Immigration and Global Mobility Support in Mauritius via EOR

Mauritius is a key location for companies expanding into Africa and Asia, but employing expatriates here requires careful handling. If your company does not have a registered entity in Mauritius, but needs to hire expatriate staff, you cannot employ them directly.

Work and residence permits are employer-sponsored, employment contracts must be vetted by the Ministry of Labour, and payroll must follow local tax and contribution rules. Without a compliant local structure, your new hire cannot legally start work.

Acumen International, through our global employment solutions, provides the required framework. Acting as the Employer of Record, we sponsor work permits, issue compliant contracts, and manage payroll locally, allowing you to deploy staff in Mauritius quickly, securely, and without setting up an entity.

Work and Residence Permits in Mauritius

Expatriates need both a work permit from the Ministry of Labour and a residence permit from the Passport and Immigration Office. These permits are employer-specific and must be secured before an employee can begin work.

A central requirement is salary. Most expatriates must earn a minimum of MUR 60,000 per month, although certain sectors such as ICT and BPO may qualify at lower thresholds. Employment contracts are vetted by the Ministry, and applicants must obtain medical clearance from the Ministry of Health.

Processing normally takes four to eight weeks, but any missing or inconsistent documentation can extend timelines significantly. For employers, this means that careful preparation is as important as the application itself.

The Application Process

Applying for a work permit in Mauritius involves a defined sequence:

1. Application forms are collected from the Employment Division.
2. Completed forms are submitted with all supporting documentation and the processing fee.
3. The Ministry reviews the file and may request clarifications or additional documents, often linked to health clearance.
4. Once approved, the employer pays the work permit fee and provides the required bank guarantee or security deposit.
5. A residence permit is issued in parallel, allowing the expatriate to begin work.

Each step must be completed in full. A single omission, such as an uncertified qualification or a missing health certificate, can delay approval or lead to rejection.

Documentation Requirements

Employers must prepare and submit a detailed set of documents, including:

• Certified copies of academic and professional qualifications.
• A detailed job description and an employment contract vetted by the Ministry.
• Passport copies and four recent photographs.
• Certificate of incorporation and company data sheet.
• Proof that the salary meets statutory thresholds.
• Medical clearance from the Ministry of Health.
• Processing fee of MUR 500 per application.

This documentation must align precisely with the submitted contract and job profile. Employers who attempt to fast-track the process often face setbacks when authorities identify inconsistencies.

Payroll and Employer Obligations

Once permits are secured, expatriates are subject to the same statutory framework as Mauritian employees. Employers must register with the Mauritius Revenue Authority and make the required deductions:

• PAYE income tax withholding.
• National Pension Fund and National Savings Fund contributions.
• HRDC training levy.
• National Solidarity Fund contributions.

Compliance with these rules is essential. Errors or omissions not only expose employers to fines but may also undermine their standing with the Ministry when applying for future permits.

How Acumen International Supports Employers in Mauritius

Acumen International acts as the formal Employer of Record in Mauritius. We sponsor and secure work and residence permits, prepare compliant contracts, and administer payroll in line with local law. Our immigration and mobility specialists coordinate directly with authorities, ensuring files are complete and applications progress without avoidable delays.

By using Acumen, employers can deploy staff in Mauritius without setting up a local entity, while retaining full compliance and reducing risk.

Using the Global Payroll Calculator for Mauritius

When planning expatriate assignments in Mauritius, employers need precise visibility into the true cost of hire. Meeting the work permit salary threshold is only one element — payroll must also cover statutory deductions such as PAYE income tax, pension and savings fund contributions, training levies, and social security.

Acumen’s Global Payroll Calculator (GPC) allows employers to:

• Model gross-to-net and net-to-gross packages, ensuring expatriates meet both local thresholds and agreed net pay.
• Factor in employer liabilities such as pension and social security contributions.
• Compare costs in Mauritius with those in other regional hubs before committing to relocation.
• Base decisions on continuously updated legal and tax data, reducing the risk of budgeting on outdated assumptions.

For companies without a Mauritian entity, the GPC provides the financial clarity needed to structure compliant packages while maintaining cost control across multiple jurisdictions.

Why Employers Rely on Acumen in Mauritius

Many of the companies that approach Acumen already understand the strategic importance of Mauritius but have reached a point where their own structures cannot support expatriate hiring.

One common case is where contractors already working in Mauritius need to be converted into employees. Independent contracting arrangements cannot be used to sponsor work or residence permits, and the risk of misclassification grows as assignments are extended. Acumen takes over as the legal employer, securing the permits and transferring individuals into compliant employment without disrupting their role.

Another frequent situation arises when businesses need staff on the ground before their Mauritian entity is operational. Work permits cannot be issued without an employer of record, and project timelines can slip if there is no mechanism for sponsorship. Acumen bridges that gap by sponsoring permits, issuing contracts, and registering payroll so expatriates can begin work while the parent company continues its market entry process.

We also see employers who have attempted to manage applications directly, or through providers without local capacity, and faced repeated rejections or stalled approvals. Mauritius requires contracts to be vetted, salaries to meet thresholds, and health clearances to be filed correctly. Acumen’s in-country expertise ensures that applications are complete and credible, reducing delays and protecting the employer’s reputation with the authorities.

Finally, companies often turn to us for senior relocations, where an executive or specialist must be deployed into Mauritius without administrative risk. These assignments demand more than just a permit: contracts must reflect both Mauritian law and the individual’s global compensation package. Acumen manages the entire structure, from immigration sponsorship to payroll alignment, so critical staff can integrate securely and without distraction.

In each of these cases, Acumen provides not just immigration processing, but a complete framework for compliant expatriate employment in Mauritius.

In Mauritius, immigration and employment compliance cannot be separated. Work permits are tied to employer sponsorship, payroll registration is mandatory, and contracts must meet strict approval standards. For companies without a local entity, these requirements create a barrier that cannot be managed from abroad. Acumen International provides the recognised framework to overcome this barrier, sponsoring permits, administering payroll, and ensuring every hire is compliant from day one. This allows employers to deploy expatriate staff in Mauritius securely, without the delays, risks, or liabilities that come with piecemeal solutions.