Moving to Mauritius with a Family: Schools, Visas, Costs & Island Life (2026/27)
Last checked: September 2026. Mauritius changed its work permit rules and tax bands in the 2026-27 Budget, and further details are still being published. Treat figures as a starting point for your own research.
Mauritius is one of the easier places in the Indian Ocean for a family to build a settled life. It is safe by regional standards, politically stable, and people move easily between English, French and Mauritian Creole. Most families come in one of three ways: a local job on an Occupation Permit (the professional minimum salary is now MUR 50,000 a month), remote work on the free Premium Visa, or buying a home worth at least US$375,000 in an approved scheme. Good French and international schools are clustered in the north, the west and the central plateau. The trade-offs are real: imported goods and cars are expensive, traffic is heavy at peak times, the cyclone season runs through the southern summer, and a partner cannot work on a dependant permit.
Who does Mauritius suit?
Mauritius tends to work well for:
- Families with one secure income, either a local job that meets the Occupation Permit salary, or remote work paid from abroad.
- French-speaking or bilingual families, who can choose between the French school network and English-language international schools, and switch later if needed.
- Parents of younger children who want an outdoor life: beaches, hiking, sailing, sport clubs, and a short school run if you live near the school.
- Families who want to stay in the region but need more stability than some mainland options offer.
It is a harder fit for families where both partners need local jobs, for parents of teenagers who need a very wide range of subjects or sports, and for anyone who finds island life small after a year or two. If you are weighing Mauritius against its neighbours, our guide to moving to Southern Africa with a family compares it with South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
Which visa or permit can a family use?
Permits for foreign residents are handled by the Economic Development Board (EDB) together with the Passport and Immigration Office. There are four main routes for families.
1. The Occupation Permit (work and live)
The Occupation Permit is a combined work and residence permit. It has three main categories:
- Professional: you have a job offer from a company in Mauritius. After the 2026-27 Budget, the minimum is a basic salary of MUR 50,000 a month (roughly US$1,050 or €920) in every sector. The old ProPass and Expert Pass sub-categories have been merged into one.
- Investor: you set up a business with an initial investment of at least US$100,000. The lower US$50,000 option has gone. From the third year the business must reach a turnover of about MUR 5 million a year, rising to MUR 8 million from the fifth year to renew.
- Self-employed: you bring at least US$50,000 and provide a service. Your business income must reach about MUR 2 million a year from the third year and MUR 3 million from the fifth year.
Two practical points. The salary figure is basic salary, so allowances and bonuses do not count towards it. And the Professional permit is usually linked to your employment contract, so if the job ends, the family's right to stay is affected. Ask your employer what happens in that case before you sign.
2. The Premium Visa (remote work)
The Premium Visa is for people whose income comes from outside Mauritius: remote employees, freelancers with foreign clients, and retirees. According to the EDB, it is:
- Free, with no processing fee.
- Valid for up to one year, and renewable.
- Based on income of at least US$1,500 a month for each adult applicant, plus US$500 a month for each dependent child.
- Conditional on health insurance for the whole stay.
- Not a work permit. You must not take a job with a Mauritian employer or sell your services on the local market.
For a couple with two children, both applying as adults, that means showing roughly US$4,000 a month. Ask the EDB how they treat a partner who is not working, as the wording refers to each adult applicant.
3. Residence through buying property
If you buy a home for at least US$375,000 through an EDB-approved scheme (such as the Property Development Scheme, or PDS), you can get a residence permit for yourself, your partner, children up to 24 and dependent parents. It lasts as long as you own the property. Foreigners cannot buy ordinary houses or land outside these schemes. The 2026-27 Budget also stopped foreigners buying in some newly approved apartment projects, so check the current rules for any development before you commit.
4. The retired non-citizen permit
If one of you is at least 50, you can apply for a residence permit by transferring at least US$2,000 a month (or US$24,000 a year) into a Mauritian bank account. It lasts up to 10 years. It suits some older parents with a teenager still at home, but it is not designed as a family route, so check what it allows for dependants.
There is also a new Golden Visa, written into law in 2026, for people investing US$1 million in business activity. It is outside most families' plans, so we do not cover it here.
Can my partner work in Mauritius?
This is the question to settle before anything else. A spouse or partner who comes as a dependant of an Occupation Permit holder gets a residence permit, but it does not allow paid work. To work, your partner needs their own permit: a Professional Occupation Permit (with an employer who applies and pays at least MUR 50,000 basic), a Self-Employed or Investor permit, or a work permit for jobs below that level.
Some older articles, including an earlier one of ours, say a dependant spouse can usually work. Current guidance from immigration advisers in Mauritius says otherwise, and the old Family Occupation Permit, which did allow both partners to work, was abolished in 2026. Check the latest position with the EDB when you apply.
A partner who keeps a remote job or foreign clients has more options. You could both hold Premium Visas, or the partner could look at the Self-Employed permit. Our guide on whether your partner can work there explains how to plan this conversation.
