Moving to Mauritius from South Africa
South Africans are the largest group of foreign residents arriving in Mauritius. A four-hour flight, the same time zone, English-speaking schools, a stable currency and a functioning state. The question is rarely whether, but which door and in what order.
The routes
- Investor permit
Run a business here.
- Self-Employed permit
A practice of one, in services.
- Retired Non-Citizen permit
Over 50, income from home.
- Residency by property
USD 375,000 in an approved scheme.
The routes South Africans use
An entrepreneur who will run a business here takes the Investor Occupation Permit: USD 100,000 into a Mauritian company, turnover conditions from Year 3, ten years. A consultant working alone takes the Self-Employed permit at USD 50,000. Anyone over 50 living on South African income takes the Retired Non-Citizen permit on transfers of USD 24,000 a year. A purchase in an approved scheme at USD 375,000 or above carries residence for as long as the property is held, and suits families who were going to buy anyway.
A common pattern is one spouse on the Investor permit and the other employed by the same company on a Professional permit, which puts both partners in the business legitimately.
Exchange control and the 60 days
Moving capital out of South Africa runs through the Reserve Bank's rules and your annual allowances, and the timing matters more than in most relocations. The Investor and Self-Employed permits require the initial investment to arrive in Mauritius within 60 days of issuance, and a late transfer cancels the permit. We do not advise on South African exchange control, but we sequence the permit so that the money is cleared to move before the clock starts, and we introduce a South African adviser where the amounts warrant it.
Keeping the South African business
Many clients keep their South African company and add a Mauritian one that contracts with it, takes over the export side, or becomes the regional holding entity. The structure affects both tax systems and should be designed before the permit application rather than after, with advice on the South African side. Mauritius has a double taxation agreement with South Africa, and the position of a director resident in one country and a company in the other turns on it.
The practical side
Rent before you buy. Choose the school before the house; the English-medium schools in the north and centre have waiting lists in the year groups families most often arrive into. Get the bank account open before the permit is issued. Private medical cover that includes referral to South Africa is not optional. Budget for two trips before the move, one to see and one to sign. Direct flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban make both easy.
Questions we are asked
Can we keep our medical aid?
Some South African schemes offer an extension for Mauritius; most families end up with a Mauritian or international plan that includes evacuation to South Africa. Check the specific scheme before relying on it.
How long does the whole move take?
From the first conversation to a family in a house with children at school, three to six months is realistic. The school place and the bank account usually set the pace.
Can we bring the dog?
Yes, with planning. Mauritius is rabies-free and requires an import permit, titration tests and quarantine; South African animals are typically asked for two titre tests three months apart. Start the file four to six months ahead.
Not sure this is the right route?
Most people leave the first consultation with a different route from the one they arrived with. An hour, by appointment, and you leave with a clear view of which permit fits, what it will cost, and how long it will take.