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Settling in

Settling in Mauritius

Mauritius is outside the European Union: to live there for more than three months, you need a permit issued by the Mauritian authorities before you leave, usually an Occupation Permit for the working parent and a residence permit for the rest of the family. The rest follows: a home near school, a bank account, a car, and some patience with traffic in the centre of the island. Here is what we would have liked to know before arriving, checked against official Mauritian websites and the French embassy.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival and first steps

Immigration matters are handled only by the Mauritian authorities: the Economic Development Board (EDB) for work and residence permits, the Passport and Immigration Office for dependants' permits. The French embassy does not handle these files, but it helps with everything French.

Good to know

  • Without a visa, a French national can stay up to three months, with a passport valid for the whole stay and a return ticket; the length of stay granted is at the discretion of the immigration services. Source
  • For a stay of more than three months or to work, the work or residence permit application must be made before you leave. Source
  • Employees get an Occupation Permit (Professional): the employer files the application online on the EDB's NELS platform. The basic salary must be at least MUR 50,000 a month and the permit can last up to 10 years, depending on the length of the contract. Source
  • The spouse and unmarried children get a residence permit for the same length as the main holder's, applied for at the Passport and Immigration Office. Dependant status assumes no paid work. Source
  • To set up your own business, the Occupation Permit (Self-Employed) requires an initial investment of at least USD 50,000 and lasts 10 years, renewable subject to turnover conditions. Source
  • The Premium Visa, free of charge, lets you live in Mauritius for up to a year, renewable, on income from abroad (remote work, for instance), without working on the local market. Source
  • Have the criminal record extract and the birth certificate (less than three months old) required for the permit apostilled before you leave: the apostille is obtained in France, from the regional notary councils. Source
  • Registration with the register of French nationals abroad is done online on service-public.fr; it is free, valid for 5 years, and strongly recommended for stays of more than six months. Source

Addresses

  • Ambassade de France à Maurice (chancellerie et consulat)

    Consulate

    Immeuble The Workplace, 4e étage, La Promenade, Telfair, 80829 Moka

    At Telfair since 19 August 2026, open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm; consular services are by appointment through the website.

    Website +230 490 16 60 Source

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Where to live and how to rent

On an island where everything is done by car, where you live depends first on school: the five French schools are spread between Moka, Curepipe, Tamarin and Mapou in the north. The north remains the main expat hub, the west attracts families for the sea, the centre for proximity to offices.

Good to know

  • Rentals are usually furnished and equipped with appliances. Leases most often run for one year, renewed automatically. Source
  • Expect one to two months' deposit. The agency fee, often shared between landlord and tenant, is around one month's rent plus 15% VAT. Source
  • Do an inventory before signing and take photos from the first viewing. Also check the internet connection: fibre is not available everywhere. Source
  • Air conditioning is not essential but quickly pushes up the electricity bill in summer; heating is only useful on the central plateau, around Curepipe. Source
  • Because of the cyclone season, check that the house can withstand strong gusts (shutters, roof, trees near power lines) and find out where the nearest refuge centre is. Source
  • Foreigners can only buy within specific schemes (IRS, RES, PDS, Smart City, or a flat in a building of at least two floors above ground from MUR 6 million): most families rent first. Source

Addresses

  • Moka

    Neighbourhood

    In the centre of the island, at the foot of the mountains: home to the École du Centre (Collège Pierre Poivre), the Lycée des Mascareignes and the embassy, at Telfair. Convenient for offices in Ebène and Port Louis.

    Source

  • Curepipe

    Neighbourhood

    On the central plateau, cooler and rainier: the Lycée La Bourdonnais takes pupils from nursery to final year. Southern end of the Metro Express line.

    Source

  • Tamarin et Rivière Noire

    Neighbourhood

    On the sunny west coast, facing the sea: the École Paul et Virginie takes nursery and primary pupils.

    Source

  • Flic en Flac

    Neighbourhood

    Seaside resort on the west coast, north of Tamarin, listed among the places where expats live.

