Mauritius “Golden Visa” for $1 million: the Prime Minister sets the framework, with a cap of 100 applicants per year

Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam outlined the operating parameters of the country’s future Golden Visa during a parliamentary response on Tuesday. The program requires US$1 million in investment over 12 months after entry, targets around 100 recipients per year, and sets an intended processing time of up to five business days. The Cabinet approved the mechanism on April 10, but visa issuance has not started yet.

Answering opposition MP Joanna Bérenger, Ramgoolam said the visa will be multi-entry and granted to successful applicants together with immediate dependents. The permit is planned for up to two years, with renewal possible through a new application.

Investment commitment and priority sectors

The core of the program is a written undertaking submitted with the application: to invest at least US$1 million in the first 12 months. According to the Prime Minister, Economic Development Board (EDB) will “closely monitor progress” on the investment commitments.

Eligibility will cover five sectors: fintech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and global treasury. The latter signals Mauritius’s aim to strengthen its role as a hub for treasury operations and family offices.

To support the relocation of investing companies, the EDB has already set up a dedicated concierge service. It will “leverage” the country’s financial ecosystem, the free port regime, and existing investment programs.

Tax benefits: the 15% rate is softened by carve-outs

The tax treatment is linked to tax residency. When staying in Mauritius for more than 183 days, a Golden Visa holder becomes a tax resident and falls under the standard flat 15% tax rate.

At the same time, two important tax “carve-outs” are included to reduce the risk of a heavier tax burden:

1) exemption from tax on expenses in Mauritius if they are paid via foreign credit/debit cards;

2) exemption on income transferred to an account in a Mauritian bank, provided that “the relevant tax has already been paid abroad.”

These approaches align with Mauritius’s existing personal tax system: as a rule, foreign-source income is taxed upon being received into an account in the country.

Access to the labor market, however, is not automatic. Ramgoolam stressed that visa holders do not receive an automatic right to work, since they are expected to invest in the relevant sectors.

Real estate only within existing schemes

To address housing availability concerns—an issue that accompanied similar programs in Spain, Portugal, and Greece—the Prime Minister preemptively limited property purchases. Golden Visa holders will be allowed to acquire residential properties only under EDB schemes.

In particular, this refers to:

PDS (Property Development Scheme), IHS (Invest Hotel Scheme), and Smart City Scheme.

Initial placement is also expected to be in hotels or through rentals under EDB schemes. The rationale is the presence of “spare capacity” in the premium rental market, which the government estimates will allow new applicants to be accommodated without affecting housing availability for Mauritian citizens.

In effect, the restrictions “steer” Golden Visa holders toward the same categories of assets that already underpin the Permanent Residency Permit priced at US$375,000, without creating extra pressure on the open market.

Checks on a tight timeline: up to five days

The target processing time—five business days—sets an unusually compressed schedule for a $1 million tier program. Ramgoolam described a two-stage review:

• an initial EDB screening, including “various checks,” such as World-Check and similar procedures;

• followed by an assessment by the Passport and Immigration Office.

All stages, the Prime Minister said, must be completed within the working week.

On compliance, the government points to external standards. Ramgoolam said all Mauritius visa schemes comply with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) requirements, as well as the OECD recommendations on residency and citizenship-by-investment programs that may entail elevated risks.

Inter-agency coordination will involve the Financial Crimes Commission, Financial Intelligence Unit, Financial Services Commission, Bank of Mauritius, and the Passport and Immigration Office. Joint monitoring of outcomes is expected to be conducted with the participation of the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Finance, and the EDB.

Cabinet decision: Middle East context and a strategic shift

The Cabinet approved the Golden Visa framework on April 10, 2026, two days after the Crisis Committee meeting that Ramgoolam chaired on April 8 to help Mauritius respond to the conflict in the Middle East.

The same package also included expanded VAT exemptions for international sporting events and television awards ceremonies, as well as accelerated procedures for operators in the free zone so they can place projects faster in Mauritius Freeport.

For the Prime Minister, the Golden Visa is one part of a targeted pivot: attracting capital and business operations that may shift away from the region due to instability. According to Ramgoolam, the decision was prepared “following numerous requests” from foreign nationals seeking to relocate with their families.

How the Golden Visa fits into Mauritius’s existing investment “architecture”

Mauritius already has several products for investors and relocation. The Permanent Residency Permit provides a 20-year renewable status in exchange for investing in approved property worth US$375,000. The Occupation Permit for investors starts at US$50,000 and is tied to running a business in Mauritius for a 10-year term.

In 2020, also via a Cabinet decision, Premium Visa was introduced, allowing digital nomads to stay on the island for up to one year. All existing products grant residency, whereas the Golden Visa is a multi-entry visa rather than full permanent residence.

The visa is issued for two years with renewal possible, but it does not, by itself, open an automatic path to citizenship. Under Mauritian law, citizenship becomes available after seven years of continuous residence (for citizens of Commonwealth countries, five years).

At the same time, providers are already viewing Golden Visa as a “step” toward other permits: holders may convert their status into an Occupation Permit or a Retirement Residence Permit while remaining in Mauritius.

It’s worth noting that the US$1 million figure has already appeared in Mauritius’s agenda. In 2018, then Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said in the budget speech that Mauritius intended to launch a citizenship by investment program at the US$1 million level under EDB management, but the project was never implemented.

Ramgoolam’s Golden Visa uses the same headline number, but delivers a different product: a renewable visa tied to the invested funds, not a non-refundable contribution.

What remains unknown for now

The parliamentary statement is currently the most detailed public description of the rules, but the program is not yet operational. At the time of publication, the EDB had not released implementation guidelines, a application form, or a fee schedule. A Government Notice also has not been published through official channels.

Once gazetted, the Golden Visa should be able to start being issued without any additional parliamentary decision. However, the executive already has the authority: Immigration Act 1970 and EDB Act 2017 allow new visa categories to be created through Cabinet decisions and ministerial regulations.

The 100 issuance figure mentioned by Ramgoolam, he said, is an EDB estimate rather than a statutory cap.

The Prime Minister also mentioned additional integrity measures for the process. For instance, he referred to a digital passport available in a number of countries (including Seychelles), but it has not yet been rolled out in Mauritius. In addition, a special unit is planned within a new criminal structure to verify attempts to “bypass the filters” through related parties.

The key open question remains: exactly when the Golden Visa will begin issuing, and under which published rules.

Interested in Mauritius Golden Visa as an investment residence option? The program is built around a $1M investment, a multiple-entry status, and targeted fast processing timelines, with eligibility aligned to key sectors such as fintech and AI and renewable energy. If you’re planning to relocate with immediate dependents and want a smoother, risk-aware application journey, the team at Digital Nomad will support you with eligibility assessment, document preparation, and a clear filing strategy.

Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr