The New Permanent Residence Permit Rules: A 20-Year Path for Foreign Investors in Mauritius
Under the Finance Act 2025, permanent residence permits in Mauritius now run for 20 years, dependent children qualify up to age 24, and the criteria are codified in statute rather than policy guidelines. The framework covers four categories – investor, professional, self-employed, and retired – each with specific financial thresholds and a minimum 5-year qualifying period.
The thresholds are high. Investors need Rs 75 million in aggregate turnover. Professionals need Rs 400,000 per month in salary, sustained over 5 consecutive years. Retirees need USD 200,000 in cumulative transfers. Below is what each category requires.
Who qualifies: the four categories
The Finance Act 2025 replaces Part IV of the First Schedule to the Economic Development Board Act. Permanent residence eligibility now falls into four categories:
| Category | Minimum Time on Permit | Financial Threshold | PR Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor | 5 years on occupation permit | Rs 15M annual turnover for 5 years, or Rs 75M aggregate over 5 years | 20 years |
| Professional | 5 years on occupation permit or work permit | Rs 400,000/month salary for 5 consecutive years | 20 years |
| Self-employed | 5 years on occupation permit | Rs 3M annual business income for 5 years, or Rs 15M aggregate over 5 years | 20 years |
| Retired non-citizen | 5 years on residence permit | USD 200,000 aggregate transfers over 5 years | 20 years |
There’s also a Mauritian Diaspora category – members of the Mauritian Diaspora Scheme get a 10-year permanent residence permit.
Investor permanent residence: the turnover bar
To qualify as an investor, you need to have held an occupation permit as an investor for at least 5 years, plus demonstrate one of two financial thresholds:
- Option A: A minimum annual turnover of Rs 15 million (~GBP 255,000) for each of the 5 years preceding your application
- Option B: An aggregate turnover of Rs 75 million (~GBP 1.28 million) for a consecutive 5-year period immediately preceding the application
Option B gives some flexibility – you could have lower years and higher years, as long as the total hits Rs 75 million. But you need 5 consecutive years, so gaps or permit lapses would reset the clock.
If you’re currently operating under an investor occupation permit and thinking about the long game, these are the numbers to build towards. For how to structure your company, see the company incorporation guide.
Professional permanent residence: the salary bar
Professionals need 5 years on an occupation permit as a professional (or a valid work permit under the Non-Citizens Employment Restriction Act), plus a monthly basic salary of at least Rs 400,000 (~GBP 6,800 / ~USD 8,700) for 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the application.
This is a high bar – it targets senior executives, financial services professionals, and specialists in high-value sectors. The Rs 400,000/month threshold is significantly above the ProPass minimum of Rs 30,000/month, so most professionals on standard occupation permits won’t hit this without substantial career progression in Mauritius.
For context on what roles command these salary levels, see the expat jobs guide.
Self-employed permanent residence: the income bar
Self-employed permit holders need 5 years on their occupation permit, plus either:
- Option A: Annual business income of at least Rs 3 million (~GBP 51,000) for 5 consecutive years; or
- Option B: Aggregate turnover of Rs 15 million (~GBP 255,000) over 5 consecutive years
For more on the self-employed occupation permit itself, including the updated requirements under the Finance Act 2025, see the dedicated article.
Retired non-citizen permanent residence: the transfer bar
Retirees need 5 years on a residence permit as a retired non-citizen, plus aggregate transfers of at least USD 200,000 (~GBP 160,000) or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency, over a consecutive 5-year period immediately preceding the application.
Given that the annual transfer requirement for the retirement residence permit is USD 24,000, the minimum transfers over 5 years would be USD 120,000. To reach the USD 200,000 PR threshold, you’d need to transfer an average of USD 40,000 per year – about USD 16,000 more than the minimum. This is achievable for most UK/EU retirees with pension income and savings.
For the full picture on retirement residence permits, including the 10-year validity and application process, see the dedicated article. For managed retirement communities, see the PDS senior living guide.
The 20-year validity
Under Section 11(4) of the amended Immigration Act 2022, permanent residence permits issued to investors, professionals, self-employed persons, and retirees under subsection (1)(a) are valid for 20 years from the date of issue.
Twenty years. That’s a genuine long-term commitment from Mauritius to the people who invest their time and money here. It means you can plan your life – your property, your family arrangements, your financial structure – around a stable residency status that extends well into the future.
For Mauritian Diaspora applicants under subsection (1)(b), the validity is 10 years.
Dependents: who’s covered
If you qualify for permanent residence, the following family members can also be included:
- Spouse
- Parent
- Dependent child – now defined to include children up to 24 years of age (an increase under the Finance Act 2025)
- Other dependents: Up to 2 additional dependents of the main applicant (not of the spouse)
The dependent child age increase to 24 is notable for families with adult children in university or early careers who haven’t yet established independence.
Converting between PR categories
An investor, professional, or self-employed person who already holds a permanent residence permit can convert it to a retired non-citizen permanent residence permit for the remaining validity period. The condition: you need a disposable annual income of at least USD 40,000 (~GBP 32,000).
This is useful if you’re winding down your active business or employment but want to keep your PR status through to its expiry date. You switch categories without starting over.
How to apply
Applications for permanent residence are made to the Minister in such form and manner as the Minister may determine. The Minister issues the permit where satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements, subject to payment of prescribed fees and any conditions the Minister may impose.
In practice, expect the application to go through the EDB and the Joint Committee process, similar to the occupation permit pathway. The statutory framework gives the Minister broad discretion, but the criteria are now clearly spelled out in statute.
Planning your path to PR
The most important takeaway from the Finance Act 2025 changes is that permanent residence is now a clearly defined, achievable target rather than a discretionary process. The financial thresholds are high enough to be meaningful but low enough to be realistic for committed investors and professionals.
Start with the right occupation or residence permit, understand which financial threshold applies to your category, and plan your 5-year trajectory accordingly. If you’re an investor, your business plan should explicitly account for the Rs 75 million aggregate turnover target. If you’re a retiree, budget for USD 40,000/year in transfers rather than the minimum USD 24,000.
For the broader investing in Mauritius picture, or to understand how your income will be taxed, follow the links.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, immigration, or financial advice. The Finance Act 2025 provisions are subject to further regulation and official interpretation. Always verify the latest requirements through the Economic Development Board and consult a qualified immigration professional before making decisions. Information current as of August 2025.
