Mauritius News

3 min read More and more South Africans are realising the growing value of offshore property investment. Whether it’s purchasing their forever-home as they emigrate

3 min read Whether you’re planning on moving to Mauritius, or just taking a well-earned break on this lovely island, you definitely will not want to leave your golf clubs behind. There’s more to this idyllic tropical paradise than pretty beaches, warm, crystal-clear water and coconut palms.

3 min read Located in the heart of The West of the island, the smart city of the Medine Group captivates with the beauty of its surroundings

2 min read We all know that Mauritius is a gorgeous tropical island paradise with a fantastic infrastructure and awesome standard of living, but it’s also a place of wonder and mystery. Here are five strange things you may not have known about the island.

3 min read Emigrating is hard enough without facing the prospect of giving up the family cat or dog, so many people take them along. But it involves an awful lot of planning, and not inconsiderable expense. Three recent emigrants tell us how they did it – the challenges, the stresses, and – of course – the joy.

3 min read Over the years economic problems, subsequent greylisting, a high crime rate and the burden of load shedding have resulted in many entrepreneurs considering the option of relocating their business.

3 min read Le Morne Brabant, one of Mauritius’s two World Heritage Sites, is renowned as much for its fabulous scenery and exciting outdoor activities as for its fascinating cultural and historic heritage.

3 min read Portugal has recently shut down its residence by investment programme which was also referred to as a ‘golden visa’ scheme. It’s claimed that the decision to end it was driven by the country’s ongoing housing crisis which has driven property prices up while locals have not seen their wages increase to the same rate.

2 min read With its stunning scenery, fabulous lifestyle, ease of doing business and excellent return on investment, Mauritius is a fabulous place to invest – whether you decide to live there or not. And the best part is that, contrary to what you might think, there are some very affordable options – in fact, something for every budget.

3 min read As Mauritius joins the league of the 20 top business-friendly places in the world, it is indeed a good time to highlight the main reasons why this tiny African island in the middle of the Indian Ocean should be on the priority list of investors looking to do business with mainland Africa. Live Smart / Global Assets

3 min read A Mauritius Trust can elect to be tax resident in Mauritius and thus avail itself of treaty benefits, with the result that capital gains tax on disposal of assets in a country with which Mauritius has a double taxation avoidance treaty can be eliminated.

3 min read Once a sugar-dependent country, Mauritius has emerged as a well-diversified economy well on the way to joining the league of high-income nations within the next 20 years. Since its early days as a major trading post on the route linking the East Indies to Europe, Mauritius has had an open economy, with strong linkages to Europe, Asia and Africa. Today, the island nation remains resolutely committed to its business tradition and counts as one of the most buoyant trading and investment platforms in Africa.

4 min read A much coveted tourist destination known the world over, the tropical island of Mauritius is fast emerging as a preferred destination for non-citizens looking for an enticing place to retire. With its all-year-round temperate climate, first-class infrastructure and harmonious living, this rainbow nation with an affordable cost of  living  has,  since  2006,  opened its doors to eligible non-citizens looking for a stress-free retirement.

3 min read Living in Mauritius is basically like living in paradise, but there is more to this lovely island than the beaches and luxury resorts. When I go overseas and tell people I am from Mauritius, they’re pretty envious that I get to wake up to white sandy beaches every day. Yet, there is so much more to Mauritius than what you see in the pages of travel brochures.

3 min read Sean Winters is a chartered financial analyst with Riscura and moved to Mauritius five years ago for business reasons. He calls it Africa’s investment gateway and, with Riscura’s focus on emerging markets, the perfect place to establish a centre of excellence.

3 min read Owing to its geographic location and centuries of colonialism, Mauritians are highly diverse in ethnicity, culture, language and faith. Indo-Mauritians make up the bulk of the population, with significant Creole, Sino-Mauritian and Franco-Mauritian minorities.

2 min read It’s the first choice that visitors should be looking for as an idyllic holiday destination. Called “Heaven on Earth” Mauritius has a warm tropical climate which makes it a sought-after destination.

3 min read Owning a beautiful penthouse in Mauritius – sounds like a dream, right? It doesn’t have to stop there. Here we look at the latest penthouses on offer and what they cost.

3 min read Mauritian leisure options are too numerous to list, but a handful of attractions for winter visitors to Isle de Maurice deserves a mention, with emphasis on the island’s markets, a nod to its museums, a pinch of exotic eats, and miles of scenic drives.

