Four Seasons amenities

Browse Mauritius properties →

Who Should Choose Mauritius?

Good fit:

You want to actually live somewhere beautiful, not just get paperwork
Tropical beaches, golf, and year-round warmth appeal to you
You're comfortable with 15% tax (lower than most countries, higher than UAE)
You want a genuine relocation, not just a flag

Consider elsewhere if:

You need EU access → Greece or Portugal
Zero tax is essential → UAE
You want citizenship fast → Caribbean (3-6 months)
You prefer urban energy → UAE or Malta

Common Questions

What's the cheapest route?
Property at US$375K. For non-property options, the Work Permit at US$50K/year is lowest.

How fast can I get in?
The US$1M business visa targets 5 days. Work permits take 2-4 weeks. Property takes 3-6 months.

Can I work there?
Yes, with property, hotel unit, or work permit routes. The US$1M visa limits you to your investment sector.

Is this citizenship or just residence?
Residence first. Citizenship comes after 7 years (5 for Commonwealth nationals).

Can I use a Lombard loan?
Yes. At 50% loan-to-value, you'd need about US$750K in portfolio for the US$375K property route, or US$2M for the US$1M business route.

→ UAE Golden Visa Guide → Best Golden Visas Ranked → Lombard Loan Guide → Full Programme Details

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