Mauritius Golden Visa: The Complete 2026 Guide

The Mauritius Golden Visa was confirmed in the 2026-2027 National Budget and is now written into law through the Economic Development Board Act. It is an investment-based residence programme requiring a minimum investment of USD 1 million in high-value sectors, valid for up to 2 years and renewable, with a route to permanent residence. This guide explains the programme, its requirements and cost, how it compares with the other routes to residency in Mauritius, and the tax position for holders.

Mauritius Golden Visa at a glance

• Minimum investment: USD 1 million within the first 12 months of stay
• Target sectors: FinTech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, global treasury
• Validity: up to 2 years, renewable
• Permanent residence: eligible to apply once the USD 1 million investment is made
• Domestic staff: work permits for accompanying domestic workers processed within 5 working days
• Tax: the same favourable regime as Premium Visa holders (remittance basis on foreign income)

What is the Mauritius Golden Visa?

The Mauritius Golden Visa is a residence programme aimed at foreigners, in particular high-net-worth individuals, who commit to investing at least USD 1 million in Mauritius within the first 12 months of their stay in high-value sectors such as FinTech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy and global treasury. The visa is valid for up to 2 years and is renewable. Once the USD 1 million investment is made, holders become eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit.

The programme is defined in the Economic Development Board Act and issued by the passport officer on the recommendation of the Economic Development Board (EDB). The investment must be in a business activity other than the acquisition of residential property under the EDB schemes.

The term golden visa is used around the world to describe residence granted in return for an investment. Mauritius offers two investment-linked routes that foreigners commonly search for as a Mauritius golden visa: the official Golden Visa described above, aimed at active investment of USD 1 million in high-value sectors, and residency by property investment, which grants residence in return for buying property worth at least USD 375,000 in an approved scheme. Both are covered in this guide. For a broader overview of life on the island, read our complete guide to moving to Mauritius.

Mauritius Golden Visa requirements

To qualify for the Mauritius Golden Visa, an applicant is expected to:

• Commit to investing at least USD 1 million in Mauritius within the first 12 months of stay
• Direct that investment into high-value sectors, namely FinTech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy and global treasury
• Sign a written undertaking to make the investment within the 12-month period
• Pass due diligence and background checks

Applicants may include a spouse and dependent children, with multiple-entry rights. During the initial period, holders are expected to stay in hotels or in residential property approved for foreign investors, a measure intended to avoid pressure on local housing. The number of Golden Visas is expected to be limited, with the Government indicating an initial target of around 100 recipients a year.

How much does the Mauritius Golden Visa cost?

The defining requirement of the Mauritius Golden Visa is an investment of USD 1 million, rather than a government application fee. This makes it one of the more selective residence-by-investment routes in the region, aimed at high-net-worth individuals and active investors in the target sectors. For foreigners seeking a lower entry point, residency by property investment from USD 375,000, or the retirement and occupation permit routes, may be more suitable. These options are compared later in this guide.

Path to permanent residence

A key feature of the Mauritius Golden Visa is the route it provides to permanent residence. Once the minimum investment of USD 1 million has been made, holders become eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit. Work permits required for domestic workers accompanying Golden Visa holders are processed on an expedited basis, within 5 working days.

The Premium Visa and the Mauritius Golden Visa

The 2026-2027 Budget did not announce any measure to withdraw the Premium Visa, so it remains available alongside the Golden Visa. The Budget confirmed that Golden Visa holders benefit from the same favourable tax treatment as Premium Visa holders.

The Premium Visa remains the route most often associated with remote workers and digital nomads, while the Golden Visa is aimed at substantial investors in high-value sectors.

Who should consider the Mauritius Golden Visa?

The Golden Visa is best suited to high-net-worth individuals and investors who intend to deploy USD 1 million or more into Mauritius in the target sectors and who value a clear route to permanent residence. It is a substantial commitment, and for many foreigners a different route will be a better fit:

• Those who want long-term residence through property can use residency by property investment from USD 375,000, covered in the next section.
• Those aged 50 and above can use the 10-year retirement permit, which requires no property purchase and no minimum stay. TBI considers this the most practical route for that group and has guided many clients through it.
• Those setting up or working in a business can use the investor, professional or self-employed occupation permit routes.

Moving to a new country is a significant decision, and Mauritius is no exception. Whichever route you consider, we recommend spending time on the island before making a long-term commitment such as buying property, unless it is a pure investment purchase.

Residency by property investment in Mauritius

For foreigners who want long-term, investment-backed residency of the kind a traditional golden visa provides elsewhere, the route is property investment of at least USD 375,000 in an EDB-approved scheme. The residence permit granted is valid for as long as you own the property, with no minimum stay and no ongoing income requirement. It covers your spouse and dependent children and grants the right to live and work in Mauritius without a separate occupation permit.

When you are ready to look at property, TBI has a sister real estate agency, Oakbridge Mauritius, which works exclusively for buyers, never representing sellers or taking fees from both sides of a deal. This means it can search the whole market, including off-market properties, with no conflicts of interest. Learn the rules for foreigners buying property in Mauritius, or compare the options in our guide to residency by investment.

All Mauritius residency routes at a glance

The table below compares the main routes to residency in Mauritius for foreigners.

Route	Key requirement	Validity	Right to work
Mauritius Golden Visa	Invest at least USD 1 million in high-value sectors within the first 12 months	Up to 2 years, renewable; route to permanent residence	Investment-based; not for local employment
Residency by property investment	Buy property from USD 375,000 in an approved scheme	Valid while you own the property	Yes, no separate permit needed
Retirement permit	Aged 50 and above; USD 2,000/month or USD 24,000 a year	10 years, renewable	Remote only; no local employment
Investor permit	Set up a Mauritian company with a minimum investment of USD 100,000	10 years, renewable	Yes, combined work and residence
Professional permit	Job offer with a monthly basic salary of at least MUR 50,000	10 years, renewable	Yes, combined work and residence
Self-employed permit	Register as self-employed with a USD 50,000 transfer	10 years, renewable	Yes, as a self-employed professional
Premium Visa (digital nomad)	Proof of income around USD 1,500/month, plus USD 500 per dependent	1 year, renewable	Remote work only; no local employment

TBI advises on the most appropriate residency route for your circumstances, handles the full application, and supports you through every step. Get in touch to discuss which route suits you.

Tax advantages for Mauritius Golden Visa holders

Mauritius is one of the most tax-efficient jurisdictions in Africa, and for holders of the Mauritius Golden Visa the position is particularly favourable. The Budget confirmed that Golden Visa holders benefit from the same tax treatment as Premium Visa holders, which means:

• Foreign employment income is taxable in Mauritius only where it is remitted to Mauritius
• Spending in Mauritius through a foreign credit or debit card is not treated as a remittance
• Funds deposited into a Mauritius bank account are not taxed where evidence is provided that the applicable taxes have been paid abroad

In practice, most Golden Visa holders draw their income from outside Mauritius and will pay no Mauritian income tax on foreign earnings that are not remitted. On top of this, Mauritius has no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no wealth tax and no dividend withholding tax, and rental income and property sale proceeds can be repatriated freely.

• 0% capital gains tax on property sales and all other assets
• 0% inheritance tax and estate duty
• 0% wealth tax and annual property tax
• 0% dividend withholding tax on distributions
• 0% income tax on foreign earnings not remitted to Mauritius

TBI recommends seeking independent tax advice specific to your situation, particularly regarding how Mauritius' double taxation agreements interact with your country of residence. For a full overview, read our guide to Mauritius' tax and policy stability.