    Source

  • Grand Baie, Pereybère et le nord

    Neighbourhood

    The north is the main expat hub; the École du Nord, in Mapou, runs from nursery to collège. Shops and a lively atmosphere, but longer journeys to the centre.

    Source

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Phone and insurance

A mobile line is opened in store with your passport and proof of address: start with the lease, then the first electricity or water bill. On the health side, expat families mostly see private doctors: arrange cover before you arrive.

Good to know

  • Two main mobile operators: my.t (Mauritius Telecom) and Emtel. For a SIM card, go to a shop with your passport and proof of address; my.t also offers eSIM. Fibre broadband requires a landline. Source
  • Mauritius is not among the countries with a bilateral social security agreement with France: to keep French cover, the embassy points to the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE). Source
  • Expat families mostly use private care, where a hospital stay quickly becomes expensive: international health insurance is strongly advised. Source

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Banking and money

You pay in Mauritian rupees (Rs). A local account is opened once you have your residence permit and proof of address; after that, contactless cards and the national MauCAS QR code, which every bank's app can read, cover most purchases.

Good to know

  • To open a rupee current account, banks ask for your passport and visa, your residence permit, proof of address under three months old (a water or electricity bill in your name) and proof of the source of your income. Some require a minimum deposit. The Bank of Mauritius expects an account to be opened within about a week. Source
  • Banks also offer foreign currency accounts (euro, dollar), open to residents and non-residents alike; they can only be funded by bank transfer, and a large deposit may require proof of where the money comes from. Source
  • Until your local account is open, your French card will tide you over: ask your bank before leaving what payments and withdrawals in rupees cost. Cash is declining fast (about a quarter of MCB retail customers' transactions in 2026, against almost half in 2021), but keep a few notes for markets and small shops. Source
  • Day to day, people pay by contactless card or by scanning the MauCAS QR code, the national standard launched by the Bank of Mauritius: it works with any bank's or licensed wallet's app, in shops and between individuals. Source
  • Apple Pay arrived in Mauritius in May 2026, first with MCB Visa and Mastercard cards; check with your local bank for others. Source
  • Mauritius is outside the SEPA area: money sent from France is an international transfer. Compare your bank's fees and exchange rate with those of online transfer services, some of which, such as Wise, send to a rupee account. Source
  • School fees are paid in rupees: at the Lycée des Mascareignes, for example, fees are paid by bank transfer at the start of the year or by monthly standing order. A local account therefore makes the start of term easier. Source
  • Keep your French account, but tell your bank before you leave: it will switch it to non-resident status, and some products, such as the LEP savings account, must be closed. Opening a new one from abroad is much harder. Source
  • Older guides still list HSBC: the bank sold its Mauritius retail banking business to Absa and now only serves companies and international clients there. Source

Addresses

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Getting set up

There is no IKEA in Mauritius: for furniture and appliances, people go to the big local chains such as Courts Mammouth, J. Kalachand or Galaxy, or buy from families who are leaving. For groceries, Intermart, Intermarché's partner, is the easiest place for French products.

Addresses

  • Courts Mammouth

    Furniture and home

    The country's largest non-food retailer: furniture, appliances, IT, with stores across the island and in Rodrigues.

    Website Source

  • J. Kalachand

    Furniture and home

    Pailles

    A large showroom for furniture, appliances and home equipment, with an online shop and delivery.

    Website Source

  • Galaxy

    Appliances

    Appliances, phones and computers, with an online shop and delivery.

    Website Source

  • Intermart

    Supermarket

    Intermarché's partner chain, from neighbourhood shops to hypermarkets: the easiest place to find French products.

    Website Source

  • Super U

    Supermarket

    Grand Baie, Tamarin, Quatre Bornes, Flacq

    Four hypermarkets and supermarkets of the French chain on the island.

    Source

  • Winner's

    Supermarket

    A network of about 25 supermarkets across the island, with delivery and in-store collection of online orders.

    Website Source

  • Jumbo

    Supermarket

    Riche-Terre, Moka, Curepipe, Phoenix, Flic-en-Flac et d'autres

    Hypermarkets and convenience stores, stocking Casino-brand products.