4 min read Altezza Gardens offers noncitizens the opportunity to invest in a G+2 development from R2 million and be eligible for a residence permit from R5.5 million

4 min read Luxury Residences By The Sea In Mauritius – Azuri Ocean & Golf Village, a place of island elegance and serenity, to live truly and safely your dream of a tropical lifestyle. Since its inception eight years ago on a large estate in the North of Mauritius, Azuri has metamorphosed into a vibrant and tight-knit community.

3 min read Working out whether to sell or keep your furniture depends on things such as its size, value, transport, and insurance costs. It can be tricky moving furniture abroad, but, with some forward planning and research, it can be done cost effectively.

3 min read One of the many concerns parents have when moving abroad is finding the right school for their children.

2 min read Leading international recruitment firm, Michael Page, has just released their Mauritius Salary Guide and Hiring Insights research for 2022. In it, the recruiter focuses on several sectors including engineering, property, and construction to name but a few.

3 min read The majority of healthcare in Mauritius is publically funded and expats can access most in-patient services in one of five regional and two district hospitals spread across the island. In general, Mauritanian healthcare is of a relatively high standard but even so, private healthcare is quickly becoming an option of choice for locals as well as expats.

3 min read Some of the most popular countries to move to include Portugal, Mauritius, and Cyprus. According to a global survey conducted by money.co.uk, South Africans want to retire to places closer to home and top of the list is Mauritius, followed by less expensive European countries like Portugal.

2 min read If you wanted to take Fido or Fluffy abroad, you would typically pay for your pet to be transported within a special pressurised compartment in the hold of a plane. But did you know you could also take your pet with you on the plane, like additional baggage?

3 min read Narrowing down where you, as a South African, can travel internationally with few restrictions is still a minefield. Even though millions have been vaccinated, many countries are still at different stages of lockdown while others are lifting restrictions.

4 min read The tiny tropical island of Rodrigues lies some 560 kilometres to the northeast of its big sister, Mauritius. A rugged volcanic outcrop, with a mountainous central ridge and deep valleys and ravines, it is surrounded by coral reefs, which enclose a wide, shallow lagoon twice its size.

2 min read Mauritius will be welcoming international travellers from 15 July 2021 – but not all travellers, and there are still a few hoops to jump through.

4 min read A picture perfect tropical island with crystal-clear turquoise waters lapping golden beaches, Mauritius ticks all the boxes for a beach and watersports holiday. The snorkelling is fantastic, but to really appreciate life beneath the shimmering ocean surface, you need to scuba dive.

5 min read Think Mauritius and the images that spring to mind are probably of lazing on white sand beaches, swimming in the turquoise waters of the shallow lagoon, and sipping cocktails while watching spectacular sunsets. But there are plenty of active adventures in this tropical paradise.

4 min read If you’re going to Mauritius for the golf (and you’d be surprised how many people do), you will not be disappointed. With 10 18-hole courses and two nine-hole courses, you could – almost – play a different course every day for two weeks. And there are a few in the pipeline. All the courses offer lessons, and most have excellent practice facilities.

3 min read Just two years ago the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declared in a report that South Africans live in one of the 10 most heavily taxed countries in the world (tax-to-GDP ratio). Back in 2019, the report highlighted that personal income taxes had increased by 125% in just ten years.

4 min read The process of relocating can be pretty stressful, so the last thing you want is to find out you can’t take your best friend with you. We have done everything we can to ensure that the information below is accurate but regulations do change, and some are – not to put too fine a point on it – somewhat ambiguously worded, so please double check with the relevant authorities before committing.

3 min read Creole cultures, which evolved in many countries with a colonial past, are increasingly recognising that they have more similarities than differences with their many counterparts all over the world. In fact, Creole culture almost transcends borders.

2 min read While there are many reasons for emigrating, financial affairs play a large part in both the decision to emigrate, and the success of immigration applications. Tax is, of course, a large part of an immigration-through-investment process, and it can be quite complex. Caleo Capital, a South African wealth management company with a global footprint, works closely with 12 Star Capital to ensure a smooth financial transition for South Africans emigrating to the USA.

3 min read We are all tired of restrictions, and many of us are aching to attend football matches, mega-church services or raves, and we all want the tourism industry to recover – both so that our economy can recover, and so that we can head off somewhere exotic to destress. We long for ‘normality’. So we are lining up for vaccinations and hoping that they (and the proof thereof) will fix the world and bring everything back to the way it was. But is a vaccine – and a ‘vaccine passport’ – the panacea it’s made out to be, or will it prove to be a two-edged sword with some unexpected consequences?

