Mauritian Citizenship for Families: How to Qualify

Mauritius does not sell citizenship. There is no single application that grants a family of four Mauritian passports in exchange for a bank transfer.

What Mauritius does offer is a structured (if somewhat slow) pathway from residency to citizenship. For families willing to commit to actually living on the island, the route is clear and well-established.

Below is every route to Mauritian citizenship that applies to foreign families: naturalisation, the investor fast-track, registration for spouses and children, and citizenship by descent. It also addresses the question that trips up most people – whether Mauritius allows dual citizenship.

The legal framework

Mauritian citizenship is governed by the Constitution (sections 20-23) and the Mauritius Citizenship Act. All citizenship matters are handled by the Prime Minister’s Office, supported by the Passport and Immigration Office. Applications are processed by the Citizenship Section of the Department of Home Affairs.

There are four ways a person can become a Mauritian citizen: by birth, by descent, by registration and by naturalisation. For foreign families moving to Mauritius, registration and naturalisation are the relevant paths.

Route 1: naturalisation (the standard path)

Naturalisation under section 9 of the Citizenship Act is the most common route for foreign nationals who are not Commonwealth citizens. The requirements are:

Continuous residence in Mauritius for 12 months immediately before the application date
During the seven years before that 12-month period, aggregate residence of at least five years
Good character (a police clearance certificate is required)
Adequate knowledge of English or French (not formally tested, but assessed)
Intention to reside in Mauritius

In practical terms, this means roughly six to seven years of living in Mauritius before you can apply. The residence does not need to be unbroken during the first seven years – aggregate periods totalling five years are sufficient – but the final 12 months must be continuous.

The application process

The application must be:

Completed on the official form (available from the Department of Home Affairs website)
Signed in Mauritius, in the presence of a Judge, the Master and Registrar of the Supreme Court, or a District Magistrate
Accompanied by an advertisement placed in two daily newspapers, in a prescribed format (the text is set out at the bottom of the application form)

The newspaper advertisement is a distinctive feature of the Mauritian system. It publicly announces the intention to apply for citizenship, giving anyone the opportunity to object. The advertisement must be placed within one week before submitting the application.

Documents required

Birth certificate (apostilled if issued abroad)
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Copy of the first five pages of the passport
Letter confirming current residence permit status
Certificate of character from the Mauritius Police
Police clearance from the home country
Proof of residence in Mauritius (utility bills, tenancy agreement)

Documents in languages other than English or French must be translated and apostilled.

Fees

Application fee: Rs2,000 (non-refundable, approximately $43)
Upon approval: Rs50,000 (approximately $1,090) for the Certificate of Naturalisation

Timeline

The processing time is a minimum of 12 months from submission. In practice, it can take longer – 18 to 24 months is not unusual. The Prime Minister’s Office has full discretion to approve or refuse, and no reason needs to be given for a refusal. There is no appeal.

Route 2: naturalisation for investors (the fast track)

Section 9(3) of the Citizenship Act provides an accelerated naturalisation route for investors. The requirements are:

Investment of at least USD500,000 in Mauritius
Continuous residence in Mauritius for at least two years before the application date

This is considerably faster than the standard path – two years of residence instead of six to seven. The investment must be genuine and verifiable. Qualifying investments include property purchases through approved schemes (PDS, IRS, Smart City), business investments and other forms of capital deployment in the Mauritian economy.

The application process is identical to standard naturalisation: the same form, the same newspaper advertisement requirement, the same appearance before a Judge or Magistrate. The fees are also the same.

A word of caution

While section 9(3) is on the statute books, reports suggest that approvals through this route have been inconsistent. The fast-track provision was used more actively in the early 2000s; more recently, the Prime Minister’s Office appears to apply it cautiously. Having a qualifying investment and meeting the residence requirement does not guarantee approval. The discretionary nature of the decision means that each application is assessed on its merits, and the political environment can influence outcomes.

Families considering the investor route should treat the USD500,000 investment and two-year residency as the minimum threshold, not a guarantee. Working with a Mauritian immigration lawyer is strongly advisable.

Route 3: registration for Commonwealth citizens

Citizens of Commonwealth countries (which includes the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa, India, Singapore and many others) benefit from a simpler registration process under section 5 of the Citizenship Act.

