Buying property in Mauritius

Mauritius is one of the few countries in the world where a foreigner can hold freehold property outright and secure a residence permit through the purchase itself. The market is, however, tightly regulated: not every house or plot is open to a non-citizen. Here is what you can buy, what it actually costs, and how a purchase plays out in practice.

01   WHAT FOREIGNERS CAN BUY

The open market for private houses and land remains reserved for Mauritian citizens. Foreign buyers can acquire property under schemes approved by the Economic Development Board (EDB): the Property Development Scheme (PDS) — now the main framework for new developments, having succeeded the earlier Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) and Real Estate Scheme (RES) — as well as the Smart City Scheme, the Invest Hotel Scheme (IHS), and apartments in Ground+2 (G+2) buildings priced from MUR 6,000,000. Resales under the legacy IRS and RES schemes also remain on the market. In every case the property is held freehold, with the right to lease it out and to repatriate the sale proceeds without restriction.

02   RESIDENCE PERMIT THROUGH PURCHASE

Buying property worth at least USD 375,000 under an approved scheme grants a residence permit — for the buyer, their spouse or partner, dependent children up to the age of 24, and dependent parents. The status remains valid for as long as the property is owned, with no minimum-stay requirement. This route is separate from, and faster than, the income-based residence permit, and it does not require a visit to Mauritius during the approval stage.

03   WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS

Registration duty for non-citizens stands at 5% of the purchase price; a planned increase to 10% for 2026 was repealed before it took effect. On top of the duty come notary fees (roughly 1–2%) and an EDB administrative charge. Mauritius levies no capital gains tax, no annual property tax and no wealth tax, which meaningfully lowers the cost of holding a property over the long term compared with most other jurisdictions.

04   HOW A PURCHASE WORKS

The process starts with sourcing a property that matches the buyer's budget and objectives, followed by a reservation contract and deposit. The key step is obtaining the EDB Letter of Authorisation, which typically takes 3 to 6 months and without which a sale to a foreign buyer cannot proceed. The deed of sale is then signed before a notary, with funds held in escrow to protect both parties. The residence permit application is filed separately and takes a further 4 to 6 months to process. None of these stages require your physical presence on the island — the purchase, including opening a bank account, can be handled remotely by power of attorney.

05   WHY BUYERS CHOOSE MAURITIUS

Political stability, official bilingualism in English and French, no restrictions on the movement of capital, and one of the lowest crime rates in the region set Mauritius apart from many alternative jurisdictions for a property purchase and a family relocation.

USD 375,000  the investment threshold that unlocks a residence permit for the whole family

We support the transaction at every stage — from selecting the property and checking its legal title to securing the residence permit — and we explain the process in plain terms, in the language you're most comfortable in.

Get in touch with Stanford Realty to discuss a specific property and work out the true cost of the transaction.