WHY MAURITIUS HAS BECOME AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR RELOCATION

• Mauritius is the most popular destination in the Indian Ocean, with its favourable tropical climate all year round and fine sandy beaches. With political and economic stability, a secure legal framework, attractive taxation and a solid banking system, Mauritius enjoys an excellent international image.
• According to the World Happiness Report published by the United Nations, Mauritius is the happiest country on the African continent. It topped the list in the 2019 report and maintains its first place in 2020.
• By choosing Mauritius for your property investment, you also benefit from an attractive tax system.
• On the island, no taxes are paid on dividends and capital gains either. In the event of resale of a property for example, this is a real advantage!

SOME STATISTICS

Total surface area: 2,040 km2

Population: 1.3 million

Languages: French, English & Creole

Climate: Tropical

Employment rate: 93%

GDP growth rate: 3.8%

GDP per capita (PPP-based): $ 23,600

Currency: Mauritian rupees

Extensive flight connectivity: Served by more than 20 major airlines

TOP SIX FISCAL ADVANTAGES OF INVESTING IN MAURITIUS

1. 15% income tax on your rental income.

2. No property tax or housing tax.

3. No tax on dividends and capital gains.

4. No inheritance tax.

5. Double taxation agreement signed with more than 40 countries (such as France, South Africa, and Luxembourg among others)

6. Low bond interest rates

TOP 10 REASONS TO LIVE IN MAURITIUS

1. Political and social stability.

2. Regional platform for banking and financial services

3. Hybrid legal system (substantive law is generally based on the French codes while procedural laws are based on English law)

4. Mauritian permanent residency with minimum investment of USD375,000.

5. Regulated real estate investment and financial guarantees of completion

6. International schools and universities

7. Top-quality medical care

8. Safe, secure lifestyle

9. Good rental returns and capital growth

10. Tropical climate all year round

Ideal climate and amazing landscapes

The climate in Mauritius is largely tropical, though the humid hot conditions are moderated by the south east trade winds that blow across the region. The island lies within the south tropical belt and because of its proximity to large masses of water (obviously, as it is an island) the tropical climate verges on maritime and temperatures see relatively small seasonal and diurnal variations. The topography of Mauritius is varied so you will see significant region variations as you move up and down elevations and move in and away from the coast.

EDUCATION IN MAURITIUS

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources supervises and monitors all action related to the support to be provided to education. The Mauritius Qualification Authority is the regulator of the technical and vocational education and training sector. The Tertiary education is maintain by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology. The Tertiary Education Commission has the responsibility for allocating public funds, and fostering, planning and coordinating the development of post-secondary education and training, its strategic plan envisages Mauritius as a regional knowledge hub and a centre for higher learning and excellence. It promotes open and distance learning to increase access to post-secondary education and lifelong learning, both locally and regionally.

The education system in Mauritius is largely based on the British system since Mauritius was a former British colony. It consists of a 2+6+5+2 system of formal education. The education system in Mauritius is categorized into 4 main sectors – pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary. There is additionally a provision for pre-vocational and vocational education and training for school leavers and students outside of the academic stream.

Pre-primary schools accept students from the age of three. Children from the age of five to eleven go to primary school. They are admitted in Grade 1 and gradually moves on to Grade 6. Primary education ends with a national examination which is the Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC). Students passing PSAC gains admittance to secondary schools, those with excellent results are admitted in National secondary schools. Secondary education is normally a 7-year study, starting from Grade 7 to Grade 11 The National Assessment At Grade 9 is carried out in the third year of Secondary education. Varied subjects are taught and as from Form IV, students are streamlined according to the subjects they choose. At the end of the 5th year of study at secondary level, students sit for the Cambridge School Certificate (SC) examination. Passing the SC exam, allows them to continue another 2-year study ending with the Higher School Certificate (HSC) exam.

The teaching of English and French are compulsory in all schools. Students also have the option to learn any ancestral languages which are spoken in Mauritius, which include Arabic, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Mandarin, Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Other languages include Italian and Spanish, in 2012 the government also introduced Mauritian Creole in primary schools. The medium of instruction varies from school.

The school year consists of thirty nine weeks, divided into 3 terms of thirteen weeks.^[6] For Secondary schools 1st Term is from 12 January to 6 April, 2nd Term from 23 April to 20 July and 3rd Term from 13 August to 1 November. For Primary schools the 1st Term is from 12 January to 6 April, 2nd Term from 23 April to 20 July and 3rd Term from 20 August to 9 November.

THE HEALTH SYSTEM IN MAURITIUS

Access to quality healthcare and medical facilities is a key factor when looking to move abroad. Mauritius has a public healthcare system governed by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, although there are many private health institutions as well, offering competent medical facilities and treatments.

Public and private healthcare

There are 5 five regional hospitals and two district hospitals (Souillac Hospital and Mahebourg Hospital) in Mauritius. There are also a few hospitals specializing in specific fields, such as the otorhinolaryngological hospital in Vacoas (ENT), the Brown Sequard psychiatric clinic in Beau-Bassin, the Subramaniam Bharati eye hospital in Moka, and the Poudre d’Or hospital with a focus on the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

The public hospitals offer free healthcare, while private clinics and practices can get quite expensive, but are easily accessible throughout the island. Most private clinics are modern and obtain their equipment through private investments. Consequently, there’s been a boost in the medical tourism industry in Mauritius.

The local authorities in Mauritius are thinking about ways to relieve foreign patients from the red-tape procedures regarding medical visas. Health insurance is recommended as private healthcare can be costly. Most health conditions can be treated in Mauritius, but some require patients to travel abroad to get treated. The most common places to go for treatment include Reunion Island, India, and South Africa. It is strongly recommended that expats have the appropriate health insurance coverage for Mauritius in order to receive proper care.

Health insurance

British Nationals moving to Mauritius for a short period of time can choose to stay with their existing healthcare insurance in the UK due to the Bilateral Social Security Agreement between Mauritius and the UK. This option, however, may affect their healthcare benefits, so it is important to understand all the terms and conditions before moving to Mauritius. As a British Citizen, you will be required to show a Statement of the National Insurance you have paid in the UK in order to be able to make a claim.

Private health insurance in Mauritius

To benefit from optimised health coverage, foreign nationals are advised to subscribe for private international health insurance before moving to Mauritius.