Capetonians investigating a move to Mauritius

Hi Claire,

Welcome to Expat.Com 

Indeed lots of South African in Tamarin, but the North is also very popular amongst expats.

Have you had a look at the Living in Mauritius guide yet ? You will find several articles on the different aspects of expatriation.

Also, please go through the https://www.edbmauritius.org/ website to know about requirements for residency through property investment schemes.

All the best,
Bhavna

***

Hi Claire. Pop me a message and I'll reply with my whatsapp number. We can have a chat about your question. Cheers

Hi Claire

I am from Cape Town and we moved here in August and have bought in a PDS in Tamarin.  I have a 9-year old and a 15-year old.  Happy to chat further
Regards Viv

I am not a Saffer. Our stock is  Kenya British. Our crime rate is high in Kenya but a fraction of the appalling rate in SA. I have just visited MU after long research into it as a possible move for our family with a 4 and 2 year old. I extensively visited property developments, schools and residential areas and I did not avoid Mauritian locales and the ordinary people.

*I saw excellent schools running at  between US$3k to US$6K per term. MIddlesex University MU was spanking new and an astonishing U$5k per annum for a Bsc degree!

* The North of the island around Grand Baie is where all the swank is. but the schools are few and need getting to..Northfields is excellent.

* From Flic en Flac onwards down South West, including Tamrin and Black river was fine and where as a white African, I would want to be.  Nice smaller feeling, excellent schools very nearby and more of them  building, lots of  African exiles and tons of outdoor stuff to do....

" As for crime, they don't even have a form for handgun applications in MU, so utterly rare they are even the police are unarmed. However you can sports shoot with rifles and shotguns if you join a club. That says a lot. Violent crime is very rare compared to anywhere I know in Africa.

*  You won't get Cape Town in MU, a wonderful city I an always keen to see. But you won't get murdered, abused or discriminated against. Just have $500K to invest in a property for rent orliving and you will get permanent tax residency for yourself and family for long..perpetual for yourself and wife(husband)..up to age 24 for children. MU is a small place, but if you are outdoor minded and active minded, you'll be here for years and not see it all or do everything there is to do.

*Yes, we are thinking of moving...........

Correction to my post above...schools would be from $1.5K to S3K per term per student, there is even boarding if required.

Hi Claire,
Black River is where most of the South Africans stay and you can find a good size house for a relatively good price.

Hi Claire,

I am from Paarl and currently in Mauritius. I am going back to Paarl on the 18 February and are moving permanently the 1 May 2020. I am working in the South African Property market in Mauritius and can assist you with all of that info. I had my own estate agency in Paarl but my dream was to live in Mauritius. You can google Meglio Properties and will get my information there. Pop me a WhatsApp and I will contact you next week for a coffee to assist you with a lot of information and process that I am currently have to do to be able to move to Mauritius. Melanie Van Der Westhuizen

Hello Claire

Good day  Welcome to Mauritius

I'm also from Cape Town, ***

Kind regards

Japy

Hi Melanie

I'd like to have a chat. pls pop me a PM with your details. Thanks

Hi Can you please help or advice my Name is Talia 1304 I am wanting to Move to Maurtius as soon as October/November,I am living in Cape town Where do I start can you perhaps guide me along as where to get Documentation,Finding of Rental until we have found a house we would like to buy .I have so many questions to ask .like is it cheap to take my car with ,a good Removable company , Medical Aid .Thanking you
Regards Talia

Welcome Talia (mede-Kapenaar hier)

Firstly I would recommend downloading and reading the latest Mauritius Expat guide - it is chock full of information and touches on many of the topics you mention
https://www.expat.com/en/guide/africa/mauritius/

To get a good idea of the thousands of rental properties currently available - go to this website - you can just type in North or West in the City or Region search block, or something more specific like Pereybere, Grand Baie, Tamarin or Black River
https://www.lexpressproperty.com/en/rent-mauritius/

As for vehicles - they are very expensive in Mauritius because of the 100% import duty imposed in most cases, whether it is your own personal vehicle that you wish to import (add to this shipping costs, inspection fees and agent commissions) or a dealer importing a brand new or second hand vehicle to resell.
The website below gives an idea of new and used vehicle prices in Mauritius:
https://www.lexpresscars.mu/search-vehicles

many of the other questions you have, have also been discussed here on the Expat forum (if some of the answers are a little dated then ask for the latest info within that specific forum thread).
Browse the threads, topics and current discussions by scrolling further down on this page:
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=108

Thanking you so very much for your Speedy Reply I will definitely look into the Maurtius guide Booklet
Regards Talia

Talia there is a restriction on motor vehicle importation. Motorcycles  are basically banned from import and IMO cars must be less than 1 year old. And there are restrictions on the emissions standards of any car imported.

