Occupation Permit-Related Improvements Forthcoming
June 15, 2021
Country / Territory
Share
At a Glance
- Mauritius’ Minister of Finance has published proposals that if adopted, would improve conditions associated with the Occupation Permit, including granting longer validity, allowing foreign nationals to change jobs without a new Occupation Permit application, and eliminating the maximum age for dependents, to name a few benefits.
- The proposals will come into operation once they have been passed by the Parliament.
The situation
The Minister of Finance in Mauritius has released a budget proposal for 2021/22 financial year aimed at attracting and retaining skilled foreign nationals and increasing investment in the country. If adopted, the proposals would impact several conditions of the Occupation Permit.
A closer look - key changes under the Occupation Permit
| CHANGE | IMPACT |
|
This will allow foreign nationals to remain in Mauritius longer, benefiting both employees seeking longer-term positions and employers seeking to transfer foreign workers’ skills to locals, as part of the skills transfer plan in Mauritius’ immigration system. |
|
This will save time and costs associated with submitting a new immigration application for foreign nationals seeking to change employers. |
|
This will streamline the permit switching process for those who seek to change their immigration or work authorization status in Mauritius, saving time and costs associated with leaving and re-entering under a new permit type. |
|
Foreign nationals under the Occupation Permit (self-employed route) would be able to employ local and foreign workers and contribute to the growth of the Mauritian economy. |
|
The new permit would allow the country to retain skills developed in Mauritius, and would allow young professionals to contribute to the workforce and economy. |
|
Spouses of Occupation Permit will be able to continue to work or set up businesses, which could create employment opportunities for locals. |
|
The current minimum salary is MUR 60,000. The current exchange rate is 1 MUR = .024 USD. The reduction will enable more employers to hire skilled foreign nationals. |
|
The new permit will enable Mauritius to gain more revenue to fund the country’s COVID-19 development-related projects. |
|
This measure will promote family unity and encourage dependents of foreign nationals to continue with their studies in Mauritius without fear of losing their continued dependence. |
|
This new Smart Card would prevent identity theft of foreign nationals and would make identifying the card holder safer and easier. |
Background
As a service economy, Mauritius has implemented several initiatives aimed at reviving its economy, which has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities are taking measures to attract and retain skills and to ease access of employers to skilled foreign nationals.
The measures are similar to those undertaken by countries like Nigeria and South Africa recently to attract skills.
Looking ahead
The Parliament will likely approve the above proposals before the end of the third quarter of 2021. We will report on related developments.
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].
