Work Permit
Ministry of Labour
Mauritius employers apply to the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations for a work permit to employ a non-citizen under the Non-Citizens (Employment Restriction) Act. Applications go online through the National E-Licensing System (NELS); a residence permit application to the Passport and Immigration Office is filed automatically with it. The employer must show it could not recruit locally. The permit is tied to that employer, and total stay is capped at ten years across all sectors.
Life in Mauritius
Money
3
Currency
Mauritian Rupee
MUR
Mauritian Rupee
Cost of living
44
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–20%
Income tax (national)
VAT 15%
0% on first Rs 500,000, 10% on next Rs 500,000, 20% above; plus 15% Fair Share Contribution for net income above Rs 12m (income years to 30 June 2028).
Living
1
Happiness
#71 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Non-citizens, generally aged 20 to 60, recruited by an employer in Mauritius for jobs that could not be filled locally (for example in construction, tourism, manufacturing, domestic work, transport and sport). Professionals may instead qualify for an Occupation Permit.
Eligibility
Job with a Mauritius employer
The employer (or an employee on its CSG list, as registered user) applies. Work permits are non-transferable and bound to the original employer.
Age
The worker should generally be aged between 20 and 60. Bus drivers, bus conductors and other drivers must be 25 to 45; domestic workers and carers 21 to 55; footballers at least 18.
Skills and qualifications
The worker must have the skills, qualifications and experience for the job, with evidence from recognised institutions. For professionals, the employer must obtain recognition of qualifications from the Higher Education Commission (or the Mauritius Qualifications Authority for technical/vocational qualifications) before applying.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementLabour market test
- Document checklistVacancy report from the Employment Information Centre
- FeesProcessing fee
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 3 more requirements
- 11 documents
- 5 fees
- 6 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Mauritius
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
Other routes to Mauritius
- Visit & tourismTourist visa and entry as a visitor
- StudyStudent Entry/Residence Permit
- Permanent residencePermanent Residence Permit
- FamilyResidence Permit as Dependent of an Occupation or Residence Permit holder
- Status in-countryResidence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens
- Investors & entrepreneursMauritius Premium Visa
Work permits in other countries
- MaldivesWork permit (Entry Pass) and Work e-Visa
- MalawiTemporary Employment Permit
- MalaysiaEmployment Pass (EP) Categories I, II and III
- MozambiqueHiring of foreign nationals (work authorisation, quota, approved-investment-project and short-term regimes) with work visa
- NamibiaEmployment Permit (general) and Short-Term Employment (Work) Visa
- New CaledoniaNew Caledonia work authorisation for foreign nationals
