How to Move from the UK to Mauritius: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why Mauritius Keeps Drawing Britons Eastward

The UK-to-Mauritius pipeline is not new. Mauritius was a British colony until 1968, English remains an official language, the legal system still leans on common law, and you drive on the left. For British expats, it feels familiar enough to be comfortable and foreign enough to be interesting.

What has changed is the sheer volume of people making the move. Remote work, favourable tax rates and a retirement permit that actually works have turned Mauritius from a holiday destination into a genuine relocation option. But there is a gap between “I fancy moving to Mauritius” and actually doing it, and that gap is filled with paperwork, logistics and a few surprises nobody warns you about.

This guide walks through every step, from choosing the right visa to opening a bank account and finding a place to live.

Step 1: Choose Your Visa or Permit

Your entry route depends on what you plan to do on the island.

The Premium Visa (Remote Workers and Retirees)

If you work remotely for a UK employer or run your own business serving overseas clients, the Premium Visa is the simplest path. It costs nothing to apply, lasts one year (renewable), and requires proof of at least $1,500 per month in income. You will need health insurance, a return ticket (or onward travel proof) and accommodation details.

Processing typically takes two to eight weeks. You apply online through the Economic Development Board (EDB) portal.

One important caveat: you become a Mauritius tax resident after 183 days. If you are still UK tax resident simultaneously, you will need to rely on the UK-Mauritius Double Taxation Agreement to avoid being taxed twice. Speak to a cross-border tax adviser before you hit that threshold.

The Occupation Permit (Working Locally)

If a Mauritian company is hiring you, your employer applies for an Occupation Permit (Professional) on your behalf. Since the Finance Act 2025, the Professional category splits into two tiers: ProPass (minimum salary MUR 30,000 per month) and Expert Pass (minimum salary MUR 250,000 per month). Both are valid for up to ten years.

The Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit

If you are over 50 and want to retire here, the Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit requires you to transfer at least $2,000 per month (or $24,000 per year) into a Mauritian bank account. Since the Finance Act 2025, this permit is issued for five years (previously ten). To qualify for the 20-year Permanent Residence Permit afterwards, you need five consecutive years of residence, at least 183 days per year physically in Mauritius, and cumulative transfers of $200,000.

The Investor Occupation Permit

Starting a business? You will need to invest at least $50,000 (or $100,000 for the more flexible turnover track) and meet annual revenue targets. This permit lasts ten years and provides a path to permanent residence after five years.

Step 2: Sort Out Your UK Tax Position

This is where most people get it wrong. Leaving the UK does not automatically make you a non-UK tax resident. HMRC uses the Statutory Residence Test (SRT), which counts the days you spend in the UK, your ties to the country (home, family, work) and whether you meet an “automatic overseas test.” In practice, if you have been UK resident for the previous three years and still have significant ties, you need to spend fewer than 16 days per tax year in the UK. With minimal ties, the threshold rises to 46 days. Working full-time overseas with fewer than 31 UK workdays is another route to non-residence.

Capital gains tax deserves special attention. If you sell UK property while non-resident, you are still liable for UK CGT. And if you return to the UK within five years, any gains realised while abroad may be taxed as though you never left (the temporary non-residence rules).

Mauritius taxes personal income on progressive bands of 0%, 10% and 20% (effective from July 2025 under the Finance Act). Only income remitted to Mauritius is taxable for the first few years. No inheritance tax, no capital gains tax (for most assets), no wealth tax.

Use the Mauritius tax calculator to estimate your own tax liability.

Step 3: Healthcare and Insurance

Your NHS entitlement ends when you become non-UK resident. You lose it after three months of living abroad, with some exceptions for pensioners. Plan for this before you leave, not after.

Mauritius has a free public healthcare system. Functional but basic, with long waiting times. Private healthcare is affordable by UK standards: a GP visit costs around MUR 800 to MUR 1,500 (roughly £14 to £26), and the main private hospitals (City Clinic, Wellkin Hospital, C-Care) offer good specialist care. Most expats take out international health insurance through Cigna, Allianz or SafetyWing. You will need proof of health insurance for the Premium Visa application regardless. See our health insurance comparison for details.

Step 4: Banking

Keep your UK bank account active. Not all banks allow this for non-residents, but Barclays, HSBC and several digital banks (Wise, Revolut) do.

