How to Live and Work In Mauritius – Digital Nomad Visa and Lifestyle
With more and more countries coming up with Digital Nomad Visas, Mauritius, one of the most beautiful islands in the world, has also introduced a Premium Travel Visa valid for a period of one year. What’s even more cool is that this Visa is completely free and also renewable. Yes, you’ve read that right!
 Another good news is that money spent in Mauritius through the use of foreign credit or debit cards would not be liable to tax.Â
The beautiful island nation welcomes now remote workers and digital nomads who earn more than $1,500 USD and do not intend to work in the local labour market (more on this below).
Experience of the natural beauty of the island and balanced lifestyle(great for families too) for longer times and not only as a rare holiday. This is now possible under this visa schema.
The Premium Travel Visa is for any non-citizen who intends to stay in Mauritius for a maximum period of one year as a tourist, retiree or a working professional willing to come with his/her family and carry out his business or work remotely from Mauritius.
Why work from Mauritius?
The island of Mauritius is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Long beaches, volcanoes and palm trees make up the perfect scenary for someones who loves water, sun and nature. There are even spots on the island with lush vegetation and waterfalls.
Water lovers can look forward to absolute paradise here. Numerous crystal clear lagoons for swimming, kite surfing, and sailing with year-round mild temperatures invite you to long days in and by the sea. In addition, almost the entire island is surrounded by a spectacular coral reef, which makes it a real diving paradise.
How to get the 1 year long Premium Travel Visa
To qualify for the Premium Travel Visa, digital nomads must provide proof of their long stay plans and sufficient travel and health insurance for the initial period of stay while meeting the following criteria. Again, this Premium Work Visa is FREE and can be obtained by applying online here, and go to the work&live category.
These are the minimum requirements you need to succesfully obtain the digital nomad visa (PREMIUM VISA) for 1 year in Mauritius:
- you should not enter the Mauritius Labour market;
- the main place of business and source of income and profits should be outside Mauritius;
- evidence to support application such as purpose of visit, accommodation etc.; and
- other basic immigration requirements.
Steps to getting your Mauritius Premium Visa (infographic)
Other type of visas and work permits for Mauritius
There are four main types of work visa for people (and nomads) who want to go to Mauritius and work.Â
- Investor
- Investor for innovative start-ups
- Professional
- Self-Employed
The full guide for all types of visa – work permit and permanent residence can be found here, on the Economic Development Board of Mauritius.
The work visa application fees are somewhere between 5,000 MAU – 20,000 MAU which in US Dollars comes to about $125Â – $500.Â
Yet again, the fifth and easiest way to work from Mauritius is with the FREE Premium Visa we mentioned above and which launched in November 2020.
You can apply online for most of the permits.
Too good to be true? Yes, there is a but…
Most of us digital nomads are looking for the best value money can buy around the world and for unforgettable experiences. South-East Asia has always been on the top of the list in terms of value for money locations. But how about Mauritius? Is this the next big thing? Can it over take Bali or Chiang Mai?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. At least during Covid times. Even before there you land there you must spend around $1,600 for hotels and tests. Also the prices are higher than in Asia but lower than in Europe in general.
Before getting to Mauritius, you will have to purchase a travel package at a government designated hotel for a period of 14 day and self quarantine there. The cheapest hotels you can find are 3 star hotels and cost about $1,350 for the entire period.Â
On top of that you will have to add another $350 to cover you own testing, money which go to the Ministry of Health. The full list of agreed hotels for the quarantine period can be found here.
If you test negative in the 14th day, you can then rent a cheaper accomodation via Airbnb or by looking there for guest houses.
Remember that most likely you will need to rent a car on the island which is around $500/month. More details about the entire arrival procedure below.
Get our best tips FOR FREE and learn how to become a successful digital nomad and work from anywhere!
PLUS top advice on everything related to location independence lifestyle:
- Coliving
- Working locations
- Making money online
- Travel advice
- Nomad interviews
Things you must know before planning to go to Mauritius (as a Digital Nomad)
At the moment, tourists (including children and infants) travelling to Mauritius must possess the following documents:
- a certificate of a negative COVID – 19 PCR test administered between 5 and 7 days prior to the date of boarding at the last point of embarkation.
- a valid air ticket to Mauritius; and
- proof of purchase of a travel package including accommodation, on a full board basis, at a designated hotel for a mandatory 14-day in-room quarantine.
Some other important things to keep in mind about the first arrival are:
- any arriving passenger will have to undergo PCR tests on day of arrival, day 7 and day 14 following arrival: and
- if the PCR test reveals that you are COVID-19 positive, you shall be transferred to a public medical institution for treatment.
- Non-Mauritians must pay a fee of Rs13,500 per person to their hotel to cover for Ministry of Health costs (including three PCR tests administered in Mauritius) when purchasing their travel package.
Find out more details about the first steps to entering the island nation on the official Mymauritius travel website.
COVID situation (Jan 2021) – The good news
Currently, Mauritius is one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic.Â
So far, 556 corona cases have been confirmed on the island, including just 10 fatalities. Travelers entering the country must undergo a 14-day quarantine and show a negative PCR test carried out no earlier than 7 days before the departure date and on the day of arrival and on the 7th and 14th day.
Cost of Living in Mauritius – Breakdown
Ok, now that you got your Premium work visa and you are ready to settle for a few months in Mauritius, let’s see how much you will be spending on the sunny nation island.
Probably the most expensive thing on the list will be your accomodation. However, we suggest to go with Airbnb and contact the owners directly before booking. You might be able to get even cheaper rates than the monthly discounts. Also, if you travel alone, a motorbike could be a cheaper option than renting a car. By the way, you need a private mean of transport on the island, otherwise it will be difficult to move around.
Get our best tips FOR FREE and learn how to become a successful digital nomad and work from anywhere!
PLUS top advice on everything related to location independence lifestyle:
- Coliving
- Working locations
- Making money online
- Travel advice
- Nomad interviews
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