Mauritius Occupation Permit: Requirements, Fees & How to Apply
If you want to live and work in Mauritius, the Occupation Permit is one of the main immigration routes available to foreign professionals, investors and self-employed entrepreneurs.
The Occupation Permit combines the right to work with the right to reside in Mauritius. The exact requirements depend on which category you apply under, and several important thresholds changed in 2026.
For most applicants, the process starts online through the National Electronic Licensing System (NELS). You normally submit the initial documents first, receive an Approval in Principle if the application is accepted, and then complete the remaining formalities in Mauritius.
Which Occupation Permit Do You Need?
| Category | Main Requirement | Maximum Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | Employment contract with basic salary of at least Rs50,000 per month | Up to 10 years, based on contract |
| Investor | Minimum investment of USD100,000 | 10 years |
| Self-Employed | USD50,000 investment + 3 letters of intent, including 2 potential local clients | 10 years |
| Young Professional | Graduate of a qualifying Mauritian institution + salary of at least Rs25,000 | Up to 3 years |
The right category depends on how you plan to work in Mauritius. A foreign employee hired by a Mauritian company normally uses the Professional route. Someone establishing and operating a business may qualify as an Investor, while an independent consultant or freelancer providing professional services may fit the Self-Employed category.
Professional Occupation Permit
The Professional Occupation Permit is for a non-citizen employed by a Mauritian company or a multinational operating in Mauritius.
The current minimum basic salary is Rs50,000 per month. The previous system with separate Rs30,000 and Rs60,000 salary thresholds is no longer the standard rule for new applications.
The permit can be issued for the length of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 10 years, and can be renewed if the employment continues and the required salary criteria are still met.
The employer, rather than the employee, submits the Professional Occupation Permit application. The employment contract should clearly state the job title, contract duration and monthly basic salary.
Professionals working in regulated occupations such as medicine, engineering, financial services or allied health may also need clearance or registration from the appropriate Mauritian professional body.
If you are still deciding whether a local salary would be enough, use our Mauritius Cost of Living Calculator before accepting an offer.
Investor and Self-Employed Permits
The Investor category is aimed at people establishing or investing in a business in Mauritius. The current standard investment route requires a minimum investment of USD100,000.
Applicants need to show sufficient funds and provide an undertaking that the required investment will be transferred from abroad into the Mauritian business bank account. The current business-performance requirement includes minimum turnover of Rs5 million from the third year, with renewal requiring annual turnover of at least Rs8 million from the fifth year of registration.
Mauritius also has an Innovation route for qualifying startup projects, where the normal minimum-investment requirement does not apply if the project is approved by the Economic Development Board or connected to an accredited incubator.
The Self-Employed Occupation Permit is different. It is intended for an individual carrying out a professional service activity rather than operating as a conventional employee.
The current minimum investment is USD50,000. Applicants must also provide at least three contracts or letters of intent from potential clients, including at least two potential local clients.
The Self-Employed route currently requires minimum business income of Rs2 million from the third year of registration, with a renewal benchmark of Rs3 million annually from the fifth year.
How to Apply for an Occupation Permit
New applications are submitted online through the National Electronic Licensing System (NELS).
The exact document checklist differs by category, but the process generally works like this:
- Register on NELS and submit the initial application with the required documents.
- The Occupation Permit Unit and Passport and Immigration Office review the application.
- If documents are missing, you will receive a request through NELS to provide additional information.
- Once the application is approved, you receive an Approval in Principle.
- The Approval in Principle for a new application is valid for 90 days.
- Complete the remaining requirements, including medical tests, business registration or investment where applicable.
- Upload the remaining documents through NELS.
- You will then receive an appointment for identity verification and inspection of the original documents.
- If everything is satisfactory and you hold a valid visa, the Occupation Permit is issued by the Passport and Immigration Office.
An Approval in Principle is not itself an Occupation Permit and does not automatically give you permission to begin working. It allows you to complete the remaining formalities required before the permit is issued.
Documents You Should Prepare
The final checklist depends on the permit category, but most applications require documents such as your passport, birth certificate, recent passport photograph and supporting professional or business documents.
A Professional application normally includes the employment contract, job description, CV, qualifications and documents relating to the employer.
Investor applicants generally need a detailed business plan, proof of available funds and documents relating to the new Mauritian company.