4 min read There are some great investment opportunities in Mauritius, but you have missed the very best of them all. Unless, that is, your great grandmother was in regular correspondence with Elizabeth Gomm, wife of the governor of Mauritius – or anyone else who lived there in 1847. And – and this is a big and – she kept all her letters in a nice, dry, tin trunk that has been passed down to you over the generations, unopened.

3 min read The USA’s EB-5 Investor Visa programme, which has been criticised as posing a threat to national security and being open to abuse and fraud, has been replaced by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act. But questions remain as to whether it will achieve its objectives, and how it will affect potential international investors. Including South Africans, of course.

2 min read The Cyprus Citizenship by Investment programme, which has for years been one of the most popular options for high nett worth individuals seeking EU citizenship, has been terminated. But you can still get permanent residency, and – if you are determined – citizenship may follow.

2 min read The UK government is introducing an additional 2% stamp duty land tax (SDLT) surcharge for foreign investors purchasing property in England and Northern Ireland from 1 April 2021. It will apply to purchases of any freehold or leasehold residential property in which the purchaser, or one of the purchasers, is deemed to be a non-UK resident. The only exceptions to this rule are if one of the purchasers is an employee of the UK state (the Crown), or if the non-UK resident is married or in a civil partnership with a UK resident.

2 min read Portugal’s Golden Visa citizenship by investment programme is one of the most accessible ways of obtaining Euro citizenship. And a nice place on the Atlantic or Mediterranean coast is an added bonus – or at least it was until the Portuguese government amended the legislation to exclude coastal properties and properties in the main cities of Porto and Lisbon.

2 min read On 10 March 2021, the government of the Republic of Mauritius implemented new COVID-19 public health protocols, and placed the island nation on temporary lockdown until 25 March 2021. This follows the reporting of 15 cases of COVID-19 in the community. All international and domestic passenger flights have been suspended until 25 March 2021, but cargo flights will continue.

3 min read Who’d have thought it? Between them, property and tourism – two of the industries that have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 crisis – are creating one of the year’s most innovative investment opportunities.

4 min read The government in England will give leaseholders the right to extend their leases by up to 990 years and pay no ground rent under major new changes due to become law later this year. We take a look at what effects, if any, the new changes have for foreign investors.

3 min read If the promise of the sweet island life doesn’t seal the deal, here are ten more perks of living or purchasing property in this unique seaside setting.

7 min read Island living evokes balmy weather, tropical gardens, beautiful homes, sandy beaches, lagoons, and above all, space. Living on the edge of a golf course means you are surrounded by greenery and lush vegetation, peacefulness and beauty. Having the freedom to choose to live by a golf course is the epitome of luxury.

< 1 min read Island living evokes balmy weather, tropical gardens, beautiful homes, sandy beaches, lagoons, and above all, space. Living on the edge of a golf course means you are surrounded by greenery and lush vegetation, peacefulness and beauty. Having the freedom to choose to live by a golf course is the epitome of luxury.

3 min read Since its discovery by Arab sailors in the 16th century, Mauritius has been coveted by powerful nations because of its strategic position on the Spice Trade Route. People from all corners of the globe continue to be drawn to its natural beauty, ideal location at the crossroads of Africa and Asia, and time zone that allows round-the-clock transactions with all major markets. Who doesn’t love the sweet life of living in the tropics?

4 min read The giant water lily, Victoria amazonica, is bizarre. It’s the biggest water lily in the world, and its leaves are so big and buoyant that a small adult can sit on one and read a book. However, what’s really unusual about them is their sex life. But don’t worry, we’ll keep it PG.

< 1 min read If you’ve found your dream property in Cyprus Currencies Direct can help you save time and money on your purchase.

3 min read The announcement by South African airline FlySafair that it will be introducing a Johannesburg to Mauritius route once the two countries’ borders reopen has been welcomed by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA).

4 min read You’re probably eager to escape the year that most of us probably want to forget. But, really, it’s best to stay home and stay safe. However, we can dream – and, obviously, many of us have been fantasising about exotic trips, as evidenced in Google’s Year in Search Report for 2020. Here’s a list of the ten most frequently searched travel destinations by South African internet users. Dream on …

4 min read Mauritius, one of the most beautiful islands in the world, has introduced a Premium Travel Visa, valid for a period of one year, renewable, to welcome esteemed travellers seeking to prolong their feeling of wellness arising from the gorgeous turquoise blue sea with silky sand beaches, tropical lagoons, the lush greens, the warmth and friendliness of locals, all in a COVID-safe destination.

