---
title: "Mauritius Innovator Occupation Permit requirements 2026"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/innovator-occupation-permit/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Mauritius · Business / Startup

# Mauritius Innovator Occupation Permit

**First stay:** 10 yrs

Occupation Permit — Innovator (Residency by Innovation)

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Rule changed 1 Dec 2025](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/2025-12-01-mauritius-31dc72/) [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 10 yrs (Ten years, renewable on conditions set by the EDB Chief Executive Officer.)
- **Who can apply:** Any passport

## Key facts

Innovator Occupation Permit is a business / startup route for Mauritius. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** $50 · $1,000
- **First stay:** 10 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

**Government fees: $50 · $1,000**

- $50 Non-refundable application fee, charged when the application is filed; in force from 1 December 2025.
- $1,000 Permit fee for the 10-year permit, paid after approval in principle.

**Renewal: Renewable**

The permit is issued for up to 10 years and can be renewed on conditions set by the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Board.

[Economic Development Board, Mauritius](https://residency.mu/invest/residency-by-innovation/)

**Citizenship: Time here counts**

Naturalisation needs 12 months of continuous residence plus at least 5 years in the 7 years before that; Commonwealth citizens can register after 5 years of continuous residence. Citizenship is granted at the Minister's discretion.

[Government of Mauritius, Laws of Mauritius](https://lawsofmauritius.govmu.org/portal/viewlegislationdocument/web/?docnumber=&doctitle=TWF1cml0aXVzIENpdGl6ZW5zaGlwIEFjdA%3D%3D&doctype=act)

**Where to apply: Abroad or in-country**

You can start the online application from abroad. After approval in principle you travel to Mauritius for the medical exam and identity check, and the permit is issued there.

[Economic Development Board, Mauritius](https://residency.mu/invest/residency-by-innovation/)

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant submits an innovative project to the EDB or registers with an accredited incubator.

#### What you must show

- Research and development must be at least 20 percent of total operational expenditure during the research phase.

#### After you arrive

- An annual progress report is due within three months after the first year.
- A minimum viable product report is due at the end of year five.

## When you become tax resident

How Mauritius decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **10 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a income year (1 July to 30 June)** Present in Mauritius for an aggregate of 183 days or more in the income year makes an individual resident.
- **At least 270 days in aggregate over the two preceding income years** Present for an aggregate of 270 days or more in the two preceding income years (together with presence in the current year) also gives residence.
- **At least 270 days in the current income year and the 2 preceding income years (aggregate)** Alternative residence test (s73(1)(a)(iii)).
- **Foreign-source income:** **Received-in-Mauritius basis** The 15% Fair Share Contribution applied only to the 2025/26 income year; foreign-source income of an individual is taxed when received or dealt with in Mauritius.

[All tax rules for Mauritius](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Ten-year occupation permit for startup founders whose innovative project is approved by the EDB or who are registered with an incubator accredited by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council; no minimum investment. (sources 1, 2, 3)

#### What you must show and pay

- A fee of $50 · Non-refundable application fee, charged when the application is filed; in force from 1 December 2025. (source 3)
- A fee of $1,000 · Permit fee for the 10-year permit, paid after approval in principle. (source 1)

#### Requirements

- The applicant submits an innovative project to the EDB or registers with an accredited incubator. (source 1)
- Research and development must be at least 20 percent of total operational expenditure during the research phase. (source 1)
- An annual progress report is due within three months after the first year. (source 1)
- A minimum viable product report is due at the end of year five. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Ten years, renewable on conditions set by the EDB Chief Executive Officer.
- Initial permitted stay: 120 months.
- Visa validity: 120 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Work

Work in the startup business.

