Occupation and Residence Permit Improvements Forthcoming
June 8, 2020
Country / Territory
Share
At a Glance
- Key changes include the combination of the Occupation and Residence Permits into one category, a longer validity period, a reduced minimum investment amount for the Investor Visa, and the doubling of the validity period of the Permanent Residence Permit.
- The government did not announce the effective dates of the changes.
The situation
The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development of Mauritius announced changes to the Occupation, Residence and Investor Permits, as well as the Permanent Residence Permit to allow foreign nationals more access to the workforce in Mauritius. The government has not announced when the changes will be effective.
A closer look
Key changes include the following:
| CHANGE | IMPACT |
|
Combined Occupation and Residence Permit. The Occupation permit and the Residence permit – both required as part of the work authorization process in the country – will be combined into a single permit, still to be called the Occupation Permit |
Foreign nationals will be able to apply for both permits with one application, which will likely reduce the lead time and save costs. |
|
Validity of the Occupation Permit. Permits will be valid for 10 years, with the possibility of renewal. |
Foreign nationals will be able to work for seven more years in Mauritius under one permit than under the current policy. |
|
Dependents. The spouse of an Occupation Permit holder will be allowed to work or participate in investment activities in Mauritius without obtaining an Occupation permit. |
The cost and administrative burdens associated with bringing assignees’ families to Mauritius will be reduced since the spouse will no longer require a permit to work. |
|
Real estate schemes. Foreign nationals with a Residence permit under the real estate immigration path will no longer require work authorization to invest or work in Mauritius. |
Foreign nationals who have invested under an official real estate program in Mauritius will be able to enter Mauritius with just an entry visa and will see reduced costs and administrative burdens associated with their stay. |
|
Permanent Residence permits. The validity period of the Permanent Residence permit will be doubled from 10 years to 20 years. |
Permanent residence in Mauritius provides benefits such as the right to own property in the country. |
|
Investor Visa. The minimum investment amount for obtaining an Investor Visa will be reduced from USD 100,000 to USD 50,000. |
Mauritius hopes to attract more investors to the country. Investor Visas provide benefits such as setting up a business or investing in an existing business. |
Background
The government is implementing innovative investment-boosting strategies to combat COVID-19-related economic issues as well as the country’s first population decline in 50 years. The changes are the first permanent immigration system overhauls to be implemented in Africa in response to the effect that COVID-19 has had on the economy.
Looking ahead
Since Mauritius largely relies on the services and tourism sectors, clarifying rules and guidelines regarding the immigration system overhaul’s effect on these industries is expected.
Mauritius is expected to be one of the first African countries to open its borders in the upcoming weeks, as its COVID-19 cases continue to be the lowest in the region. As borders open, the new rules are expected to draw foreign nationals to the country to take advantage of the growing economic opportunities.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19-related travel bans, restrictions and concessions, among other information, check Fragomen’s dedicated website .
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected] .
