Mauritius Self-Employed Occupation Permit
Live in Mauritius while operating your own professional service business under a combined work and residence permit.
Important Budget update — 20 July 2026
The current Self-Employed Occupation Permit requirements described on this page remain applicable at the time of our latest review.
The 2026–2027 Budget proposes revised minimum business-income requirements, including MUR 2 million from Year 3 and MUR 3 million in Year 5 for renewal. These proposals are not yet operative and should not be relied upon until they have been enacted and formally implemented.
Intrasia verifies the requirements applicable at the time of every application.
Reviewed by: Herman Suhirman, General Manager
Last reviewed 20 July 2026
The Mauritius Self-Employed Occupation Permit allows eligible foreign freelancers, consultants and independent professionals to reside in Mauritius and work for their own clients. It combines residence and work authorisation in a single permit and may be issued for up to 10 years.
Current requirements include a USD 50,000 transfer, three letters of intent, including two from prospective Mauritian clients, and minimum business income of MUR 750,000 from the first year.
Intrasia Private Client assesses your proposed activity, prepares the supporting documents and coordinates the application, business registration, banking arrangements and permit formalities.
Self-Employed Permit at a Glance
Initial investment
USD 50,000
Maximum initial validity
Up to 10 years
Application fee
USD 50, non-refundable
Permit fee
USD 1,000 upon approval
Minimum business income
MUR 750,000 from Year 1
Client evidence
Three letters of intent, including two from prospective Mauritian clients
Permitted activity
Professional services, subject to approval
What Is the Mauritius Self-Employed Occupation Permit?
The permit is intended for a non-citizen who wants to establish and operate an independent professional service activity in Mauritius.
It may be suitable for:
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Software developers and IT consultants
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Management and business consultants
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Designers and creative professionals
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Digital marketing specialists
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Writers and content professionals
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Technical consultants
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Financial advisers, subject to licensing
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Other specialists whose businesses depend primarily on their personal expertise
Although it is sometimes described online as a “Mauritius freelancer visa” or “self-employed visa,” its official name is the Self-Employed Occupation Permit.
The proposed business must remain centred on the applicant’s professional skills and services. Activities involving retail, property, tourism, healthcare or another regulated sector may require additional approval or a different permit category.
Current Eligibility Requirements
An applicant must generally provide:
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An initial investment of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in freely convertible foreign currency
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Evidence that the required funds are available
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An undertaking to transfer the funds from abroad to a Mauritian bank account within 60 days of permit issuance
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A credible professional activity in the services sector
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Three letters of intent from prospective clients
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At least two letters from prospective clients in Mauritius
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A detailed and commercially viable business plan
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Relevant qualifications, experience or professional expertise
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Evidence that the business can meet the prescribed income requirements
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Any licence or clearance required for a regulated activity
Final approval remains subject to assessment by the competent Mauritian authorities.
What Makes a Strong Application?
The applicant’s qualifications, experience, proposed services, business plan, financial forecasts and client letters should present one consistent commercial case.
For example, an applicant proposing an IT consulting business should provide experience and prospective client work that support that activity. Documents describing unrelated services could create uncertainty and lead to requests for clarification.
Intrasia reviews the application as a complete case before submission.
Investment and Business-Income Requirements
USD 50,000 Initial Investment
Applicants must demonstrate access to USD 50,000 or the equivalent in another freely convertible currency.
Evidence normally includes a certified bank statement from the applicant’s country of origin or residence. The applicant must also undertake to transfer the required amount from abroad into a Mauritian bank account within 60 days after the Occupation Permit is issued.
The funds are not ordinarily frozen. Once transferred, they may generally be used for legitimate business expenses, subject to the permit conditions and the bank’s requirements.
The transfer should be clearly traceable from the applicant’s overseas account.
Minimum Business Income
The professional activity must generate minimum business income of MUR 750,000 from the first year of registration.
It must then grow progressively to achieve cumulative turnover of MUR 6 million by Year 5.
Under the current requirements, renewal requires minimum annual business income of MUR 1.5 million from Year 6 onward.
These figures may change following new legislation or government policy. Intrasia verifies the applicable thresholds before a new application or renewal is submitted.
Documents Required
Personal Documents
Applicants generally need:
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Valid passport and biodata page
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Birth certificate
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Certified English or French translation where necessary
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Recent passport-size photographs
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Curriculum vitae
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Academic and professional qualifications
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Evidence of relevant professional experience
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Medical certificate and supporting medical reports
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Marriage or divorce documents, where applicable
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Copies of existing Mauritius permits, where applicable
Business and Financial Documents
Applicants generally need:
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Detailed business plan
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Description of the proposed professional services
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Market and client analysis
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Financial projections
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Certified overseas bank statement
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Undertaking to transfer USD 50,000
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Three letters of intent from prospective clients
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At least two letters from potential Mauritian clients
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Business-registration documents, when applicable
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Certificate of incorporation, when applicable
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Regulatory licences or clearances, where required
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Any additional information requested during the assessment
Documents that are not in English or French may require certified translation.
