What is the Premium Visa in Mauritius?
The Premium Visa is a long-stay visa created by the Mauritian authorities in 2020, in the context of Covid. It allows foreign nationals to live in Mauritius for 1 year, renewable, without having to set up a company or justify a local investment.
Unlike the Occupation Permits (Investor or Self-Employed), the Premium Visa does not give the right to work for a Mauritian company. It is designed for people who receive income from abroad: remote work, rental income, annuities, pensions, dividends.
Another key feature: the visa is free of charge. The application is submitted directly on the EDB portal, with no application fees.
Who is the Premium Visa for?
The Premium Visa is for you if:
- You receive income from abroad (remote salary, rental income, annuities, dividends)
- You do not want to set up a structure in Mauritius or register as self-employed
- You want to experience life in Mauritius over time, without a long-term commitment
- You are looking for a simple and straightforward way to stay legally for more than a year
This is not the right visa if you carry out an independent activity in Mauritius (in that case, the Self-Employed Occupation Permit is more appropriate) or if you are creating and running a company (in that case, the Investor Occupation Permit applies).
⚠️ Important note: a visa to monitor closely
The Premium Visa was launched in 2020 as a Covid measure. Since then, approval conditions have tightened: feedback from people who have recently submitted applications shows that acceptance is no longer automatic.
Key takeaway: verify the current status of the Premium Visa directly with the EDB before building your relocation plans around it. This is information I follow closely and keep up to date in my pack.
Premium Visa conditions in 2026
Minimum income
To be eligible, you must demonstrate monthly income of at least USD 1,500 per adult from abroad. This income must be documented and regular.
Duration and renewal
The Premium Visa is issued for 1 year, renewable. There is no official limit on the number of renewals, but each application is reviewed individually. This visa does not automatically open the right to a long-term residence permit.
What the visa allows and does not allow
- ✅ Live legally in Mauritius for more than a year
- ✅ Receive income from abroad without a local structure
- ✅ Bring dependants (spouse, children)
- ❌ Work for a Mauritian company
- ❌ Carry out a local independent activity (requires a Self-Employed OP)
What comes after the Premium Visa? Long-term permit options
The Premium Visa is often a first step. Many holders eventually transition to a long-term residence permit, depending on how their situation evolves:
- You carry out a freelance or consulting activity from Mauritius: the Self-Employed Occupation Permit is the natural next step. It allows you to register officially as self-employed and work legally on the island.
- You are creating and running a company in Mauritius: the Investor Occupation Permit is the appropriate permit. It involves an initial investment and the incorporation of a local structure.
Both permits offer stronger residency stability than the Premium Visa, with broader rights and a longer validity period.
Apply on your own with the self-guided pack
The Premium Visa is free, but without the right information, it can cost you a lot of time and energy. The real processing times, the exact documents to prepare, what to do if things drag on — this is information that only someone on the ground truly knows.
I have put everything you need into a self-guided pack at EUR 47:
- The exact eligibility criteria
- A printable PDF checklist to prepare your application document by document
- Real processing times in 2026, not the ones on the official website
- What to do if things drag on
- Which health insurance to choose
- Which bank account to open once you arrive
- A step-by-step visual guide to submitting your application on the EDB portal
- The transition to a long-term permit
This is not a simple PDF. You get access to an interactive Notion platform, accessible from your phone or computer, with all official links clickable and updates included.
Ready to apply for your Premium Visa?
Get immediate access to all the ground-level information you need to prepare your application on your own.