2 min read Mauritius launched its Covid-19 vaccination programme on 26 January, giving priority to healthcare professionals, employees of the tourism industry, senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions.

3 min read With a promising vaccine on the horizon, life is slowly returning to what it was pre-pandemic, but a future of remote working is definitely not off the cards. Companies around the world have been forced to extend their remote-working policies well into 2021, and are starting to consider more flexible working styles beyond that, both to reduce their overhead costs, and to support employee productivity and wellbeing.

3 min read Mauritius, the Indian Ocean paradise, has launched a new long-stay visa to meet the growing demand from international visitors looking to relocate to the Covid-secure island for work, leisure or retirement. The country’s new Premium Visa is valid for one year, with an option to renew, and is open to those who want to relocate to allow them to work remotely, have a long-term second home on the island, or to retire here in 2020, 2021 and beyond.

2 min read Mauritius, the Indian Ocean paradise, is open for business, and is specifically targeting long-term travellers, digital nomads, people who want a second home in a sunny clime, and retirees. The country’s new Premium Visa is valid for one year, with an option to renew.

4 min read Week two in Mauritius and we are absolutely loving it. After an incredibly challenging but mandatory two-week quarantine, we are now finally able to explore our new home. So far, everything feels like one big holiday and it hasn’t fully sunk in that we are actually living here permanently, but I am sure that will change over time.

< 1 min read We’ve been helping expats and residents transfer funds into and out of Mauritius since 1996. If you need to move money overseas to purchase your dream property, using your bank could leave you exposed to poor exchange rates, transfer fees and hidden charges. But there is another way…

2 min read Mauritius has successfully eliminated SARS-CoV-2, and is taking careful precautions to avoid importing the virus. So, while tourism is important to the island nation’s economy, they are taking it slowly and only opening the borders for Mauritian nationals, residents and tourists travelling to Mauritius for long stays.

3 min read ‘If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?’ You probably recited that – sing-song squeaky voice and all – as a kid, but I’ll bet you had no idea what it was all about. Well, Peter Piper (or Pierre Poivre) was a real person, and his (non-pickled) ‘peppers’ are now in Mauritius. Or at least their descendants are, and you can amble around in their shade inhaling their delicious scent.

4 min read They say truth is stranger than fiction, and we all know that facts have a way of inspiring fiction. But, sometimes, fiction has a way of superseding fact, and nowhere is this more evident than in Mauritius, where you will find monuments to famous people who never actually lived. But, hey, why should we let facts get in the way of a good story?

< 1 min read For South Africans looking at investing or emigrating to Mauritius, in this discussion webinar we cover tax consideration and Trusts, Setting up a Mauritian Bank Account, property financing and Off plan property payment structure.

4 min read The grounding of the Panama-flagged bulk liner owned by Nagashiki Shipping on the eastern shore of Mauritius has resulted in an oil spill of a magnitude not yet experienced in that country. Media reports tend to portray it as an environmental disaster, but it is best understood in the context of ecological processes playing out at planetary scale.

4 min read If you’re thinking of moving to Mauritius, or even just buying a second home there, you’ll soon be tempted to put your head under water to explore the fantastic coral reefs. You can, of course, learn once you are there, but you could also be proactive and learn before you go.

5 min read While we struggle to come to grips with the reality, extent and possible fallout of COVID-19, one country has successfully eliminated the disease – Mauritius.

3 min read Over the last 20 years, more than one million South Africans have emigrated abroad, usually to greener pastures outside of the continent. But what doors can a South African passport open for you and your family?

2 min read In the 2020/21 Mauritian Budget Speech, Mauritius opens itself up to the world by creating more opportunities for foreign investment and If you are considering Mauritius as a viable option this is great news for you. Estate Living has partnered with key specialist who can assist with everything you need to know about Estate Living Mauritius – from researching all your options to finding the right home, school, business opportunity and retirement plan.

