Occupation Permit

Definition

The Occupation Permit is a combined residence and work permit issued by the Mauritian authorities. It authorises its holder to reside in Mauritius and to carry on a professional activity there, without the need for a separate residence permit and work permit. It comes in several categories tailored to different profiles: investor, self-employed and salaried professional — each following its own eligibility logic.

Framework in Mauritius

The Occupation Permit falls under the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Mauritian body in charge of investment promotion and the issuance of residence permits. Its eligibility conditions were revised by the 2026-27 Budget: the "Investor" category is now based on a single minimum investment amount, the former reduced-threshold option no longer being open to new applications; the "Professional" category now comprises a single category, based on a minimum basic salary level; and the flat-contribution "Family Occupation Permit" regime has been abolished. Dependants of an Occupation Permit holder — spouse, children, parents — may nevertheless obtain a dependant's permit, and a spouse holding one is permitted to work.

In practice

Each Occupation Permit category is subject to its own conditions — investment amount, turnover or salary level, depending on the applicant's profile — and requires ongoing compliance, not merely justification at the time of application: the "Investor" category, for example, requires the maintenance of a certain level of activity and may be withdrawn if the targets are not met at subsequent reviews. The choice of category therefore depends on the applicant's actual project — setting up a business, self-employed activity or salaried employment in Mauritius — and must be examined case by case according to the individual's situation. Processing times can never be guaranteed in advance, whatever the category applied for.

Related terms

The Occupation Permit is issued under the authority of the Economic Development Board (EDB), which oversees all categories of residence permits in Mauritius. It is distinct from the Resident Permit, which grants a right of residence without an integrated right to work, and from property schemes such as the Property Development Scheme (PDS), which may also open a pathway to residence, but through the acquisition of a property rather than through carrying on an activity.

Related terms