Retiring in Mauritius: Pros & Cons

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As you approach retirement age, there are different factors to consider, including a suitable retirement destination. Fortunately, you can consider Mauritius for your retirement. Why? Because you’ll be able to enjoy an affordable and relaxed lifestyle in Mauritius.

What Makes Mauritius the Perfect Destination for Retirement? 

Do you want to retire abroad and look for a nation that can offer a great quality of life? Mauritius should be among the countries you consider since the nation has numerous investment opportunities and leisure activities. The citizens, expat community, and other non-citizen residents are also supportive. You’ll also enjoy the nation’s beautiful setting, healthy lifestyle, and lively culture.

The Pros of Retiring in Mauritius – A Tropical Paradise Like No Other

The benefits you’ll get to experience when you retire in Mauritius include the following:

The Tax System in Mauritius is Favorable

The Mauritian government has made an effort to attract foreign investment by ensuring the business environment in the nation is favorable. How? For starters, the government eliminated and reduced certain taxes to encourage foreigners to settle in the country. For instance, Dividends are free from tax in Mauritius. Other tax benefits of retiring in Mauritius include the absence of inheritance tax and taxation on wealth.

As a result, the residents have gained significantly from the lower tax rates because of the low cost of living in Mauritius. The standard of living in Mauritius is also admirable, which is why you should consider pursuing a legal residency in Mauritius.

Investment Opportunities

You can invest in different industries as a foreigner in Mauritius; one is real estate. The government has implemented different real estate schemes to attract foreign investors. It will make your retirement life enjoyable and fulfilling, being able to continue making money in your old age. Some of these investment schemes may also grant you a permanent residence permit for you and your family. One of the well-known investment schemes is the Ground +2 investment scheme. Others include the RES, IRS, HIS and PDS.

The good thing is that it is easy to purchase as long you have the money. You may also consider working with a reliable agency to help you around.

A Good Healthcare System

The infrastructure in the Mauritian healthcare sector has been modernized. Also, there are numerous experienced expatriate and local medical professionals. Since Mauritius is close to Reunion Island, evacuation is easy for those in need of critical health care. The Reunion Island also offers quality healthcare at a similar level to France.

Exposure to a Cultural Kaleidoscope

The cultural mix in Mauritius is diverse. Since it is multi-ethnic, it brings different traditions and exotic cultures together, thus attracting many foreigners. As a retiree, you’ll also get to enjoy the diverse and local festivals celebrated in Mauritius. As food lovers, you will get a chance to taste different cuisines, including the famous Mauritian national dish — dholl puri.

Exploring the Options for Retiring in Mauritius 

If you want to retire in Mauritius, you should apply for a retirement visa. Mauritius usually offers the residence permit as a retired non-citizen program for foreigners interested in making Mauritius their second home. 

Who is eligible for the residence permit as a retired non-citizens?

If you want to retire in Mauritius, you must fulfill the following conditions:

What are the Advantages of the Mauritian Retirement Visa

The benefits that accrue from having a Mauritius retirement visa include the following:

Documents Needed for the Mauritian Retirement Visa

When applying for the Mauritius retirement visa, you’ll need the following:

Cost of Living and Finances in Mauritius – Will Your Money Last? 

Before determining how much you’ll need to live comfortably in Mauritius as a Retiree, let’s first look into the cost of different products and services. 

Think about transportation.

In Mauritius, the cheapest option, if you want to get around, is using public transport. The average cost of one trip is €0.75. However, the only issue is that public transport isn’t available in every part of the nation.

On the other hand, if you prefer going around in a taxi, each trip may cost you at least €2.5 per kilometer. Remember that such a solution isn’t always the best, especially for long distances.

If you prefer owning a car, you need to adapt to the left-hand driving when you take the wheel. Also, you can rent a car from accredited providers. The smallest units will cost you at least €20. When purchasing a car, you’ll be surprised the prices are higher than Europe.

A new car will cost at least €20,000. A second-hand car may cost at least €5,000. Fuel prices have also been rising, similar to other parts of the globe, so you should account for such expenses when purchasing a car.

Daily Expenses

How Much Will You Pay for Daily Expenses?

As an ex-pat in Mauritius, you’ll be happy to hear that the lifestyle in this nation is good and might be better that that in Western world in terms of health, leisure, and schooling, among others. Mauritius has drawn the best of everything from different continents to shape the nation’s lifestyle and the quality of services to ensure they meet the needs of all residents.

For instance, some private schools work closely with English and French institutions from different parts of the nation. These schools come with excellent standards; however, they’re costly. The registration fee varies from €600 to €1,000. There is also an additional fee of €300 to €400 for every child. If you want to hire domestic staff, the charges vary from €1.5 to €5 per hour.

The cost of different items in Mauritius is as follows:

Groceries are cheap: cleaning products, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, soft drinks, and snacks. For instance, a basket of groceries that costs at least USD 500 in New York will cost at least USD 270 in Mauritius.

