Mauritius Offering A New Millionaire Golden Visa

Mauritius—the stunning island paradise in the Indian Ocean near East Africa—is on the verge of welcoming 100 lucky millionaires from around the globe through an exciting new golden visa initiative! On May 5, during a lively parliamentary session, Mauritius’ prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, unveiled this thrilling golden visa program, inspired by “multiple inquiries” from enthusiastic foreigners eager to relocate to this enchanting island with their families. Famous for its pristine white sandy beaches, crystal-clear lagoons, and lush rainforests, Mauritius is a dream honeymoon destination with a vibrant, diverse population fluent in Urdu, Hindi, English, French, and Spanish—making it the perfect paradise for international travelers looking to settle in bliss.

Beautiful Mauritius

The golden visa concept is brilliantly simple—visa holders and their dependents (spouse and children) are granted a renewable two-year visa in exchange for investing at least $1 million within the first year. This golden visa comes with a host of fabulous perks: the ability to bring along pets, open bank accounts, and enroll children in top-notch local private schools. On top of that, visa holders will enjoy access to a dedicated concierge service to facilitate their seamless transition, including relocating their businesses to Mauritius.

According to Ramgoolam, only about 100 golden visas will be issued each year, with applicants required to invest in “high value” sectors such as financial technology, global treasury, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and renewable energy. The prime minister highlighted that the country’s Economic Development Board (EDB) will closely monitor investment progress.

Mauritius Beach

“The goal is to enhance economic benefits for Mauritius by encouraging long-term stays of golden visa holders and subsequently motivating them to channel investments into various sectors of our economy,” Ramgoolam declared with enthusiasm.

The application isn’t available just yet on the government’s licensing application portal, but once it is, applicants will receive feedback in record time: The processing time is a swift five days, according to Ramgoolam. This is lightning-fast compared to other golden visa programs in countries like Portugal, where approval can take one to two years.

Golden visas have sparked lively debate over concerns about local housing affordability and potential security and money-laundering risks. In response, Ramgoolam assured that the new program will be safeguarded by a “robust, risk-based due diligence framework” to prevent financial crimes. Applicants will also undergo thorough screenings and processing with agencies such as the EDB and the Passport and Immigration Office.

To address potential housing cost increases, specific rental homes and hotels will be designated for golden visa holders, who will only be allowed to invest in select real estate opportunities. For those seeking more flexible real estate options, Mauritius offers various residency-by-real-estate-investment programs, including obtaining a residence permit by purchasing an eligible property for a minimum of $375,000.

If retiring in Mauritius is your dream, retirees aged 50 or older can apply for a renewable 10-year residency-by-retirement permit, provided they have at least $24,000 in their bank account. For adventurous travelers, the country also offers a free, renewable one-year premium visa for international remote workers.