The government of Mauritius has made it easier to obtain a residency permit.
Residency criteria for Mauritius has been reviewed. The required property investment has been lowered to USD 375,000 – from the previous USD 500,000 as a non-citizen who purchases or otherwise acquires an apartment used, or available for use, as residence, in a building of at least 2 floors above ground floor, provided the purchase price is not less than USD 375,000 will be issued with a residency permit, including for his dependents, and exempted from the requirement of a work or occupation permit.
- 10-year family Occupation Permit introduced for those contributing USD 250,000 to the COVID-19 Projects Development Fund.
- Paper based Occupation Permit will be replaced by a smart card.
- Requirement for OP applicants to enter Mauritius on a business visa will be waived.
- A non-citizen will be eligible for an OP irrespective of his visa category when entering Mauritius.
- A Privilege Club Scheme will be implemented providing incentives such as privilege access to hotels, golf courses, restaurants, private medical institutions and others to OP holders and retirees.
- Validity of OP as professional extended from 3 to 10 years.
- Flexibility to switch job without the need to file a new application provided minimum criteria are met.
- Monthly basic salary applicable for an OP in financial services (fund accounting and compliance only) brought down to Rs30,000 for companies holding an FSC licence provided the employee has at least 3 years relevant work experience.
Dependents of OP holders
- Exemption from OP or Work Permit application for spouse of OP holders willing to invest or work in Mauritius.
- Maximum age limit of 24 years for dependent children will be waived.
OP as Self-Employed
- Possibility for holders of OP as self-employed to incorporate a one-man company and employ an administrative staff.
- Criteria for YPOP will be reviewed and list of qualifying activities will be removed.
- Students enrolled in a recognised educational institution will automatically benefit from a 10-year renewable YPOP upon graduation.
Work Permit
- Foreign carers and maids will be eligible for a work permit.
- 20 hours per week work permit will be provided to international students enrolled in a recognised educational institution.
- The 10-year Permanent Residence Permit has been automatically extended to 20 years.
- Flexibility to switch categories between investor, professional and retired for holders of Permanent Residence Permit upon renewal of PRP.
- A holder of a premium Visa spending 183 days or more, will be subject to income tax as follows:
(i) the Mauritian-sourced income of a Premium Visa Holder (e.g. emoluments for work performed remotely in Mauritius) will be taxed on a remittance basis;
(ii) money spent in Mauritius through the use of foreign credit or debit cards by the holder of a Premium Visa will not be deemed to have been remitted to Mauritius; and
(iii) income brought and deposited in a bank account in Mauritius will be liable to tax except if a declaration is made by the holder of a Premium Visa that the required tax has been paid thereon in his country of origin or residence
- Holders of a premium travel visa having acquired a unit under the Invest Hotel scheme will not have any restrictions with regards to the number of days they can occupy their units.
Sources :
https://budgetmof.govmu.org/Budget-2021-2022.html
https://budgetmof.govmu.org/Documents/2021_22Annexbudgetspeech.pdf