#### Family

Dependents (spouse or opposite-sex common-law partner, parents, and unmarried children not in gainful activity) may apply for a residence permit for the same duration; applications go to the Passport and Immigration Office.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Residency by Innovation](https://residency.mu/invest/residency-by-innovation/) · Economic Development Board, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Invest: residency by investment, innovation and self-employed](https://residency.mu/invest/) · Economic Development Board, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Occupation Permit and Residence Permit Guidelines (criteria, checklists and Annex 1 fees; carries the 1 December 2025 application fee)](https://residency.mu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/OP-Guidelines.pdf) · Economic Development Board, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
4. [Mauritius Citizenship Act 1968 (consolidated)](https://lawsofmauritius.govmu.org/portal/viewlegislationdocument/web/?docnumber=&doctitle=TWF1cml0aXVzIENpdGl6ZW5zaGlwIEFjdA%3D%3D&doctype=act) · Government of Mauritius, Laws of Mauritius · checked 2026-10-11

## Innovator Occupation Permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Innovator Occupation Permit | – | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| [Investor Occupation Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/investor-occupation-permit-100k/) | Needs an investment of $100k+ | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| [Self-employed Occupation Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/self-employed-occupation-permit/) | Needs an investment of $50k+ | 10 yr, renewable | – |
| [Self-employed card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/morocco/regulated-activity-card/) Morocco | – | 10 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [PR · Business](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-africa/pr-business/) South Africa | Needs an investment of ZAR 5M+ ≈ $302k | – | Yes |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Innovator Occupation Permit?

A fee of $50. Non-refundable application fee, charged when the application is filed; in force from 1 December 2025. A fee of $1,000. Permit fee for the 10-year permit, paid after approval in principle.

### How long can I stay on the Innovator Occupation Permit?

Ten years, renewable on conditions set by the EDB Chief Executive Officer.

### Can I work on the Innovator Occupation Permit?

Work in the startup business.

### Can I bring my family on the Innovator Occupation Permit?

Dependents (spouse or opposite-sex common-law partner, parents, and unmarried children not in gainful activity) may apply for a residence permit for the same duration; applications go to the Passport and Immigration Office.

### How are Innovator Occupation Permit holders taxed in Mauritius?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Innovator Occupation Permit. The standard rules apply: Resident individuals pay tax on income derived in Mauritius and on foreign-source income received in Mauritius. For the income year starting 1 July 2026 the Finance Act 2026 sets 0 percent on the first MUR 500,000 (≈ $10,500) of chargeable income, 10 percent on the next MUR 500,000, (≈ $10,500) 20 percent on the next MUR 11 million (≈ $232,000) and 35 percent above MUR 12 million (≈ $253,000).

## More in Mauritius

[Premium Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/premium-visa/) [PDS · $375k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/pds-property/) [G+2 apartment · $375k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/g2-apartment/) [IRS · $375k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/irs-property/) [IHS · $375k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/ihs-property/) [RES · $375k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/res-property/) [Smart City · $375k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/smart-city-property/) [Retired non-citizen permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mauritius/retired-non-citizen/)

## Business / startup visas elsewhere

[🇨🇻 Freelancer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cabo-verde/independent-work/) [🇰🇪 Class G · Business](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/kenya/class-g-business/) [🇷🇼 Entrepreneur A2 · Mining](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/rwanda/a2-entrepreneur-mining/) [🇿🇲 Investor's Permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/zambia/investors-permit/) [🇪🇬 Investor residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/egypt/investor-residence-investment-law/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Residency by Innovation](https://residency.mu/invest/residency-by-innovation/) · Economic Development Board, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
2. [Invest: residency by investment, innovation and self-employed](https://residency.mu/invest/) · Economic Development Board, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Occupation Permit and Residence Permit Guidelines (criteria, checklists and Annex 1 fees; carries the 1 December 2025 application fee)](https://residency.mu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/OP-Guidelines.pdf) · Economic Development Board, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
4. [Mauritius Citizenship Act 1968 (consolidated)](https://lawsofmauritius.govmu.org/portal/viewlegislationdocument/web/?docnumber=&doctitle=TWF1cml0aXVzIENpdGl6ZW5zaGlwIEFjdA%3D%3D&doctype=act) · Government of Mauritius, Laws of Mauritius · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.