Self-Employed applicants need a business plan, CV, academic or professional qualifications and the required contracts or letters of intent from potential clients.
Documents not originally issued in English or French may require a certified or sworn translation. Originals should also be available for inspection at the final appointment.
Medical Tests
Medical clearance forms part of the Occupation Permit process. The medical certificate and supporting reports must generally be less than six months old.
Three important tests must be carried out in Mauritius: an HIV test, Hepatitis B surface antigen test and chest X-ray. Other required investigations may be completed either before arrival or in Mauritius, depending on the test and current instructions.
The results are submitted to a local doctor, who carries out the examination and issues the medical certificate required for the application.
Do not arrange all of your medical tests months in advance without checking the latest requirements. The EDB’s medical instructions should be followed because incorrect or expired reports can delay the application.
How Much Does an Occupation Permit Cost?
There is currently a USD50 non-refundable application fee for Occupation Permit applications. This applies from 1 December 2025 and is separate from the statutory permit fee payable when the application is approved.
For a Professional Occupation Permit, the current permit fee depends on the length of the employment contract:
- Up to 2 years: USD400
- More than 2 years and up to 3 years: USD500
- More than 3 years and up to 5 years: USD800
- More than 5 years and up to 10 years: USD1,000
The current statutory fee for both the Investor and Self-Employed Occupation Permit is USD1,000 following approval.
These fees can change, so always check the amount shown on the official Residency Mauritius website or NELS before making payment.
Can Your Family Move With You?
Yes. Dependants of an Occupation Permit holder can apply for residence permits allowing them to live in Mauritius for a period that does not exceed the validity of the main permit.
Eligible dependants can include a spouse, qualifying common-law partner, parents and unmarried dependent children, including stepchildren or legally adopted children.
Dependent children must generally be no older than 24.
A dependent residence permit does not automatically give the dependant permission to work. A spouse or other dependant wishing to take employment normally needs the appropriate Work Permit or Occupation Permit in their own right.
Families relocating with children should also budget for education before choosing where to live. See our International Schools in Mauritius guide for current fees and locations.
What About Permanent Residence?
An Occupation Permit does not automatically become permanent residence. Mauritius has a separate Permanent Residence Permit, currently valid for 20 years, for people who meet much higher long-term criteria.
A Professional can currently qualify after holding a Professional Occupation Permit or qualifying Work Permit for at least five years and receiving a basic monthly salary of at least Rs400,000 for five consecutive years immediately before applying.
An Investor generally needs to have held the Investor Occupation Permit for at least five years and achieved either annual turnover of at least Rs15 million for five years or aggregate turnover of Rs75 million over a qualifying five-year period.
A Self-Employed permit holder can qualify after at least five years where the business has generated at least Rs3 million in annual business income for five consecutive years or meets the alternative aggregate turnover requirement.
These thresholds are significantly higher than the basic Occupation Permit requirements, so permanent residence should be treated as a separate long-term objective rather than an automatic next step.
Occupation Permit or Premium Visa?
If you work remotely for a company outside Mauritius or earn your income mainly from overseas clients and do not intend to enter the local labour market, you may not need an Occupation Permit at all.
The Premium Visa is designed for eligible remote workers, retirees and other long-stay visitors whose main income comes from outside Mauritius. It does not give you the same right to take normal employment with a Mauritian company.
See our Digital Nomad Life in Mauritius guide if remote work rather than local employment is your main reason for relocating.
Final Checklist Before You Apply
Before starting the process, make sure you are applying under the correct category and that you meet the current salary, investment or business requirements. Gather the original versions of important documents early, especially birth certificates, qualifications and company documents.
Do not rely on an old blog post or immigration forum for the final thresholds. Mauritius has changed Occupation Permit requirements several times, including significant changes during 2025 and 2026.
Start the application through the official NELS platform, respond promptly if additional documents are requested, and make sure you complete the final requirements before the 90-day Approval in Principle expires.
The process is manageable when the application is complete and the correct category is chosen from the beginning.
Official Resources
Important: Immigration rules, investment thresholds, salary requirements, fees and document checklists can change. Always confirm the latest requirements on the official Residency Mauritius / EDB website before transferring funds, accepting employment or submitting an application.
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