Mauritius Spouse of a citizen

For a non-citizen civilly married to a citizen of Mauritius. The spouse first receives a temporary residence permit valid for 2 years, then applies for a residence permit after 2 years living with the citizen spouse in Mauritius. ^{1 2}

Requirements

• The applicant is a non-citizen civilly married to a citizen of Mauritius. ^{2 1}
• The applicant was not a prohibited immigrant when the marriage took place. ²
• The Mauritian spouse has not lost or renounced Mauritian citizenship. ¹
• The Mauritian spouse states in writing that they support the application. ¹
• A marriage abroad after a rejected Civil Status Act application qualifies only in exceptional circumstances. ²
• A foreign husband shows financial means with a recent Mauritian bank statement or payslips for the last three months. ¹
• The residence permit application after the first 2 years is accompanied by the prescribed fee. ²
• Civil marriage certificate, legalised or apostilled if the marriage was held outside Mauritius. ^{2 1}
• For a marriage abroad: an affidavit or official document that the applicant was not married to anyone else on the wedding date. ^{2 1}
• Applicant's full birth certificate, passport data pages and two passport-size photographs. ¹
• Birth certificate and National Identity Card of the Mauritian spouse. ¹
• Police clearance or character certificate less than six months old. ¹
• Divorce decree or death certificate of a previous spouse, where applicable. ¹
• Both spouses attend the Passport and Immigration Office in person to submit the application and collect the permit. ¹
• The application is made on the Application to Enter Mauritius form with originals and two copies of each document. ¹
• Apply for the residence permit at least one month before the temporary residence permit expires. ²
• The temporary residence permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. ²
• A residence permit requires 2 years living with the citizen spouse under the same roof in Mauritius. ²
• Between 1 and 2 years can be approved where regular travel abroad for medical, work or other approved reasons is shown. ²
• The Minister orders an investigation into whether the marriage is a marriage of convenience. ²
• Resident status ends 6 months after the marriage ends. ²
• A surviving spouse can apply within 90 days of the citizen spouse’s death to keep resident status. ²

Stay

• A temporary residence permit is valid for 2 years from the date of issue. The spouse applies for a residence permit at least one month before it expires, after 2 years living with the citizen spouse in Mauritius; 1 to 2 years can be approved where regular travel abroad for medical, work or other approved reasons is shown. If the temporary permit expires while the application is pending, it is treated as still valid until the decision.
• Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
• Temporary residence permit up to 24 months: Valid for 2 years from the date of issue (Immigration Act 2022, s7(6)).
• Residence permit: Applied for at least one month before the temporary permit expires, after 2 years living with the citizen spouse in Mauritius (s9).

Family

A dependent child of the non-citizen spouse is eligible for a temporary residence permit. A dependent child or parent of a spouse holding a temporary residence permit is eligible for a residence permit.

Fine print

The Immigration Act 2022, sections 7 and 9 as amended from 1 October 2026, gives a 2-year temporary residence permit and then a residence permit application with a prescribed fee; no fee amount is published on the pages read. The Passport and Immigration Office page still describes the earlier Immigration Act and says the residence permit is free of cost. Last read on 12 October 2026.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Residence Permit as Spouse for Mauritius Citizen · Passport and Immigration Office, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12
2. Immigration Act 2022 (Act 14 of 2022), consolidated to Act 13 of 2026: sections 7, 8, 9 and 10 · Attorney-General's Office, Mauritius · checked 2026-10-12