Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS)

Definition

The Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) is a Mauritian regulatory framework allowing foreign purchasers to buy residential property within an integrated complex (villas, apartments, shared amenities) and, subject to conditions, to obtain a right of residence in Mauritius linked to that investment.

Framework in Mauritius

The IRS is one of the property schemes open to non-citizen purchasers, alongside the Property Development Scheme (PDS), the Real Estate Scheme (RES), the Smart City Scheme and the G+2 programmes. Acquiring a property meeting the criteria of one of these schemes may give entitlement to a residence permit, within the framework set by the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Mauritian body in charge of investment promotion and residence permits, subject to compliance with a minimum investment amount set by the regulations in force. IRS projects must be approved beforehand and are marketed by authorised developers; the precise arrangements — amounts, procedures, required documents — are set and updated by the regulations in force and must be verified case by case.

In practice

If you are considering acquiring an IRS property in Mauritius, it is advisable to verify that the project holds the required approval before making any commitment, and to seek advice to distinguish between the PDS, IRS, RES, Smart City and G+2 schemes, whose eligibility criteria and eligible properties differ. The associated right of residence is neither automatic nor permanent: it depends on continued ownership of the property and compliance with the conditions set by the regulations, and both its grant and processing times are a matter for the authorities' discretion, assessed case by case. It does not amount to acquiring Mauritian nationality, and no outcome or processing time can be guaranteed in advance. A review of your personal and wealth objectives, before undertaking any project, makes it possible to assess whether the IRS suits your situation compared with other residence-through-real-estate schemes.

Related terms

The IRS is distinct from the Property Development Scheme (PDS), which is more recent and broader in the types of eligible properties, as well as from the Resident Permit, which more generally denotes a residence permit in Mauritius without an integrated right to work. It may also be viewed alongside the Occupation Permit, which combines residence with professional or investment activity, and the Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit, reserved for retirees evidencing income transferred to Mauritius.

Related terms