From experience: I have been to Mauritius, and I really loved the natural beauty of the island. Just as important was how many heritages and cultures live peacefully together there. It makes life there look richer than in most places I have ever seen.
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How does Mauritius compare with La Réunion?
Many families look at both islands. They are about 45 minutes apart by plane, but the systems are very different.
| Topic | Mauritius | La Réunion |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Independent country | Part of France and the EU (not Schengen) |
| Who needs a permit | Everyone who is not Mauritian | Only non-EU citizens |
| Currency | Mauritian rupee (MUR) | Euro |
| Main languages | Creole, French, English | French, Réunion Creole |
| Schools | Private French (AEFE) and English-language international schools, fee-paying | Free French state schools, plus private options |
| Healthcare for newcomers | Private clinics and private insurance | French public system, once you qualify |
| Income tax | Low bands: 0%, 10%, 20%, with a 35% band above MUR 12 million | French income tax, with an overseas reduction |
| Landscape | Lagoons, beaches, gentle hills | Volcanic mountains, fewer lagoon beaches |
For EU families, La Réunion is simpler on paperwork and free schooling. For non-EU families and remote workers, Mauritius is often simpler, because the Premium Visa has no link to French rules. Read our guides to moving to La Réunion with a family and to France's overseas territories for the full picture.
From experience: Mauritius seems slightly more international, and I suspect the business opportunities are better there. For a more intimate, secluded feeling and often untouched nature, La Réunion is better.
What are the schools like?
Most expat families use private schools. Public schools teach mainly in English and French and follow a national system linked to Cambridge exams, but classes are large, competition for places is intense, and few newcomers use them. The private market has two main families of schools.
French-system schools
Five schools belong to the network run by France's AEFE (the agency for French schools abroad):
- Lycée Labourdonnais, Curepipe (central plateau), from nursery to the baccalauréat.
- Lycée des Mascareignes, Saint-Pierre, in the Moka district.
- École du Centre – Collège Pierre-Poivre, also in Saint-Pierre.
- École du Nord, Mapou (north).
- École Paul et Virginie, Tamarin (west), a nursery and primary school.
These schools follow the French national curriculum, so a child can move back to France, or to La Réunion, without changing system. Some offer international or bilingual sections.
English-language and IB schools
- Northfields International School, Mapou: ages 3 to 18, Cambridge IGCSE and A levels, and the IB Diploma.
- Le Bocage International School, Moka: secondary, IB Middle Years, Diploma and Career-related programmes.
- Clavis International Primary School, Moka and Beau Champ: IB Primary Years Programme.
- Westcoast International Secondary School, west coast: Cambridge IGCSE and IB Diploma.
- Smaller British-style primaries, such as Alexandra House School in Tamarin.
Fees vary widely. As a rough guide, most schools charge between about MUR 150,000 and MUR 450,000 a year (roughly US$3,200 to US$9,500), with the upper years of IB schools higher still. Add registration fees, uniforms, transport and exam fees. The school year for most English-language schools runs from August or September, and French schools follow the French calendar.
Two tips. First, pick the school before the house, because traffic makes a long school run tiring. Second, ask about waiting lists early, especially for primary years in the north and west. Our guide to choosing a school abroad has a list of questions to ask.
Where do families live?
Mauritius is small, about 65 km from north to south, but the climate and daily life change a lot from one area to another.
- Grand Baie and the north (Pereybère, Mont Choisy, Mapou): busy, sociable, with shops, restaurants and many international families. Warm and fairly dry. Close to Northfields and École du Nord. Traffic around Grand Baie can be slow in the evenings and at weekends.
- Tamarin, Black River (Rivière Noire) and the west: the sunniest and driest part of the island, with a relaxed, outdoor culture, surfing and hiking. Popular with French and South African families. Schools are fewer, and the drive to the centre can be long at peak times.
- Moka: central, green and well placed for Le Bocage, Clavis and the French schools in Saint-Pierre. Many newer housing developments. A good compromise if parents commute to Port Louis or Ebène.
- Curepipe and Floréal (central plateau): cooler, much wetter and more humid, with lower rents and an established residential feel. Close to Lycée Labourdonnais and C-Care Darné. Some families love the cooler air; others find the damp and grey days hard.
A useful way to decide: choose the school, choose the working base, then look for homes between them. Spend at least a week in the area in the rainy season if you can.
How much does it cost to live in Mauritius?