Clothing- A basket consisting of footwear and clothing that may cost USD 1,000 in New York will cost at least USD 770 in Mauritius.

The Amount You’ll Need to Comfortably Retire in Mauritius

To comfortably retire in Mauritius, you’ll need at least USD 550 monthly, apart from the rent payment. Considering the cost of living is a bit low, your money will last in Mauritius long enough.

Healthcare & Medical Services – Is the Quality and Accessibility Adequate?

There are five regional hospitals in Mauritius and two district hospitals. Some of these hospitals specialize in different fields. In public hospitals, healthcare services are free of charge. In private clinics, healthcare services are costly. Since most of the private clinics in Mauritius have advanced facilities, medical tourism has become common in Mauritius. 

For the residents of Mauritius, the government funds healthcare services in the public centers. For expats, you need to cater to your medical costs, so having proper medical insurance is necessary. The good thing is that medical insurance is quite affordable based on the policy one chooses, and one won’t have to worry about medical expenses.

Public Healthcare in Mauritius

Several hospitals and dispensaries in Mauritius’s urban and rural areas offer public healthcare services. The services offered in these facilities are free of charge and available to all Mauritius residents. There are also healthcare centers located throughout the nation. 

Although public hospitals usually offer economical services, they lack medication, state-of-the-art equipment, and infrastructure. 

Private Healthcare in Mauritius

There are 40 private hospitals and more than 8,000 experts in Mauritius. We have also mentioned that private clinics have sophisticated equipment. Most of them provide quality healthcare services due availability of equipment and qualified professionals.

The private sector hospitals are quite different from public hospitals. While they offer quality treatment, they’re quite expensive. The high cost of treatment is the main reason you need to consider purchasing a comprehensive health insurance plan. The insurance plan should cover all your medical expenses.

The Cons of Mauritius: What to Know Before Retire

While there a lot of reasons to retire in Mauritius, there are also some drawbacks you need to consider. Luckily, most of them, are things you can easily find a solution to go around them.

Before retiring to Mauritius, here’s what you should know:

What Are the Best Places to Live?

Mauritius’s retirement paradise has many adaptable areas, and they can guarantee an enjoyable moment for retirees. Whether you prefer a quiet or vibrant lifestyle, there’s something for you. Some of the best places to live in Mauritius include:

Grand Bay

Grand Bay will fascinate you because of the turquoise lagoons and beautiful beaches. You’ll also enjoy the calm sea and the sun as you swim and sunbathe. You’ll also have a pleasant experience as you swim with the wild dolphins. 

Moka

Moka is among the most attractive villages in Mauritius, which is why it is among the preferred retirement destinations by expats. Moka usually captures your imagination using mesmerizing forests and beaches. You’ll also find many appealing residential homes, and you can settle there. There are also shopping centers that retirees can explore. Moka offers a peaceful, beautiful, and welcoming environment that foreign retirees will find amusing.

Quatre Bornes

Quatre Bornes is the city of flowers and a dynamic town as many call it. This city is an excellent family place, and numerous educational buildings are perfect for children. Another reason you should consider relocating to Quatre Bornes is that the market has everything you want or need, so there is no need to get out of town.

Curepipe

Curepipe is in the Plain Wilhems district, characterized by the appealing mountains that ensure this city has a mesmerizing view. Since Curepipe is an industrial area, it hosts different textile factories. There is also a diamond processing industry and numerous jewelry businesses. There are also numerous beautiful creations around Curepipe. The city also serves as a major tourist attraction, which means you can interact with people from around the globe.

How to retire in Mauritius?

You have these two options that Mauritius promotes:

1. Through Property Development Scheme (PDS)
2. Or Retired Non-Citizen +50 years

These are two offers that the state is offering right now, but there are several more possibilities that might be exciting for you.

1. Like Residency Through Investing in Real Estate
2. The Smart City Scheme
3. Residence Permit in Mauritius
4. Investing in the Hotel Scheme
5. Ground Plus Two Apartments
6. Relatives’ Permit
   

What is the Smart City Scheme Residence Permit in Mauritius?

The Smart City Scheme Residence Permit in Mauritius allows noncitizen retirees to apply for residency through the purchase of property. They can opt for one of several property schemes or filing for a residence permit as a retiree by paying more than USD 375,000 for a single residence.

What are the benefits of retiring in Mauritius?

Retiring in Mauritius offers security and safety, fair taxation compared to other nations, easy connectivity, excellent medical centers, a variety of outdoor activities and historical landmarks.

What are the requirements to obtain a Retired Noncitizen Residence Permit in Mauritius?

The requirements to obtain a Retired Noncitizen Residence Permit in Mauritius include being over the age of 50, providing a 6-month-old Certificate of Morality or Criminal Record Check, having a local bank account with an initial deposit of $1500, and wiring $1,500 per month or $18,000 per year to the local bank account.