Mauritius: all programs

Mauritius at a glance

Mauritius is an island nation in the south-western Indian Ocean, about 2,000 kilometres from the African coast. Besides the main island, the country includes Rodrigues, Agaléga and smaller islands. The population is about 1.3 million, and the capital is Port Louis. Mauritius is considered one of Africa's most stable and prosperous countries: a financial centre for investment into Africa and India, with developed tourism, sugar and textile production, and now information technology.

The official language is English, French and Creole are spoken in daily life, and the currency is the Mauritian rupee. The island attracts with a warm climate, lagoons and beaches, a clear residence path for investors, retirees and remote workers, and a tax under which foreign income is taxed only when remitted to the island.

History and government

The island was known to Arab and Portuguese navigators; the Dutch first settled it in the 17th century, then the French, and from 1810 the British. Mauritius was home to the dodo, which died out in the 17th century. The country gained independence in 1968 and became a republic within the Commonwealth in 1992. Today it is a parliamentary democracy with regular elections, independent courts and a multi-ethnic population descended from people of India, Africa, France and China.

How to move in 2026

Russian citizens do not need a visa for a short trip to Mauritius. Permit applications are filed online with the Economic Development Board, and processing usually takes 6-8 months from meeting the investment condition. After five years an investor can obtain permanent status for 20 years if the company's revenue is at least 15 million rupees a year, with a $3,000 fee. More on the pages Mauritius permanent residence by investment and Mauritius digital nomad visa.

Taxes

Income tax is progressive: the first 500,000 rupees a year, about $10,520, are tax-free, the next 500,000 are taxed at 10%, and the rest at 20%. From the tax year starting 1 July 2025, income above 12 million rupees is subject to an additional 15% levy. A resident's foreign income is taxed only when remitted to the island, and there are no capital gains or inheritance taxes. Corporate tax is 15% and VAT 15%. More on the page Taxes in Mauritius.

Property

Foreigners buy homes in government-approved schemes: resort complexes, property schemes and smart cities, where a purchase from $375,000 gives residence to the buyer and family. An apartment in a building of at least three floors can be bought from 6 million rupees with the economic development agency's approval, but such a purchase does not grant residence. The registration duty for non-citizens in these schemes is 5%: the rise to 10% planned for 1 July 2026 was repealed by the Finance Act 2026. Purchased property can be rented out.

Business and companies

Mauritius is a financial centre for investment into Africa and India: banks, fund managers and service companies work in Ebène, and international companies with a global business licence pay 15% corporate tax with partial exemption of certain income. To work in their own company, a foreigner needs an occupation permit, which combines the right to live and work. To renew an investor permit, the company must show revenue of at least 5 million rupees from the third year and 8 million from the fifth.

Cost of living

Prices come from two independent price databases for 2026. Villas and apartments in complexes for foreigners on the coast cost well above the averages, and imported goods and cars are pricier than in Europe. Local salaries are low, about $690 a month, so people usually move with their own business or foreign income.

Where to live

• Grand Baie - the north of the island with beaches, restaurants and many foreigners.
• Ebène and Moka - the business cybercity and green residential areas in the centre, near international schools.
• Tamarin and Black River - the sunny west with surfing and villas in complexes for foreigners.
• Curepipe and Quatre Bornes - the cool central plateau, cheaper than the coast.
• Port Louis - offices, the port and the market. More in the Port Louis guide.

Practicalities

• Climate. Tropical: hot and humid with cyclones from November to April, around 20-25 degrees from May to October.
• Language. English is official, French and Creole in daily life.
• Transport. Traffic drives on the left, a car is needed, and a light rail runs between Port Louis and Curepipe.
• Healthcare. Public care is free, and newcomers mostly use private clinics.
• Schools. International schools with British and French curricula.

Leisure

The island is surrounded by coral reefs and lagoons: the beaches of Belle Mare, Le Morne and Flic en Flac, diving and catamaran trips to Île aux Cerfs. In the centre are Black River Gorges National Park with waterfalls, the Seven Coloured Earth at Chamarel and the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. From here it is easy to fly to Réunion, the Seychelles and Madagascar.

Who Mauritius suits

Mauritius suits remote workers and families with foreign income, retirees aged 50+, investors ready to buy a home from $375,000 or invest in a business, and entrepreneurs working with Africa and India. The downsides are cyclone season, traffic around Port Louis and tax on foreign income when remitted, so transfers are planned in advance. Murblz specialists arrange the remote worker visa or investor residence, find housing and plan taxes. A consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.