Relocate to Mauritius

Why Relocate to Mauritius?
Considering why you should relocate to Mauritius? Those moving to Mauritius fall in love with the natural beauty, rich cultural and historical heritage, and French-inspired joie de vivre that characterises life on this small island nation.
Moving to Mauritius from South Africa allows you to enjoy island life just a four-hour flight from Johannesburg and five hours from Cape Town, live in a safe environment and work in a business and investment-friendly country in Africa.
Read on to learn everything you need to know if you’re considering your options to invest in or relocate to Mauritius, an island steeped in history, surrounded by the Indian Ocean and where the sun shines most days of the year.
What to Consider When Relocating to Mauritius
Although the official language in Mauritius is English, it is advisable to acquire some basic knowledge of French before moving to Mauritius from South Africa. This will help you integrate, and it goes down very well with the locals if you make an effort to speak French.
When looking for a place to live, ensure it is close to your work and, if you have school-age children, near their school. Mauritian roads are congested, and you should keep your daily commute as short as possible. Most expats live in the north (Grande Baie) or west (Flic en Flac or Tamarin).
Residency Options in Mauritius
Mauritius offers permanent residency options to foreigners who meet specific requirements. The government has taken the following measures to attract and welcome new residents:
Invest in Mauritius for residency
Retirement residency
Invest in Mauritius property
Pursue a business investment or career in Mauritius
The Cost of Living in Mauritius
Weather & Climate in Mauritius
Mauritius is a tropical country with warm and humid weather all year round. The average temperature in summer is 24.7 degrees Celsius and drops only 4.3 degrees Celsius in winter. The island’s topography also leads to a range of microclimates – it can be gloriously sunny where you are while raining nearby.
Tropical storms are common in Mauritius during the summer months of November to April. The island nation is particularly vulnerable to such weather events due to its location in the Indian Ocean.
Education & Schools in Mauritius
Moving to Mauritius from South Africa will give you access to a top-notch education for your children, largely based on the British system since it was a former British colony.
Popular international schools in Mauritius:
- Alexandra House Primary School, Floreal
- Clavis International Primary School, Moka
- Greencoast International Secondary School, Beau Plan
- Hampton Primary School, Curepipe
- International Preparatory School, Mapou
- Judy Montessori Primary School, Mare d’Albert
- Le Bocage International Preparatory School, Moka
- Lighthouse Primary and Secondary School, Calebasses
- Lycée de La Bourdonnais, Curepipe
- Lycée des Mascarenes, Saint Pierre
- Morning Star International School, Trianon
- Northfields International School, Mapou
- Saint Exupéry International School Mauritius, Grand Baie
- Telfair International Primary School, Tamarin
- Westcoast International Primary School, Cascavelle
Healthcare in Mauritius
As an expatriate, you will usually have to pay for your own medical care in Mauritius. Therefore, you should obtain adequate health insurance before arriving on the island. There are many public hospitals on the island, but most expats prefer private hospitals such as Darne Clinic or Apollo Bramwell Hospital. They offer more services and have a higher standard of facilities, which make them popular options for healthcare in Mauritius.
Mauritius lacks some medical technologies, so patients needing them must travel to South Africa or Reunion for treatment.
Property Options in Mauritius - Rent or Invest in Mauritius Property
There are three main types of homes for renters in Mauritius: Villas, apartments and single-storey family homes. Some rental properties are furnished, others are not, but generally, tenants have the flexibility to choose between a short-term or long-term lease.
Do you want to invest in Mauritius property? All foreigners must obtain approval from the country’s EDB to buy property in Mauritius, while the Property Development Scheme (PDS) gives them access to property investments. To invest in Mauritius for residency by buying property, the threshold for a real estate investment is $375,000.
The PDS is primarily about development projects on a vacant lot that gives you freehold title and ownership of your property. Certain derivatives, such as the Ground +2 Scheme, have been added to the PDS property scheme. These tend to be apartments and semi-detached houses, lowering the entry threshold for overseas property buyers to around $200,000. There are also Smart City Schemes, a combination of retail, commercial and residential properties.