Yes, non-citizens can buy some property in Mauritius, but there is no general permission to purchase any property they choose. The buyer, property type, development approval and transaction route matter. Confirm the specific unit and required authorisation with the Economic Development Board (EDB) and a Mauritius notary before signing or paying a deposit.

This guide is a starting point for readers in Mauritius, the UK, France and South Africa. It does not establish individual eligibility or give home-country tax advice. Official sources were reviewed on 22 October 2026.

Property routes described by the EDB

The EDB publishes information for non-citizen acquisitions under approved programmes and routes, including:

Route What to check before proceeding
Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) and Real Estate Scheme (RES) Verify that the project has the relevant approval and that the particular resale or transfer is permitted under the current rules.
Property Development Scheme (PDS) Verify the project approval, unit documentation and the conditions applying to that sale.
Smart City Scheme and Invest Hotel Scheme Confirm the exact approved development and purchase structure with the EDB and notary.
Apartment in a G+2 building The EDB says a non-citizen may acquire an apartment in a condominium development of at least two levels above ground, with prior EDB approval and a purchase price of at least MUR 6 million (or equivalent in hard convertible currency).
Other property or business-purpose acquisition Do not assume the residential schemes cover it. The EDB’s Property Acquisition Management System (PAMS) includes applications for certain business-purpose acquisitions; ask the EDB which approval route applies.

This is not an exhaustive or automatic eligibility list. The EDB information and the Non-Citizens (Property Restriction) Act must be read for the actual property and buyer structure. A seller’s marketing material, a company registration or the buyer’s residence in the UK, France or South Africa does not by itself establish approval.

Is buying a property the same as getting residence?

No. A property transaction and an immigration application are separate. EDB information references a USD 375,000 threshold for residence permits connected with specified property routes. The exact threshold wording and other conditions should be checked for the scheme and current application; eligibility can also depend on continued ownership. Do not treat a property price alone as a guarantee of a permit, work rights, tax residence or citizenship.

Ask the EDB and the immigration authority to confirm the current route, amount, dependants, duration, work rights and what happens if the property is sold. Obtain immigration advice for your own case.

Payment and purchase costs

The EDB announced that, for acquisitions under specified property schemes after transferring funds from abroad in hard convertible currency, 85% of the purchase price is paid to the promoter in Mauritian rupees and the remaining 15% may be paid in Mauritian rupees or hard convertible foreign currency. The EDB describes a separate local loan arrangement for qualifying prices above USD 750,000. These are route-specific rules: have your notary and the EDB verify that they apply to the exact property and contract before arranging a transfer.

The Registrar-General’s FAQ describes the general buyer registration duty as 5% of transaction value, but particular schemes, buyer status, land tenure and special provisions may affect the costs. Use our property purchase cost calculator only for its standard case and ask a notary to calculate your transaction. It does not calculate special-route duties, foreign currency conversion, notary fees or seller taxes.

A practical due diligence sequence

  1. Identify the buyer and ownership structure. Decide whether the purchaser is an individual or entity and disclose the real ownership structure to the notary and relevant authority as required.
  2. Identify the exact route. Get the scheme name, approval or certificate details, unit number, title information and seller’s legal identity. Ask EDB to confirm the property can be transferred to your buyer category.
  3. Ask a notary to check the title and approvals. Request a written review of the seller’s authority, title, charges, agreement, route-specific approvals and duties.
  4. Confirm residence separately. If residence is part of your decision, check the current Immigration Act requirements and the continuing conditions attached to the selected property route.
  5. Obtain written financing and payment instructions. Confirm deposit terms, source-of-funds evidence, currency conversion and any route-specific 85/15 payment requirement before sending money.
  6. Review tax outside Mauritius. A Mauritius property purchase may have tax and reporting consequences in the buyer’s country of residence. Ask a qualified adviser in that country; no UK, French or South African tax treatment is determined here.
  7. Sign only after conditions are clear. Ensure the written agreement covers approvals, finance, deposit release, completion, remedies, fees and the consequences if an approval is refused.

What UK, French and South African readers should know

The Mauritius property route is determined by Mauritian law, buyer status and the specific property. The available KickOff GSC export does not provide country-filtered query/page evidence showing separate legal search intents for the UK, France and South Africa, and the EDB materials reviewed do not establish a different purchase scheme solely by those nationalities. We therefore provide one source-led international guide instead of three near-identical country pages.

Readers should separately check home-country tax residence, foreign-property reporting, financing and exchange controls with a local professional. Those rules differ by residence and personal circumstances and are outside this Mauritius acquisition guide.

Questions to ask before paying a deposit

  • What exact law and EDB route permits this buyer to acquire this specific property?
  • Is written approval required before the agreement or transfer, and who obtains it?
  • What conditions apply to the unit, the purchaser’s ownership structure and funds transfer?
  • Does a residence permit route apply, and what must remain true after purchase?
  • What are the registration duty, land transfer tax, notary, EDB and lender costs for this deed?
  • What happens to the deposit if approval, financing or title checks do not proceed?

For a practical purchase sequence, see our Buying Property in Mauritius guide. For transfer-duty measures, see the first-time buyer and property duties guide. Use the buyer checklist to record due diligence items.

Official sources

Last substantive review: 22 October 2026. Property, immigration, tax and currency rules change. This guide is general information, not legal, immigration, tax, lending or investment advice.