The requirement is five years of continuous residence in Mauritius, though the Minister may accept a shorter period (not less than 12 months) in special circumstances. This is registration, not naturalisation – a less discretionary process, though still subject to approval.

For a British or South African family already holding occupation permits and living in Mauritius, this is often the most straightforward path. After five years of residence, each adult family member can apply individually for registration as a citizen.

Route 4: registration for spouses

Under section 7 of the Citizenship Act, the foreign spouse of a Mauritian citizen may be registered as a citizen if:

The marriage is legally recognised
The spouse has resided with the Mauritian partner “under the same conjugal roof” in Mauritius for an aggregate period of four years immediately before the application date

This provision applies regardless of whether the Mauritian partner is a citizen by birth, descent, registration or naturalisation. The four-year cohabitation requirement must be in Mauritius – time spent living together abroad does not count.

For a family where one partner obtains citizenship through naturalisation or investment, the other partner can subsequently apply under section 7 after four years of living together in Mauritius. This creates a staggered timeline: the first partner obtains citizenship, then the second partner applies four years later.

Route 5: registration for minor children

Section 6 of the Citizenship Act provides that a minor child of a Mauritian citizen may be registered as a citizen. This is the most direct route for children in a family where at least one parent has obtained Mauritian citizenship.

The process:

A parent who is a Mauritian citizen submits an application for registration of the child
The application is signed before a Judge, Master and Registrar, or District Magistrate
No separate residency requirement applies to the child

This means that once a parent becomes a citizen, minor children can be registered without needing to fulfil their own five or seven-year residency period. For families, this is a substantial advantage – the children’s citizenship follows from the parent’s.

Children who turn 18 before a parent obtains citizenship would need to apply independently under the standard naturalisation or Commonwealth registration routes.

Citizenship by birth and descent

These routes do not require an application for naturalisation but are relevant for families already living in Mauritius:

By birth: a child born in Mauritius after 1 October 1995 is a citizen if either parent is a Mauritian citizen at the time of birth. A child born in Mauritius before that date is a citizen regardless of the parents’ nationality.
By descent: a child born outside Mauritius is a citizen if either parent is a citizen of Mauritius by birth. Children born abroad to naturalised citizens do not automatically acquire citizenship by descent – this right is reserved for children of citizens “by birth.”

For a family that has settled in Mauritius and where one parent becomes naturalised, any children born in Mauritius after the parent’s naturalisation will be Mauritian citizens by birth. Those children would hold citizenship in their own right, not derived from registration.

Dual citizenship: the critical question

This is where many families get tripped up, and the answer is nuanced.

Citizens by birth or descent: Mauritius recognises dual citizenship for citizens who acquired their citizenship by birth or descent. A person born in Mauritius to Mauritian parents can hold another nationality without losing their Mauritian citizenship. Since 1995, the requirement to renounce a foreign nationality at age 21 has been removed.

Naturalised citizens: the position is more restrictive. The Citizenship Act provides that if a naturalised citizen holds or acquires the nationality of a foreign country, the Minister may deprive that person of Mauritian citizenship. In practice, this means naturalised citizens are expected to renounce their previous citizenship, though enforcement varies and individual circumstances are considered.

This distinction is important for families. If a parent becomes a naturalised citizen and their children are then registered under section 6, the children’s citizenship status is by registration – not by birth. However, children born in Mauritius after the parent becomes a citizen are citizens by birth and can hold dual nationality.

The practical implication: families considering naturalisation should obtain professional legal advice on the dual citizenship question before applying, particularly if retaining the original nationality matters. Some countries do not permit renunciation (making the point moot from the Mauritian side), and the enforcement of the renunciation requirement has not been uniformly applied.

Citizenship by adoption

Under section 3 of the Citizenship Act, a minor child who is adopted by a Mauritian citizen becomes a Mauritian citizen, provided the adoption was legally effected in Mauritius (through an Adoption Order issued by the Supreme Court). In the case of joint adoption, the male adopter must be a citizen.

The Prime Minister’s Office issues a Certificate of Mauritian Nationality upon submission of the Adoption Order. The child is considered a citizen from the date of adoption.