What Should a Client Letter Include?
A useful client letter should:
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Identify the prospective client
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Describe the services being considered
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Explain why the services may be required
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Indicate the intended commercial relationship
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Include the client’s contact information
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Be consistent with the applicant’s business plan
Client letters should not contain invented commitments or information that cannot be verified. The authorities retain discretion when assessing whether a letter demonstrates genuine commercial interest.
How To Apply
1. Assess the Proposed Activity
The first step is to determine whether the activity fits the Self-Employed category.
Some business models may be better suited to an Investor Occupation Permit.
2. Prepare the Business Plan
The business plan should explain the proposed services, target market, prospective clients, pricing, operating expenses and financial forecasts.
The projections should demonstrate how the business intends to meet the applicable income requirements.
3. Obtain the Client Letters
The applicant must obtain at least three letters of intent, including two from prospective clients in Mauritius.
The letters should support the services and income model described in the business plan.
4. Submit the Preliminary Application
The initial application is submitted online with the required preliminary documents.
This stage can generally be started while the applicant is outside Mauritius. The authorities may request clarification or additional evidence before issuing approval in principle.
5. Complete the Mauritius Formalities
Following approval in principle, the applicant proceeds with the required registration, banking, medical and original-document formalities.
Some parts of the process require the applicant to be physically present in Mauritius.
6. Receive the Permit and Transfer the Funds
Once the Occupation Permit is issued, the USD 50,000 must be transferred from abroad into the applicant’s Mauritian bank account within the applicable 60-day period.
Evidence of the transfer should be retained for compliance and renewal purposes.
Costs and Processing Time
The official fees currently include:
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USD 50 non-refundable application fee
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USD 1,000 permit fee upon approval
Other costs may include document certification, translations, medical examinations, business registration, regulatory licences, bank-account arrangements and dependant applications.
Processing time depends on the proposed activity, the completeness of the documents, regulatory clearances, banking checks and whether additional information is requested.
Intrasia recommends beginning preparations approximately three months before the intended relocation date. This is a planning recommendation, not a guaranteed government processing period.
Regulated and Restricted Activities
A non-regulated professional service may not require a sector-specific licence. A regulated activity requires approval from the relevant public authority.
Additional requirements may apply to activities involving:
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Financial services
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Healthcare
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Education
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Telecommunications
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Property
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Tourism
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Other regulated professions
Some activities may not be accepted under the Self-Employed category. In those circumstances, another Mauritius Occupation Permit category may be more appropriate.
Applicants should confirm that their proposed activity is acceptable before incurring relocation or business-setup costs.
Taxation and Renewal
A Self-Employed Occupation Permit holder is generally taxed as an individual on chargeable income.
For the income year beginning 1 July 2025, the individual income-tax bands are:
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0% on the first MUR 500,000
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10% on the next MUR 500,000
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20% on the remainder
Mauritius-source income is generally taxable in Mauritius. Foreign-source income received by a resident individual may be taxable when remitted to Mauritius. Eligible business expenses may be deductible, subject to Mauritius tax law.
The permit may be renewed if the holder satisfies the requirements in force at the time. Renewal is not automatic, and the authorities may review the business activity, reported income, tax filings and compliance with the permit conditions.
A separate application for long-term permanent residence may also be possible. Because official sources currently contain differing qualifying periods and financial criteria, the applicable requirements should be verified before relying on a specific threshold.
Intrasia can coordinate tax registration, accounting, compliance and renewal planning.
Why Apply Through Intrasia?
An Occupation Permit application brings together immigration, business registration, banking, tax and regulatory considerations.
Intrasia Private Client provides a coordinated service covering:
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Initial eligibility assessment
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Permit-category selection
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Business-plan preparation
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Review of prospective client letters
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Document and translation requirements
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Online application coordination
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Business registration
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Mauritius bank-account arrangements
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Permit and dependant formalities
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Tax registration and compliance
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Renewal planning
Our objective is to identify potential issues before submission and present a complete, consistent and credible application.
Explore Related Mauritius Permit and Residency Options
Compare the Mauritius Occupation Permit categories, explore the Investor Occupation Permit, or review the main Mauritius residency programmes. Intrasia Private can assess the appropriate route and manage the application for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources
For the latest government guidance, refer to:
Economic Development Board Occupation Permit Guidelines
Mauritius Residency Portal: Self-Employed Entrepreneurs
Non-contractual information. Requirements, fees and administrative practices may change. Eligibility and the rules applicable to a particular application should be confirmed before submitting an application or making a financial commitment.