    Source

  • Bagatelle Mall

    Shopping mall

    Bagatelle, Moka

    A large shopping centre in the middle of the island: fashion brands, food outlets and regular events.

    Website Source

  • Phoenix Mall

    Shopping mall

    Phoenix

    A shopping centre on the central plateau, with Koala Happy Island, a play area suitable from walking age.

    Website Source

  • Cascavelle Mall

    Shopping mall

    Rivière Noire Road, Cascavelle

    The west coast shopping centre, near Tamarin and Flic-en-Flac: groceries, home, electronics and food.

    Website Source

  • Expat.com, petites annonces Maison

    Second-hand

    Free listings between expats in Mauritius, to buy furniture and equipment from those leaving; the choice is modest, so also check expat groups.

    Website Source

Getting around with children

A car remains the easiest way to live in Mauritius with children, especially away from the Port Louis to Curepipe corridor. People drive on the left, as in the UK: allow a few days to adjust, especially at roundabouts.

Good to know

  • Traffic drives on the left. A French licence is accepted for tourist stays; French residents must exchange it for a Mauritian licence. Zero tolerance for drink-driving. Source
  • The exchange is requested from the police Traffic Branch at Line Barracks (Port Louis): copy of the licence, certificate of authenticity from the issuing authority, residence permit valid for at least six more months, proof of address, two photos; MUR 1,500 once the application is approved. Source
  • The Metro Express links Port Louis and Curepipe through 20 stations, including Rose Hill. The child MECard (MUR 150 including 50 of credit) is bought by a parent at the Rose Hill Central ticket office; you tap in and tap out. Source
  • On buses you pay cash on board, with small change; urban routes stop around 8pm, rural routes earlier. Source
  • Taxis have no fixed fare: agree on the price before getting in. Source
  • Every vehicle must be insured; in an accident, call the police on 999. Source

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Admin and tax

Once you have settled in, two topics come up: tax residence, which shifts to Mauritius quickly, and keeping your consular file up to date for French paperwork.

Good to know

  • You become a Mauritian tax resident in particular if you spend 183 days or more on the island in the income year; a resident is taxed on Mauritian income and on income remitted to Mauritius. Source
  • Since 1 July 2025, income tax is 0% on the first MUR 500,000, 10% on the next 500,000 and 20% above that. Source
  • A tax return is required as soon as you have a Tax Account Number, tax has been withheld from your salary or your net income exceeds the thresholds set by the MRA. Source
  • A tax treaty between France and Mauritius avoids double taxation; check with an adviser before changing your tax residence. Source
  • Change of address, birth, departure: update your registration online; your file follows automatically if you move to another consulate. Source

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Budget: what changes

Daily life can be affordable if you live locally, but school, private healthcare, the car and imported products add up quickly.

Good to know

  • Market fruit and vegetables remain affordable; imported meat, cheese and alcohol cost more in supermarkets. Source
  • Electricity is the item that varies most, especially in summer with air conditioning; a pool adds to the water bill. Source
  • French schools charge fees for all families: check each school's official fee schedule before choosing where to live. Source
  • Occupation Permit fees range from USD 400 (up to two years) to USD 1,000 (five to ten years), plus a non-refundable USD 50 application fee since 1 December 2025. Source
  • International health insurance is part of the basic budget: with no social security agreement, private care is at your expense. Source

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Mauritius will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France à Maurice : avant de vous expatrier
  2. 2 Ambassade de France à Maurice : inscription au registre
  3. 3 France Diplomatie : entrée et séjour à Maurice
  4. 4 Economic Development Board : Occupation Permit (Professional)
  5. 5 Mauritius Revenue Authority : revenus étrangers et résidence fiscale
  6. 6 Expat.com : trouver un logement à l'île Maurice
  7. 7 Expat.com : ouvrir un compte bancaire à l'île Maurice
  8. 8 Mauritius Times : de Juice à Apple Pay, les paiements sans espèces (2026)

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