Africa · English, French, Creole · updated 2026-10
Moving to Mauritius: visas, cost of living & citizenship
A single person needs about $1,250 a month to live in Port Louis, and a family of four about $2,750, including rent. Mauritius usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 3 yrs, with citizenship after 7 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Premium Visa.
- Main city
- Port Louis
- Language
- English, French, Creole
- Permanent residence
- 3 yrs
- Citizenship
- 7 yrs
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Digital nomad visa
- Yes
Cost of living in Mauritius, per month in US$
Safety
Political stability & governance
Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (68/100).
Family-friendliness
Visa & residence routes
Who gets easier access to Mauritius
Mauritius is not part of a free-movement area in the index.
Visiting: 113 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 69 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 16 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).
Road to permanent residence & citizenship
Flat 15% income tax; foreign income is often exempt.
Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.edbmauritius.org
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Mauritius?
About $1,250 a month for one person and $2,750 for a family of four in Port Louis, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $600 a month and a 3-bedroom around $1,100. Prices are 44% of US levels. Mauritius is the 18th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.
Is Mauritius safe to live in?
Mauritius scores 61/100 for safety (safe), ranking 46th of 76. The homicide rate is 2.27 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).
Is Mauritius politically stable?
Mauritius scores 68/100 for stability (stable), ranking 32nd of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.
Is Mauritius good for families?
Mauritius scores 51/100 for family-friendliness (good), ranking 54th of 76. Life expectancy is 73.8 years and under-5 mortality is 15.4 per 1,000 births.
How long does it take to get permanent residence in Mauritius?
Usually 3 yrs of legal residence. 10-year residence permit after 3 years on an Occupation Permit.
How long until I can become a citizen of Mauritius?
Usually 7 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.
Can I move to Mauritius without a job offer?
Yes. Premium Visa: Free, 1 year and renewable; $1,500/month remote income (+$500 per child).
Does Mauritius have a digital nomad visa?
Yes: the Premium Visa. Free, 1 year and renewable; $1,500/month remote income (+$500 per child).
Similar countries in Africa
Cape Verde$1,250/mo · safety 44 · PR 5 yrs
South Africa$1,300/mo · safety 10 · PR 5 yrs
Ghana$1,300/mo · safety 57 · PR 5 yrs
Morocco$1,100/mo · safety 52 · PR 4 yrs
Namibia$1,100/mo · safety 35 · PR 10 yrs
Kenya$1,000/mo · safety 31 · PR 7 yrs
See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Mauritius can move