3 min read What better way is there to celebrate the month of love than a surprise island break for you and the love of your life? No matter what type of travel couple you are, there’s a perfect destination match for you on one of our delightfully exotic, but so close and accessible, Indian Ocean islands. Best of all, no visas are required for South African passport holders for holiday stays of up to 30 days.*

2 min read The property market in Mauritius has been a major contributor to GDP since government enabled foreign investment via the Investment Promotion Act in 2000. Possibilities for residential property purchases by foreigners have been refined over the years, with the Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) being launched in 2006. According to investinmauritius.co.za, capital growth has exceeded 300% in the last decade.

3 min read There are some fabulous citizen-by-investment opportunities for gaining a more powerful passport and/or living in a safe, secure and convenient location. But emigrating is a big step, so – regardless of how attractive the nuts and bolts of the offer – you really should make sure your soon-to-be-adopted home is a place where you could actually live. And the best way to do that is to take an LSD trip.­ This kind of LSD trip is not a psychedelic, away-with-the-fairies experience – quite the opposite. LSD stands for ‘look, see and decide’, and it’s a practical, sober exploratory trip that is undertaken with open eyes and an open mind.

2 min read Sales have been brisk at the luxurious Akasha Villas lifestyle estate on the west coast of Mauritius. Only three villas are still available for sale. Priced at €595,000, permanent residency is part of the package for investors, their spouses and dependants up to the age of 24.

3 min read The Medine group, a century-old key player in the local sugar industry with a land bank of over 10,000 hectares, launched its Education Village in 2012 in the region of Pierrefonds as part of its diversification strategy. This campus has been designed to host a selective cast of world-class and internationally recognised institutions across different fields of study.

2 min read The destination requires no introduction! Mauritius combines attractive business opportunities in a strategic regional location, a high economic resilience, and social stability with a quality lifestyle amidst a welcoming population and landscapes of great beauty in which to indulge in a wide choice of leisure activities – the perfect balance.

3 min read A much coveted tourist destination, the tropical island of Mauritius is fast emerging as a preferred destination for non-citizens looking for an enticing place to retire. With its all-year-round temperate climate, first-class infrastructure and harmonious environment, this rainbow nation with an affordable cost of living has opened its doors since 2006 to eligible non-citizens looking for a stress-free retirement.

5 min read South African retirees have come a long way – and are going a long way. Rather than banish themselves to the local old age home to toil over macramé, those with adequate financial resources are increasingly slipping on their Raybans, waving sayonara and flying off into the sunset.

3 min read When reviewing your retirement portfolio, it’s wise to consider all the available asset classes – including offshore property. The key, however, is to ensure that you’ve done your homework and sought expert advice.

3 min read For potential expatriates around the world Mauritius increasingly comes top on the list of their most favoured destinations. A coincidence? The lingering attraction of a renowned tourist getaway?

3 min read Further impetus in store for the Mauritius property development landscape

4 min read The exclusive Heritage Villas Valriche, the largest villa-only residential development in Mauritius, celebrates the rich heritage of this Indian Ocean island paradise, and shows there is a lot more to Mauritius than sun, sand, sea and sundowners with fruit and paper umbrellas.

3 min read There are so many reasons to invest in Mauritius, and even more reasons to live in Mauritius – for at least part of the year. And one of the best reasons is the fact that it’s a gorgeous tropical island with crystal clear, warm turquoise waters framed by palmfringed white coral beaches. And now you can buy property on the water’s edge.

3 min read For over a decade now, since Mauritius first introduced its business facilitation legislation, the country has been open to foreign nationals – not only those seeking employment as professionals, but also those coming to invest in the country.

5 min read Kids are finished school and you’ve managed to retire from your job, so why not live the dream? Retire to a tropical island paradise with turquoise waters, clear skies, white beaches and swaying palm trees.

5 min read So what differentiates Moka Smart City from any other such city on the island? For one, it already exists and is a much more attractive, smarter and competitive place to be living and working. Brighter, faster and better connected, this is smart living like nothing Mauritius has ever seen before.

4 min read Mauritius today is one of the world’s prime property investment destinations, having recently received the World Bank’s ranking as the top African country for doing business.

4 min read Best known to foreigners as a sought-after tourist destination, Mauritius is now home to thousands of expatriates from across the world. Some are employed as skilled workers, others as professionals, yet others have invested in companies to take advantage of the island’s favourable business ecosystem and tax laws.

4 min read Mauritius is internationally renowned as one of the world’s premier luxury holiday destinations, an idyllic island surrounded by crystal-clear waters, stretches of golden beaches, world-famous hotels and a delightful tropical climate all year round.