Opening a Mauritian bank account is straightforward but requires patience. The main banks – MCB, SBM, AfrAsia – will ask for your passport, proof of address in Mauritius, a bank reference letter from your UK bank, proof of income or employment, and your Occupation Permit or Premium Visa approval. Budget one to three weeks for the process. See our banking guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

The single most expensive mistake people make with money transfers: using high-street bank wire transfers. The exchange rate markup alone (3% to 5% above mid-market) will cost you hundreds of pounds on larger transfers. Wise typically charges around 0.4% to 1.3% and uses the real mid-market rate. On a £5,000 transfer, the difference can be £150 or more.

Step 5: Shipping Your Belongings

A 20ft shipping container from the UK to Port Louis holds the contents of an average three-bedroom home. A 40ft container suits a four- or five-bedroom house. Sea freight takes six to eight weeks for a full container load (FCL) and eight to twelve weeks for shared/groupage shipping (LCL).

Costs vary significantly depending on the provider, the volume and the season, but expect to budget £3,000 to £7,000 for a 20ft container and upwards of £5,000 to £10,000 for a 40ft. Get at least three quotes and check whether they include packing, customs clearance and door-to-door delivery or just port-to-port. See our full shipping guide for detailed cost breakdowns and customs procedures.

Personal effects can be imported duty-free if you are taking up permanent residence, the goods were purchased outside Mauritius, and you import them within six months of arrival.

Step 6: Finding a Place to Live

The north coast (Grand Baie, Pereybere, Trou aux Biches) draws the largest British community – beaches, restaurants, and a ready-made social network. The central Plateau towns (Moka, Curepipe, Quatre Bornes) sit at higher elevation, which means cooler temperatures, proximity to schools and lower rents. The west coast (Flic en Flac, Tamarin, Black River) splits the difference: quieter than the north, warmer than the Plateau, and home to the best sunsets on the island.

Rental prices range from MUR 15,000 to MUR 30,000 per month for a simple two-bedroom apartment to MUR 50,000 to MUR 150,000+ for a furnished villa near the coast. Lease agreements are typically in English or French. Insist on a written contract, check what is included (water, electricity, internet) and photograph the property before moving in. For a detailed breakdown, see our renting guide.

Step 7: Driving and Getting Around

Mauritius drives on the left – one less adjustment for Britons. Your UK licence is valid for the first year. After that, you convert it to a Mauritian licence at the National Transport Authority office: bureaucratic but painless. Traffic in the central corridor between Port Louis and Curepipe is notoriously bad during rush hours. The Metro Express light rail now connects several towns and has cut commute times on the north-south axis. For a full transport breakdown, see our transport guide.

Step 8: Schools

If you are moving with children, international schools follow the British, French or International Baccalaureate curricula. Fees range from MUR 100,000 to MUR 500,000+ per term depending on the school. Lycée La Bourdonnais and Clavis International follow French curricula. Northfields International and Le Bocage International School offer British/IB programmes.

The public school system teaches in English and French, with most instruction in English at secondary level. It is free but follows the Mauritian curriculum, which may not align with UK exam boards.

Step 9: Pensions and State Benefits

Your UK State Pension can be paid into a Mauritian bank account. Mauritius is one of the countries where the State Pension is frozen (it does not increase with annual uprating), so plan accordingly. The current new State Pension is £221.20 per week (2025/26), and it will stay at that level for as long as you remain in Mauritius.

Private pensions (SIPPs, workplace pensions) can usually be drawn from anywhere. HMRC may apply a withholding tax on withdrawals, but the UK-Mauritius DTA generally allows Mauritius to tax pension income, with credit for any UK tax paid.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The cost of imported goods catches everyone. Anything not produced locally – electronics, certain foods, branded cosmetics – costs 150% to 300% of UK prices. Budget accordingly.

Fibre coverage has improved dramatically (my.t offers up to 100Mbps), but speeds vary by area. If you work remotely, test connectivity before signing a lease, not after.

November to May brings tropical storms. Most years, Mauritius gets a near-miss rather than a direct hit, but when a cyclone does arrive, everything shuts down for one to three days. Make sure your property has storm shutters and a backup water supply.

One thing to sort on day one: a Mauritian SIM card. You need one for most mobile banking, government services and everyday transactions. my.t (Mauritius Telecom) and Emtel are the main providers.

A Realistic Timeline

Allow six to nine months from decision to departure. The first two months are for choosing your visa route, engaging a tax adviser and starting the application. Months two to four: secure accommodation (even short-term), arrange health insurance, begin shipping quotes. Months four to six: ship belongings, finalise banking, notify HMRC of departure. The final stretch – months six to nine – is arrival, opening a local bank account, registering children in school and settling in.

Mauritius rewards those who plan. Rush the process and you will spend your first months untangling admin instead of exploring the island.