Category	Question	Answer
Occupation Permit	What is an Occupation Permit?	It is a permit that allows an eligible non-citizen to live and work in for up to three years. Application for this permit is made through the Board of Investment (BOI) to the Passport & Immigration Office (PIO). An application, if completed to the satisfaction of the Board of Investment and the Passport & Immigration Office, will be determined within three working days of its date of submission. Mauritius
	Who is eligible for an occupation permit?	A non-citizen wishing to apply for an Occupation Permit should first register with the Board of Investment as an Investor, a Professional or a Self-Employed, as the case may be. An investor means a person or body of persons in association, société, partnership or company. A self-employed is a person engaged in a professional activity. A professional is a person holding a valid contract of employment with a company, société or partnership, and with a basic monthly salary exceeding MRU 30,000.
	I hold a valid work permit expiring soon. I do qualify for an Occupation permit. Can I apply now or should I wait for my current work permit to expire?	If you already hold a work permit and also qualify for an occupation permit, you may apply for an occupation permit. Your work permit will be cancelled upon issue of an occupation permit.
	My work permit is expiring soon and I am now applying for an Occupation permit. Should I do all the required medical tests again?	If you already hold a valid work permit and you have not travelled abroad during the tenure of this work permit, you do not need to do the medical tests again.
	Why is a birth certificate required? Is my passport not enough?	No. The passport and immigration office requires both the passport and birth certificate. The birth certificate shows your original name, whereas a passport will shows the most recent name in case name has been changed.
	I do not have a birth certificate and it will take me a lot of time to obtain one from my country of origin. What should I do?	You should obtain an attestation of birth from your local embassy or consulate.
	I am on a tourist visa. Can I submit my application for Occupation Permit?	Yes, but first you need to convert your tourist visa into a business visa. This is done at the Visa section in the same building where the Occupation permit Unit is found. A visa is converted only if an application for occupation permit is to be submitted. Evidence has to be shown (e.g work contract, job offer, company incorporation, etc)
	I am a doctor and I would like to work as self employed, by opening my own private practice. Can I apply for an Occupation permit?	For regulated professions such as doctors, engineers, etc, the non-citizen should first obtain his/her registration from the appropriate body/council prior to applying for an Occupation Permit. In lieu of registration, a no objection letter from that body is also acceptable.
	I would like to apply for a Residence Permit for retired non-citizen. Do I need to make a transfer of USD 40000 immediately?	No. You need not transfer all your money immediately. You may make periodic transfers. However, the total sum transferred to Mauritius over one year should be at least USD 40000
	As a retired non-citizen, am I obliged to keep my money in rupees?	No. You may hold foreign currency accounts at any local bank in Mauritius in any convertible currency. The only condition is that the total sum transferred to Mauritius over a period of one year should be equivalent to at least USD 40000
	How do I cancel my permit?	If you hold a permit under the category of investor, self employed and retired, you have to send us a request to cancel your permit. Once we receive your request, we will de-register you. Your permit will lapse immediately. We will then inform the Passport Office who will write to you to inform you officially that your permit has lapsed, and  you will have to leave the country. You will also have to return the registration certificate and the permit. For professionals, an employer should imform us when the employment is terminated. Before taking any action, we will seek written confirmation from the employee.
	Are children over 18 considered as dependent and will they obtain residence permit as such?	Only children under 18 are considered as dependent and they may obtain residence permit. Adults over 18 may be considere as dependents  for residence permit only in exceptional cases: For example, if an OP holder has legal custody of another adult, or if that person will study in mauritius, etc
	Is a bank guarantee submitted in respect of a work permit, transferable for an   Occupation Permit?	No. Work Permit and Occupation permit are issued by two different bodies.
	Can I pay the Occupation fee in cash?	No, payment to be made strictly by an office cheque (cheque drawn on a bank). As the permit is issued in three days, this means that the permit will be issued before the cheque is cashed. This is why only a banker's cheque is acceptable.
	As an Occupation Permit holder, am I allowed to purchase an immovable property?	Under an Occupation Permit, only an investor and a self employed can acquire an immovable property, but for business purpose only (i.e to carry out their economic activity). Acquisition of property for residential purposes is not allowed. Property acquisition for residential purposes is allowed only under a Permanent residence permit
	As an occupation permit holder, will I be able to obtain permanent residence permit?	Only investors and self employed may obtain permanent residence after 3 years. Professionals cannot obtain permanent residence. To qualify for Permanent residence, an investor should have generated an annual turnover exceeding Rs 15 million duringeach of the first three years under an Occupation permit, and a self employed should have generated annual revenue exceeding Rs 3,000,000 during each of the first three years.
	When I obtain permanent residence, will I obtain Mauritian Citizenship?	The permanent residence is for a period of 10 years only. Mauritian citizenship will not be obtained.
Registration with BOI	What are the criteria for registration with BOI?	Applicants may register under three categories:               a.       Investor: The business activity should generate an annual turnover exceeding Rs. 3    million; b.       Professional: Basic salary should exceed Rs. 30,000 a month; c.        Self-employed: Income from the business activity should exceed Rs. 600,000 annually.
	How to register with BOI?	A registration form should be filled in and submitted to BOI. An investor or self-employed must provide details about his/her business project such as proposed investment level, amount to be transferred to Mauritius and expected annual business turnover/income. In the case of a professional, the employer must submit a copy of the contract of employment. A registration certificate may be issued to eligible applicants.
Queries related to Occupation Permit	How to effect Payment for an Occupation Permit?	Our clients should be made aware that Payment for Occupation permit fee should be made strictly by bank cheque. Currently, no other form of payment is accepted. The bank guarantee of Rs 50,000 should be made in favour the Government of Mauritius.
	What are Bank cheques?	A cheque on which the drawer is a bank or other financial institution drawing on itself; no individual or company name appears. The customer buys the cheque for cash and a small fee and uses it in the same way as cash. Bank cheques are widely regarded as being as 'safe as a bank'.
	What is a Bank guarantee?	A bank guarantee is a written promise issued by the Bank to compensate (pay a sum of money) to the beneficiary (third party, local or foreign) in the event that the obligor (customer) fails to honor its obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the guarantee/agreement/contract. In short, a guarantee from a lending institution ensuring that the liabilities of a debtor will be met. In other words, if the debtor fails to settle a debt, the bank will cover it.
	What does the Medical Certificate comprise of?	The applicant should do a set of medical tests. There are 3 tests that should compulsorily be done in . These may be done at any private lab/clinic. Mauritius HIV, Hepatitis B, Chest X ray. Other tests may be done either in their own country or done in . Mauritius Applicant to take the test results and the medical certificate template found in the application pack to any local doctor. The doctor will certify whether or not he/she is suffering from any contagious/infectious disease. If there is evidence of any such disease, NO application for Occupation Permit or Residence permit will be accepted.