The Mauritius Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment framework approved by the Mauritian government in 2026.
It is designed as a high-value entry route linked to strategic economic sectors rather than traditional relocation criteria.
For investors and high-net-worth individuals, Mauritius offers a regulated investment environment, tax efficiency, and a strategic position between Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
While the framework has been approved, certain implementation details and procedures are still being finalized.
This guide covers:
- What is the residency by investment program in Mauritius?
- What is the minimum investment for Golden Visa?
- How do we get a Golden Visa?
- How much time does it take for a Mauritius visa?
- What are the advantages of having a Golden Visa?
- What are the cons of the Golden Visa?
Key Takeaways:
- Mauritius Golden Visa introduces a US$1 million investment requirement in strategic sectors.
- The Golden Visa is designed as a high-value, sector-focused residency route, not a traditional property-based program.
- Mauritius offers a low-tax, regulated environment with strong expat appeal.
- Popular expat and investment areas include Grand Baie, Tamarin, Flic-en-Flac, and Black River.
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For digital nomad or residence visas that require income, assets, or qualifying investments, we can help structure suitable investment solutions that may align with those requirements, depending on your circumstances.
The information in this article is for general guidance only. It does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice, and is not a recommendation or solicitation to invest. Some facts may have changed since the time of writing.
What is the Golden Visa program in Mauritius?
The Mauritius Golden Visa program is a government-approved residency framework that allows high-net-worth individuals to obtain a renewable two-year, multiple-entry residence visa by committing to a qualifying investment in the country’s strategic sectors.
Approved by the Mauritian Cabinet on April 10, 2026, the program is designed to attract up to 100 elite investors annually and is managed by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
It forms part of Mauritius’s broader strategy to position itself as a high-value investment hub for global capital and innovation-driven industries.
Applicants are required to sign a formal undertaking to invest a minimum amount within their first 12 months.
Eligible investment areas are concentrated in high-growth and strategic sectors, including fintech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and global treasury operations.
One of the most distinctive features of the program is its accelerated processing timeline.
The government has set a target of approximately five working days for initial approval, supported by enhanced due diligence procedures, including World-Check screening and immigration compliance checks.
To balance foreign investment inflows with domestic housing stability, the program places strict limitations on property acquisition.
Golden Visa holders may only purchase residential real estate through existing Economic Development Board (EDB) frameworks, such as the Property Development Scheme (PDS) or Smart City Scheme, ensuring that investment activity remains structured and regulated.
How to get a golden visa in Mauritius?
To get a Mauritius Golden Visa, applicants are expected to commit to a qualifying investment in approved strategic sectors.
They must also complete an EDB-managed application process that is designed to be fast-tracked in as little as five working days, subject to due diligence and eligibility checks.
The framework has been approved at Cabinet level in April 2026, but the full legal implementation, eligibility criteria, and final application procedures are still being finalized by the government.
The intended system is designed to streamline investment migration through the EDB, with enhanced due diligence and potentially fast-tracked processing once fully operational.
1. Choose an eligible investment route
Under the proposed Golden Visa framework, investments are expected to focus on strategic sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and global treasury operations.
In parallel with existing residency structures, applicants may also engage in established EDB-linked pathways such as:
-Investment in approved property schemes (PDS or Smart City Scheme)
-Business investment or company formation in Mauritius
-Retirement-based residency for eligible applicants
-Premium Visa for remote workers and digital nomads
2. Prepare required documents
Typical requirements include:
-Valid passport
-Proof of funds and source of wealth documentation
-Clean criminal record certificate
-Medical certificate (if required)
-Proof of income or investment capacity
-Signed undertaking to invest (for Golden Visa applicants once formalized)
3. Submit application through the EDB
Applications are expected to be processed through the Economic Development Board (EDB), which will oversee:
-Eligibility assessment
-Due diligence screening (including international compliance checks such as World-Check)
-Investment verification
4. Approval and issuance
If implemented as proposed, approved applicants would receive a renewable multiple-entry residence authorization, subject to compliance with investment obligations and ongoing eligibility requirements.
How much is the Golden Visa for Mauritius?
How much is the Golden Visa for Mauritius?
The Mauritius Golden Visa requires a minimum investment of US$1 million in approved strategic sectors, making it a high-value residency route for a limited number of investors annually.
Additional costs may include:
- Government application and processing fees (to be finalized upon full rollout)
- Due diligence and compliance screening costs
- Legal and advisory fees
- Relocation and setup expenses
What are the benefits of having a Golden Visa?
The Mauritius Golden Visa is designed to offer investors low-tax residency, family relocation rights, and access to a regulated offshore financial hub.
- Low and stable tax regime – Mauritius applies a flat 15% income tax, with no capital gains tax, making it attractive for global investors structuring international income and assets.