Mauritius is not a low-cost destination for expat families. Local food, fruit, vegetables and domestic help are affordable. Imported food, household goods, electronics and cars cost more than in much of Europe. Here are rough monthly figures from 2026 guides (MUR 1 is about US$0.021, or about 47 rupees to the dollar and 54 to the euro).
| Item | Rough monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Modern 2–3 bedroom apartment, coast | MUR 40,000–100,000 (US$850–2,100) |
| 3–4 bedroom family house with garden or pool, north or west | MUR 85,000–190,000 (US$1,800–4,000) |
| Similar house on the central plateau | Usually lower than the coast |
| Groceries, family of four | MUR 35,000–65,000 |
| Electricity, water and fibre internet | MUR 7,000–15,000, more with air conditioning |
| School fees, per child (averaged per month) | MUR 12,500–37,500 |
| Private health insurance, family | Varies widely by age and cover |
Cars deserve their own budget line. Vehicles are imported and pay import duty, excise duty (based on engine size and fuel type) and 15% VAT, so both new and used cars cost noticeably more than in Europe. Public transport exists, including the Metro Express light rail between Port Louis and Curepipe, but most families need a car, and many need two. Some rent long term at first to learn which area suits them.
For a full framework, see our guide to how much a family relocation really costs.
How does income tax work?
Mauritius has low personal tax rates compared with most of Europe. For the income year from 1 July 2026, residents pay:
- 0% on the first MUR 500,000 of net income a year.
- 10% on the next MUR 500,000.
- 20% on income above MUR 1 million.
- 35% on income above MUR 12 million (this replaces the earlier "Fair Share Contribution").
There is also a VAT of 15%, and no capital gains or inheritance tax. Foreign income is generally taxed only when it is brought into Mauritius, and Premium Visa and Golden Visa holders have their own rules on this. Your home country may still tax you. These are questions to check with a qualified adviser: when you become tax resident, how your remote salary is treated, and what happens to pensions and savings at home.
What is healthcare like?
Public healthcare is free for Mauritian citizens, but most expat families use the private sector and pay through insurance. The main private hospitals are:
- C-Care Wellkin, Moka: the largest private hospital, with a 24-hour emergency department and maternity with neonatal intensive care.
- C-Care Darné, Floréal: one of the oldest private hospitals, with 24-hour emergency care.
- Smaller C-Care clinics in Grand Baie and Tamarin, plus other private clinics across the island.
Routine care, including paediatrics, is good. For some complex or specialist treatment, families are referred to La Réunion, South Africa or Europe, so choose insurance that covers medical evacuation. Dengue outbreaks occur, so use mosquito protection and ask your doctor about vaccinations before you move.
What about cyclones, weather and traffic?
Cyclones. The cyclone season runs roughly from November to April, and the official warning period stretches into mid-May. Mauritius uses four warning classes. Schools close from Class II. Most seasons bring warnings rather than direct hits, but heavy rain and flash flooding often cause more disruption than wind. When you rent, ask about flooding on the street, storm shutters, water storage and a generator.
Climate. Summer (roughly December to April) is hot and humid. Winter (June to September) is mild and pleasant on the coast, and cool and damp on the plateau.
Traffic. Roads around Port Louis, Ebène and the main motorway are congested at rush hour, and a 20 km trip can take an hour. Living close to school and work makes a big difference to family life.
How easy is it to get to and from Mauritius?
Mauritius has good long-haul links for an island. Air Mauritius and major airlines fly directly to Paris and London (about 11 to 12 hours), and there are frequent flights to Johannesburg, Dubai and La Réunion. Many other cities connect through Dubai, Istanbul or Johannesburg. Flights are busier and more expensive in European school holidays, so book early if grandparents plan to visit.
Which languages will my children need?
English is the official language of government and the law. French is used widely in the media, business and daily life. Kreol Morisien (Mauritian Creole) is the language most people speak at home and on the street. Children usually pick up Creole quickly from friends. Parents who speak at least some French find daily life, from the doctor to the plumber, much easier.
Not sure whether Mauritius is right for your family? Take the 2-minute family destination quiz to see how it compares with other countries on schools, work and lifestyle. You can also read our list of the easiest countries to move abroad to with a family.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary for an Occupation Permit in Mauritius?
Since the 2026-27 Budget, the Professional Occupation Permit needs a basic salary of at least MUR 50,000 a month, in every sector. Older sources give MUR 60,000 (the rule before 2025) or MUR 30,000 (the 2025 ProPass). Check the EDB website for the current figure when you apply.
Can my spouse work on a dependant permit in Mauritius?
No. A dependant permit allows your partner to live in Mauritius but not to take paid work. To work, they need their own Occupation Permit or a work permit. Remote work for a foreign employer may be possible on a Premium Visa.
Can we bring children on the Premium Visa?
Yes. The EDB asks for an extra US$500 a month for each dependent child. Check with your chosen school what documents they need for enrolment.
Is Mauritius safe for families?
Mauritius is generally considered one of the safer countries in Africa. Petty crime and burglary do happen, so families use normal precautions, such as secure housing and care with valuables. Road safety is a bigger daily risk than crime for many families.
Do I need to speak French to live in Mauritius?
No, you can manage in English. But French helps a great deal in daily life, and it opens up the French school network for your children.
When is the best time of year to move?
Many families aim to arrive in June to August, in the cooler, drier months and before the school year starts. This also avoids house-hunting in the middle of the cyclone season.
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