whereTOemigrate
Get your free results
MU country scene

Occupation Permit - Self-Employed

MauritiusStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

A self-employed non-citizen engaged in a professional activity, registered as a self-employed person with the EDB, and either registered with the Registrar of Businesses or operating as a one person company.

See recorded sources

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

For a self-employed person, the criteria include an initial investment of USD 50,000, engagement exclusively in the services sector, and submission of a certified bank statement, a written undertaking to transfer the funds within 60 days, and at least 3 letters of intent including 2 from potential local clients.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The document does not state whether a business plan, company, innovation, contracts, economic activity or job creation must be demonstrated beyond the listed criteria.
  • First Schedule, Part I, item 5
    5. Self-employed person (1) Initial investment of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in any other freely convertible foreign currency, provided that the self-employed is engaged exclusively in the services sector and submits – (a) a certified bank statement from his country of origin or residence, showing proof of funds; (b) a written undertaking to transfer USD 50,000 from abroad into his bank account in Mauritius within 60 days from the date of issuance of his occupation permit; and (c) at least 3 letters of intent, including 2 from potential local clients

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

The central financial evidence includes an initial investment of USD 50,000, a minimum turnover of 2 million rupees from the third year of registration, and for renewal a minimum turnover of 3 million rupees from the fifth year of registration.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The document does not mention income, revenue, funding or other viability evidence beyond the specified investment and turnover requirements.
  • First Schedule, Part I, item 5
    5. Self-employed person (1) Initial investment of USD 50,000 or its equivalent in any other freely convertible foreign currency, provided that the self-employed is engaged exclusively in the services sector and submits – (a) a certified bank statement from his country of origin or residence, showing proof of funds; (b) a written undertaking to transfer USD 50,000 from abroad into his bank account in Mauritius within 60 days from the date of issuance of his occupation permit; and (c) at least 3 letters of intent, including 2 from potential local clients (2) A minimum turnover of 2 million rupees as from the third year of registration (3) For the purpose of renewal, a minimum turnover of 3 million rupees as from the fifth year of registration

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

The self-employed person must be engaged exclusively in the services sector. The document does not state any other activity rights or restrictions, nor any family position.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The document does not specify what business/self-employed activities may be conducted beyond the services sector restriction, nor any family position.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The self-employed applicant must be registered with the EDB; the EDB refers every complete application to the Joint Committee, which examines it and makes recommendations to the Ministry for approval. The occupation permit is issued for a maximum period of ten years, renewable thereafter as per established criteria. For longer-term residence, a non-citizen may be issued a permanent residence permit (valid 20 years from issue) where he satisfies the EDB Act Part IV criteria, which for a self-employed person are holding an occupation permit as self-employed for at least 5 years and annual business income of at least 3 million rupees for 5 consecutive years immediately preceding the application, or an aggregate turnover of 15 million rupees over that period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The specific renewal turnover condition (3 million rupees from the fifth year of registration) is held by the financial-evidence box of this via and is not re-cited here.
  • The PIO Occupation Permit page states different permanent-residence criteria for self-employed holders (OP for at least 3 years with annual business income of at least MUR 3 million for 3 consecutive years) than the EDB Act Part IV item 3 cited here.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Explore more pathways in Mauritius · All pathways

Your story.
Your next step.

Get your free results