- Strategic investment hub – The country serves as a bridge between Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, with strong treaty networks and an established offshore financial services sector.
- Family inclusion – Residency rights typically extend to spouses and dependents, allowing family relocation under a single application framework.
- High-quality living environment – Mauritius offers a stable political environment, modern infrastructure, coastal residential developments, and a strong expatriate community.
- Access to banking and financial services – Residents benefit from integration into Mauritius’ regulated banking system, commonly used for international wealth structuring.
- Flexible residency structure (proposed framework) – The Golden Visa is designed as a renewable residency permit, allowing long-term stay without strict continuous physical presence requirements, depending on final implementation rules.
- Business and investment ecosystem – Mauritius provides access to regulated investment schemes and structured entry into sectors such as fintech, renewable energy, and financial services.
What are the disadvantages of a Golden Visa?
The Mauritius Golden Visa has several limitations, including a high investment requirement, restricted eligibility conditions, and reliance on government approval under a still-developing framework.
- High investment threshold – Requires a minimum US$1 million commitment, which is higher than many other residency-by-investment programs globally
- Restricted eligibility scope – Investments are limited to approved strategic sectors under the 2026 framework
- No automatic citizenship pathway – The program is designed for residency, not direct naturalization
- Small domestic market – Limited scale for investors seeking large local consumer markets
- Regulatory dependence – Approval is subject to government screening and due diligence, and is not guaranteed even with capital commitment
- Geographic isolation – Mauritius’ location in the Indian Ocean can mean longer travel times to major global business hubs
Where is the best place to live in Mauritius for expats?
The best places for expats in Mauritius are coastal and central regions such as Grand Baie, Tamarin, Flic-en-Flac, Moka–Ebene, and Black River, each offering different trade-offs between lifestyle, connectivity, and cost of living.
Expats in Mauritius typically choose areas based on whether they prioritize beachfront living, urban access, or quieter residential environments:
- Grand Baie – The most established expat hub, known for its restaurants, nightlife, retail, and coworking spaces
- Tamarin – A relaxed west-coast lifestyle popular with surfers, retirees, and remote professionals
- Flic-en-Flac – A beachfront town with modern apartments, good amenities, and strong expat presence
- Moka / Ebene – The island’s business and administrative center, preferred by professionals and families working in finance and tech
- Black River (Rivière Noire) – An upscale residential area offering villas, nature access, and a quieter coastal lifestyle
Mauritius Golden Visa vs Other Residency and Citizenship-by-Investment Programs
The Golden Visa in Mauritius sits above existing residency-by-investment routes in Mauritius and is best understood in comparison with both local EDB permits and international investment migration programs.
Compared to Mauritius’ existing options, such as property-linked residency (PDS/Smart City Scheme), investor permits, and the Premium Visa, the Golden Visa introduces a higher threshold (US$1 million) and a more strategic, sector-focused investment requirement.
Traditional routes are generally more flexible and tied to real estate, business activity, or income, while the Golden Visa is designed for large-scale capital deployment.
Internationally, Mauritius positions itself between low-cost residency programs and direct citizenship-by-investment systems offered elsewhere.
It is more restrictive than basic residency options but does not offer a passport through investment, focusing instead on renewable residency linked to compliance and investment activity.
In effect, Mauritius maintains a layered structure: accessible residency routes at the base, and a higher-tier Golden Visa framework aimed at attracting significant foreign capital, without crossing into citizenship-by-investment models.
Conclusion
Mauritius is increasingly moving away from broad investment migration eligibility and toward a more selective model that uses residency to attract capital into priority sectors of the economy.
This approach reflects a wider global trend where immigration frameworks are being integrated into industrial policy, particularly in smaller jurisdictions competing for high-quality foreign investment.
The practical impact of the Mauritius Golden Visa will be measured not by its structure on paper, but by the type of investors it attracts and the economic activity that follows once implementation is complete.
FAQs
How much money do I need to retire in Mauritius?
To retire in Mauritius, you generally need a monthly passive income of around USD 1,500 to USD 2,000, based on lifestyle and visa category.
Higher budgets are recommended for comfortable expat living in coastal areas.
Which is the easiest Golden Visa to get?
Can a tourist open a bank account in Mauritius?
A tourist can sometimes open a bank account in Mauritius, but approval is not guaranteed and based on the bank’s due diligence and compliance checks.
Most banks require a passport, proof of address, and source of funds, and typically prefer in-person verification.
Is Mauritius a powerful passport?
The passport of Mauritius is relatively strong regionally, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to around 130 countries in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe.
However, it is not among the top-tier global passports like the EU or Singapore/Japan.
Where is the best place to invest in Mauritius?
The best places to invest in Mauritius are government-approved real estate zones such as Grand Baie, Tamarin, Flic-en-Flac, Black River, and Smart City developments, where foreign investors can access structured property and residency-linked investment opportunities.
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