Buying property in Mauritius involves more than agreeing a price. Before you commit, confirm that the buyer can acquire that property, verify the title and planning details, arrange funds, review the sale agreement with a notary, and budget for duties and professional costs. The steps and documents vary by property and buyer.

This guide is an orientation, not a conveyancing checklist for every deed. It was reviewed on 22 October 2026 against the Registrar-General’s and Economic Development Board’s public guidance. Ask a Mauritius notary to confirm the law, amounts and documents for your specific purchase.

The buying process

  1. Define the property and buyer route. Record whether the property is land, a house, an apartment, a new development or a resale; whether the buyer is a citizen or non-citizen; and whether a scheme or first-time-buyer relief may apply. Non-citizen readers can start with our foreign property buyer guide.
  2. Check acquisition eligibility before paying a non-refundable amount. Non-citizens are subject to the Non-Citizens (Property Restriction) Act. The EDB describes approved routes and application requirements for property categories including EDB schemes and certain G+2 apartments. Do not rely on an agent’s description alone; verify the specific project and unit with the EDB and notary.
  3. Agree financing and source of funds. Speak with the lender early and obtain written terms, including deposit, fees, conditions, currency and timing. Scheme purchases may have specific funds-transfer rules. Do not assume a loan offer or foreign-currency transfer is automatically acceptable for the chosen route.
  4. Ask a notary to examine the transaction. The notary should review the title and deed records, identity and capacity of the parties, the sale agreement, applicable approvals and the duties payable. The buyer can request an itemised estimate before signing.
  5. Complete property and planning due diligence. Confirm the parcel and boundaries against survey documents; check ownership and registered interests; verify planning permission, permits and approved use with the relevant authorities; and review co-ownership, syndic, lease, access, service and maintenance documents where relevant.
  6. Review and sign the agreement. Have the notary explain deposits, conditions precedent, completion dates, remedies, payment schedule, what is included and what happens if financing or approval is refused. Off-plan purchases need a careful review of the development documents and milestones.
  7. Pay the amount due through the documented process. Follow the notary’s written instructions for the deposit, balance, registration duty and other charges. Keep bank transfer records and receipts.
  8. Register the deed and complete handover. The notary arranges registration and transcription as applicable. Obtain proof of registration, keys, meter readings, warranties, plans, access credentials and service-account details.

Documents to prepare

The exact file depends on the transaction. Ask the notary for a tailored list. Buyers are commonly asked for identity documents, address evidence, civil-status information, tax or company details where relevant, financing evidence and source-of-funds documents. A company purchaser may also need constitutional documents, board authority and beneficial-ownership information. Foreign buyers may need additional identity, translation, certification, visa or permit documents and route-specific EDB application material.

For the property, request the title deed or relevant title information, cadastral or survey plan, seller identity and authority, planning/building permissions, occupancy or completion information where relevant, utility and syndic records, lease and rental documents, and evidence of any approvals required for the buyer. This list is not exhaustive and does not replace a notary’s title search.

Financing and deposit

If borrowing, ask the lender how it assesses income, existing liabilities, deposit, currency exposure, property type and valuation. Compare the loan’s effective costs and conditions, not only the advertised interest rate. A lender’s valuation and approval are separate from legal title checks and any EDB or other acquisition approval.

Before transferring a deposit, confirm who holds it, the conditions for release or refund, the receiving account and the written agreement governing it. For non-citizen scheme purchases, ask the notary and EDB to confirm current source-of-funds and currency requirements for the particular scheme.

Duties and transaction costs

The Registrar-General’s FAQ states that, generally, the buyer pays 5% registration duty on the transaction value and the seller pays 5% land transfer tax on the same value. The FAQ also explains that declared values can be checked against valuation information. Particular buyer status, property location, scheme, relief and special statutory provisions may change the treatment, so have the notary calculate the applicable amount for the deed.

Notarial fees and searches are not estimated here because KickOff does not have a verified universal fee schedule for every transaction. Request a written itemised quote, and ask what is excluded. The property purchase cost calculator applies the published general duty as an estimate and lets you add confirmed quotes. It does not decide eligibility, calculate special cases or replace the notary’s estimate.

For the first-time-buyer measures and property-specific tax changes, see the Mauritius first-time buyer and property duties guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Paying a deposit before checking that the buyer can legally acquire the specific property.
  • Treating a marketing label such as “foreigner friendly” as proof of statutory eligibility or EDB approval.
  • Assuming that a company with a Mauritius registration number can acquire property without the applicable non-citizen approval.
  • Relying on the seller’s or agent’s title copy without asking the notary to verify the record and interests affecting it.
  • Budgeting only for the advertised price and overlooking duties, professional fees, lender charges, currency movement, repairs and ongoing costs.
  • Signing an agreement without understanding deposit release, approvals, financing conditions, completion dates or remedies.
  • Treating a lender valuation, building inspection or planning document as a substitute for legal title review.

A simple pre-signing checklist

  • Confirm buyer eligibility and any EDB or other approval route.
  • Obtain a notary’s written itemised cost estimate.
  • Confirm financing, deposit conditions and source-of-funds requirements.
  • Ask the notary to verify title, ownership, registered interests and the parties’ authority.
  • Check survey boundaries, planning permissions, permitted use and access.
  • Review leases, co-ownership rules, syndic accounts and service charges where applicable.
  • Read the sale agreement and every annex before signing.
  • Keep receipts, approvals and proof of deed registration.

Use the property buyer checklist to keep track of preparation. If you are comparing an investment, the rental yield calculator models your own rent and cost assumptions; it does not forecast market returns.

Frequently asked questions

How much is registration duty when buying property in Mauritius?

The Registrar-General’s FAQ lists a general rate of 5% of the transaction value payable by the buyer. The actual amount can depend on the transaction and applicable relief or special provisions. Ask the notary to calculate the duty for the deed before signing.

Does the buyer or seller pay the notary?

The allocation and amount of professional and transaction charges should be confirmed in the sale agreement and the notary’s written estimate. Do not assume that a single generic percentage covers every purchase.

Can a foreigner buy any property in Mauritius?

No. Non-citizens are subject to statutory restrictions and route-specific approval requirements. The EDB publishes information on eligible schemes and applications. Confirm the exact property, buyer structure and required approval with the EDB and a notary.

How long does a property purchase take?

There is no single reliable timeline for all transactions. Financing, title issues, planning checks, off-plan milestones, approvals and document readiness can affect completion. Ask the notary and lender for a schedule tied to the specific agreement.

Official sources

Last substantive review: 22 October 2026. This general guide is not legal, tax, lending or investment advice. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority, lender and Mauritius notary.