The family timeline: putting it together

For a typical foreign family of four (two adults, two minor children) moving to Mauritius on occupation permits:

Standard naturalisation path (non-Commonwealth)

Years 1-7: live in Mauritius on residence or occupation permits. Accumulate at least five years of aggregate residence, with the final 12 months continuous.
Year 7-8: the first parent applies for naturalisation. Processing takes 12-24 months.
Year 8-9: first parent receives citizenship. Minor children are registered under section 6 (relatively quick).
Year 12-13: second parent (as spouse of a citizen) applies under section 7 after four years of cohabitation with the naturalised partner in Mauritius.

Total timeline for the full family: roughly 12-13 years from arrival to all members holding citizenship.

Investor fast-track path

Year 0: invest USD500,000 in a qualifying asset (e.g. a PDS property).
Years 1-2: live in Mauritius continuously.
Year 2-3: first parent applies under section 9(3). Processing takes 12-24 months.
Year 3-4: first parent receives citizenship. Minor children registered under section 6.
Year 7-8: second parent applies under section 7 (four years cohabitation).

Total timeline for the full family: roughly seven to eight years.

Commonwealth citizen path

Years 1-5: live in Mauritius on residence or occupation permits.
Year 5-6: both parents can apply simultaneously for registration under section 5. Processing takes 12-18 months.
Year 6-7: both parents receive citizenship. Minor children registered under section 6.

Total timeline for the full family: roughly six to seven years. This is the most efficient route for families from Commonwealth countries.

Residency as the first step

Every path to citizenship requires legal residence in Mauritius first. The living in Mauritius guide covers the broader picture, but here are the most common routes to residency for families:

Occupation Permit (Investor): minimum investment of USD50,000, valid for 10 years. The permanent residence permit can be applied for after holding an occupation permit for five years.
Occupation Permit (Professional): requires an employment contract with a Mauritian company and a minimum monthly salary. Valid for up to three years, renewable.
Property Purchase Residency: buying property worth at least USD375,000 in an approved scheme grants a 10-year residence permit for the buyer and dependants.
Retirement Permit: for those aged 50 or over, with an annual transfer of at least USD24,000. Valid for 10 years, renewable.

Dependants – spouse, children under 24 who are not working, and parents – can be included on the residence permit. This means the entire family can establish legal residence from the outset, even though citizenship applications are processed individually.

Practical tips for families

Keep meticulous records: the citizenship application requires proof of residence. Save utility bills, bank statements, tenancy agreements, school enrolment records and travel itineraries (to document time spent in Mauritius vs abroad).
Minimise absences: extended periods abroad can break the continuity requirement. Short holidays and business trips are generally fine, but spending several months per year outside Mauritius could jeopardise a naturalisation application.
Open a bank account early: a Mauritian bank account with regular local transactions supports the case for genuine residence. See the guide to opening a bank account.
File tax returns: registering with the Mauritius Revenue Authority and filing annual tax returns demonstrates commitment to the country. It also avoids complications when the PM’s Office reviews the application.
Engage a lawyer: citizenship applications are discretionary. A Mauritian immigration lawyer who understands the system and has dealt with the Citizenship Section before can help navigate the process. Expect legal fees of Rs30,000 to Rs100,000 depending on complexity. Get in touch if you need a referral.
Plan for the children’s ages: if children will turn 18 before a parent obtains citizenship, they may need to apply independently. Starting the family’s residency early gives the best chance of registering children while they are still minors.

What the Mauritian passport offers

The Mauritius passport is one of the strongest in Africa, ranked roughly 47th globally. It provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 150 countries, including the UK, the Schengen Area, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. Mauritius is a member of the Commonwealth, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union, which opens additional doors for business and travel across the region.

For families with business interests linking Africa, Asia and Europe, a Mauritian passport offers practical connectivity that few other African nations can match.

The bottom line

Obtaining Mauritian citizenship as a family is a multi-year commitment. The standard path takes six to 13 years depending on the route, and the process is individual – each family member applies separately, at different stages. The investor fast-track shortens the timeline but does not eliminate the residency requirement entirely.

What Mauritius offers in return is a stable, well-governed country with a favourable tax regime, strong passport and high quality of life. For families who are genuinely relocating – not just parking capital for a passport – the citizenship pathway is achievable, transparent and, by global standards, reasonably priced. The challenge is patience, not complexity.

Obtaining Mauritian Citizenship as a Family: Routes, Requirements and Timeline