Mauritius Occupation Permit (Professional): the work permit for Americans with a job offer on the island
A Mauritian employer, a basic salary of at least MUR 50,000 a month (about $1,050), and you get one permit to live and work for up to 10 years. Here's what it costs, how long it takes, and where it gets hard.
This is the route for one kind of American: someone a Mauritian company wants to hire. The employer files, the permit ties to that job, and your family can come on dependent permits.
Occupation Permit (Professional)
A combined work and residence permit for foreign professionals employed by a company in Mauritius. It lasts up to 10 years in line with the employment contract, and spouses, parents and unmarried children can get matching residence permits. After 5 years at a very high salary level you can apply for permanent residence.
- Government cost
- $450
- Timeline
- Up to 10 years, matching the employment contract; renewable
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Employment contract with a Mauritian company paying a basic salary of at least MUR 50,000 per month (about US$1,050), harmonised across all sectors
- Academic or professional qualifications and CV
- Employer company documents (business registration, incorporation certificate, shareholder and director register) and a signed employer undertaking
- Birth certificate, passport and medical certificate under 6 months old
- Apply online through the EDB National Electronic Licensing System (NELS)
Who it's for
A local paycheck, not a remote one
You need a signed contract with a Mauritian company before anything happens. Hiring tends to cluster in tech, financial services, tourism and hospitality, health and engineering, and you'll work in English with French and Creole around you.
If your money comes from a U.S. employer or clients, this is the wrong permit. Look at the Premium Visa instead. Retirees have their own permit, too.
The numbers, as of September 2026
MUR 50,000
Minimum basic salary per month
about $1,050, every sector
$50
Application fee
nonrefundable
$400 to $1,000
Permit fee, by contract length
payable by the employer
$400
Per dependent
spouse, child or parent
10 years
Longest permit
or your contract, if shorter
MUR 400,000
Monthly salary for permanent residence
about $8,400, five years running
How it works
From job offer to permit in about three months
1. Your employer files online
Everything goes through the EDB's e-licensing platform, with the $50 fee. Relocation guides report three to six weeks to approval in principle.
2. You fly in and finish
Americans can enter visa-free for up to 60 days. You'll need a medical certificate from a doctor in Mauritius (HIV, hepatitis B and a chest X-ray), then show your originals at an appointment. Approval-in-principle conditions have to be met within 90 days.
3. Pay and collect
The permit fee is paid online or by bank check, and you pick up your permit. Don't start work before it's issued.
Older guides have the wrong salary
The Finance Act 2026, gazetted on August 13, 2026, merged the old ProPass (MUR 30,000) and Expert Pass (MUR 250,000) into one Professional category at MUR 50,000 and scrapped the Family Occupation Permit. If you already hold a permit, your first renewal uses the old rules.
Before you sign
Family, job changes, and the long game
Is the floor enough to live on?
MUR 50,000 beats the local average, but one relocation guide puts a single professional's spending at MUR 85,000 to 140,000 a month ($1,800 to $2,950) with housing. Add private health insurance, roughly $120 to $500 per adult a month. Negotiate well above the minimum.
Your family
Your spouse, parents and unmarried children up to 24 can get dependent permits that run as long as yours. Here's the catch: under the EDB's guidelines, a dependent who wants a job needs a work permit or occupation permit of their own.
Changing jobs
The permit belongs to this job. A new employer means a fresh application, and you can't work in a side business, though you can invest in one.
Permanent residence and citizenship
After five years you can apply for a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit, but only if your basic salary was at least MUR 400,000 a month for those five straight years, and approval isn't automatic. Citizenship means renouncing your U.S. citizenship.
Taxes on both sides
Stay 183 days and you're a Mauritian tax resident: 0% on the first MUR 500,000 a year (about $10,500), then 10%, 20% and a 35% top band. There's no U.S.-Mauritius tax treaty, so plan your U.S. return early.
Help with the move
People who can handle the parts outside the permit
Your employer handles the filing. These partners cover health coverage, U.S. taxes and moving money.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps you match your health needs to the care available where you're moving.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
International health insurance plans for Americans living abroad.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Prepares and files U.S. tax returns for Americans living overseas.
Moneycorp
Currency Exchange
Currency exchange and international payments, including rate locks and regular transfers.
Mauritius Professional Occupation Permit: common questions
Can I change employers on a Mauritius Occupation Permit?
Yes, but not on the same permit. The Professional permit is tied to one employer, so a new job needs a fresh Occupation Permit application. If your job ends, your employer has to notify the EDB in writing right away.
Can my spouse work in Mauritius if I have an Occupation Permit?
Your spouse can live in Mauritius on a dependent permit, but the EDB's guidelines say a dependent who wants a job must apply for a work permit or occupation permit of their own. Some advisors describe a lighter process, so confirm current practice with the EDB before you count on a second income.
How long does it take to get a Professional Occupation Permit in Mauritius?
Relocation guides report three to six weeks to approval in principle and around 90 days from filing to permit. After approval in principle, you have 90 days to meet its conditions, including a local medical certificate and an appointment to show original documents.
Can an American become a Mauritian citizen through work?
Not without giving up U.S. citizenship. The Mauritius Citizenship Act requires naturalization applicants to renounce any other citizenship first. It also asks for 12 months of continuous residence before applying plus five years of residence in the seven years before that.
How much does the Mauritius Professional Occupation Permit cost?
There's a $50 nonrefundable application fee, in place since December 2025. The permit fee itself runs from $400 to $1,000 depending on the length of the employment contract, and the EDB lists it as payable by the employer. Each dependent costs $400.
Does the Professional Occupation Permit lead to permanent residence in Mauritius?
It can, but the bar is high. After five years on the permit, you can apply for a 20-year Permanent Residence Permit if your basic salary was at least MUR 400,000 a month (about $8,400) for the five consecutive years before you apply. Meeting the threshold doesn't guarantee approval.
Do Americans working in Mauritius pay tax in both countries?
You become a Mauritian tax resident after 183 days in a year, with rates of 0% on the first MUR 500,000 of income, then 10%, 20% and 35% for 2026-27. The U.S. and Mauritius have no income tax treaty, so Americans rely on U.S. tools like the foreign earned income exclusion, which requires 330 full days abroad in 12 months or bona fide residence.
What salary do I need for a Mauritius Occupation Permit as a professional?
A basic salary of at least MUR 50,000 a month, about $1,050 at September 2026 exchange rates. Since the Finance Act 2026 (gazetted in August 2026), that floor is the same in every sector, replacing the old ProPass and Expert Pass tiers.
Get your Mauritius move planned before you sign
Talk it through with an Expatsi advisor: the salary math, your family's permits and what happens after year five.
Why not you?