Live and Work in Mauritius

Mauritius is located in the South West Indian Ocean; the island covers a total area of 1860 km² and has a population of 1.12 million. Following its independence from Britain in 1968, Mauritius became a republic with a presidential democracy modelled on the Westminster system. It is a member of the Commonwealth and is associated to the European Union as an ACP (Africa-Caribbean-Pacific) state. It is also a member of the Common Market for Southern & Eastern Africa (COMESA). Mauritians are a blend of races, religions and cultures from Europe, India, China and Africa; they are equally fluent in English, the official language, and French.

Mauritius has a diverse economy, traditionally based on sugar production, manufacturing and tourism. More recently, the Government has focused its efforts on the modernisation and liberalisation of the financial sector establishing the island as a premier international business hub in the Indian Ocean region.

Mauritius has a legal system largely based on English and French law. Company and trust law follow English principles while substantive law is modelled on the French Napoleonic Code. The currency is the Mauritian Rupee and there are no exchange controls. Moreover, there are no stamp duties, capital gains tax or withholding tax on payments made from Mauritius.

Mauritius has an extensive network of tax treaties with more than twenty countries world-wide. Although subject to low taxation, Mauritian Offshore Companies are entitled to benefit from these treaties and are widely used for international investment. Mauritian International Companies are exempted from local tax, but do not have access to any double taxation agreement.

Mauritius is four hours ahead of GMT and four hours behind the Far East. It has a well-developed telecommunication network, including a GSM network as well as SWIFT services. Major airlines connect the island to the rest of the world with regular flights to Europe, South Africa, the Far East, India and Australia.

How do I get to live and work in Mauritius...

Global Business Route………. Mauritius has developed a modern company legislation offering the establishment of a private company who may apply for a Global Category One Business License from the Financial Services Commission in Mauritius so allowing them pay income tax at an effective rate of 3%. Such Global Category One Companies must carry business in one of the following activities:

• Aircraft financing and leasing
• Assets management
• Consultancy services
• Employment services
• Financial services
• Funds management
• Information and communication technology services
• Insurance
• Licensing and franchising
• Logistics and or marketing
• Operational headquarters
• Pension funds
• Shipping and ship management
• Trading

On incorporation of the global company application for residence and work permit applications may be lodged for expatriate workers for such a company who are either the beneficial owners of the company or have a skill which is not available in Mauritius. Such permits are normally issued for a three year period and thereafter renewable.

Expatriates will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15% for the first four years of their stay in Mauritius and thereafter up to a maximum of 30%. World wide income of expatriates is exempt from income. Other benefits for expatriates include duty free importation of personal goods and a duty free allowance on the purchase of two motor vehicles per company of Rs 500 000 per car.

Information and Communication Technology Scheme (ICT) Route... Mauritius has created the cyber tower – a modern intelligent building for as the home for all applicants of the ICT Scheme.

Target market:

• Investors & promoters of ICT companies
• Special emphasis on IT software & IT enables services sector
• Business process outsourcing * Disaster recovery centers

The following activities are permitted under the scheme
Group I:

• IT Enabled Services
• Call centre & customer relationship management services
• Back office operations & business process outsourcing services
• Financial, banking, offshore & insurance services
• Human resource management and payroll services
• Medical & legal transcription services

Group II:

• Secure E-Business
• Data storage, disaster recovery, IT security and business continuity services
• Web commerce services * Content and design development services

Group III:

• Software Development
• Tourism, multimedia & entertainment development software development
• Embedded software

Group IV:

• Intelligent Manufacturing

Group V:

• Bioinformatics & Bio-technology (R&D)

Mauritius has the following connections SAFE-SAT 3-WASC

ICT has the following incentives:

• Corporate tax - choice of 0% to 2008 or 5% for life
• No customs duty for ICT equipment
• Tax relief to expatriates (50% for foreign IT specialists)
• Tax holidays up to 2008 for specified pioneering high-skills ICT operators
• Accelerated depreciation allowances for ICT equipment (50% investment allowance plus 33.3% annual allowance)
• Duty free import of personal belongings of foreign ICT staff
• Fast track processing procedures for visas & work permits
• Electricity tariffs for ICT sector operators at preferential rates (MUR1.5 per kWh)

Integrated Resort Scheme Route
This scheme allows for a foreign national to purchase land in Mauritius with a minimum value of USD 500 000. The foreign national will then acquire permanent residency in Mauritius for so long as he owns the property.

Tamarina Golf and Spa resort is such a scheme.

Scheme for attracting Professional in Emerging Sectors (Sapes) Scheme….. this scheme aims at attracting non Mauritian professionals with talent expertise and skills in emerging sectors including information and communications technology (ICT), financial services and other sectors to come and work in Mauritius.

Incentives

1. Right to acquire immovable property as personal residence, land not to exceed 5,275 m2, , or
2. Right to acquire a flat or apartment for personal residence , the value of which shall not be less than US$ 50,000
3. Grant of resident status for 3 years to the professional, spouse and dependents
4. Spouse of professional shall be entitled to a work permit for 3 years On expiry of residence permit, the professional can apply for permanent residency status for himself, spouse and dependents
5. Duty free import of household goods and personal effects (excluding car) for the professional, spouse and dependents

How long will it all take?

A global category one company usually can take up to six weeks to incorporate after receipt of all the necessary documentation required to lodge the application with the Financial Services Commission. Once the company is incorporated, an application for a work and residence permit can then be submitted. This usually takes approximately three weeks, although work permits have been obtained in seven days. In comparison to most countries this process is extremely quick.