You have best contact the Mauritian Revenue people, they are good at replying.

Hi Talia

You can contact me on XXX

I'll be happy to help or point you in the right direction.

Hi

Did you move to the island?  If so are you still in the property market on the island?  We are busy with all our homework to hopefully move the family this December - west coast with Westcoast high school in mind.  Please let me know if you are still able to work on real estate - rentals.

Thank you

Natasha

Thanking you ever so much for the good advice.

Thankyou you are very kind .

Hi Talia, HUD, welcome on board to Mauritius... I'm from JHB and can babysit ur kids..... once u move to this beautiful island. The culture is different but welcoming... U n ur family will enjoy. Tc
Sorokio

Hi Talia, HUD, welcome on board to Mauritius... I'm from JHB and can babysit ur kids..... once u move to this beautiful island. The culture is different but welcoming... U n ur family will enjoy. Tc
Sorokio

[Post under review]

Flaffie, are you somehow proposing your company's service ? Why don't you just assist here on the message board ?

[Post under review]

Hello Flaffie,

Please note that the promotion of services is not allowed on the forum. Nonetheless, you may register your services in the business directory.

Thanks,

Diksha

As promised some FAQ with links to our site removed:

Q. Am I allowed to work in Mauritius?
Any non-citizen that has been granted a permit by the Board of Investments (BOI) may work in Mauritius during the permit’s validity period. There are set rules regarding obtaining permits to work and live in Mauritius; see list of permits and requirements here: www.edbmauritius.org

Q. If I move over on an Occupation Permit can my family come with me?
Yes, your spouse, kids under 24 and your parents can come with you as dependents and will need to apply for and be issued with dependency permits.

Q. Are my dependents allowed to work?
Dependents are not allowed to work in Mauritius, they will have to apply for one of the permits to work in Mauritius.

Q. Is Mauritius safe?
Yes, Mauritius is very safe with a low crime rate. Although it is not advised to leave your cell phone lying around, anything more serious than petty crimes are a seldom occurrence.

Q. Can I bring my pets with me to Mauritius?
Yes, there are numerous regulations that you must adhere to, as well as a 30-day quarantine in Mauritius. Its best you use a pet transport company to assist.

Q. Is there free medical care in Mauritius?
Yes, Mauritius has free clinics and medical facilities which is great for day-to-day medical treatments, although most expatriates opt for some sort of private medical care through one of the local or international health insurers. Some persons also prefer having more serious procedures carried out abroad.

Q. How much TAX do I pay in Mauritius?
Personal and local business income gets taxed at a flat rate of 15%. There are rebates on certain types of industries, for example import-export (products do not have to land in Mauritius) which attracts only 3% tax. Also note as of September 2020 there is a monthly contribution to a local CSG (Contribution Sociale Generalisee) tax. It is always advised to speak to a registered tax consultant.

Q. In which area should we live?
Mauritius has many beautiful areas you would be happy to call home, but in general the majority of expatriates choose to settle in the North (Grand Baie area) or the West (Black River). Both areas have their own attractions and if you ask anyone living in those areas, their area is “the best”. There is a fun rivalry between the North and the West with golf, cricket, rugby, fishing, and even poker games. Although other areas over the island have in comparison smaller concentrations of expatriate communities, there are many other locations in the center, east and south of the island that are chosen for their proximity to business centers or for their natural attractions.

Q. Are there good schools in Mauritius?
Yes, there are good private schools, a few of them are listed here: XXXX

Q. How long does it take for Occupation Permits to be approved?
Approval in principle takes around 2 weeks, but if you are coming to start your own business, you will have to give yourself around 2 months. Opening a company and a bank account can range between 2 weeks and 2 months.

Q. How much does it cost to start a business in Mauritius?
This question does not have a simple answer, as it greatly depends on the type of company you want to open, which industry, license requirements, operational requirements and so on.  Generally, the cost for the majority of new business applications ranges between USD1,800 and USD10,000 per annum depending what type of services you require.

Q. How long must I stay on the island when I have an Occupation Permit?
There is NO minimum time required for your Occupation Permit, you can come and go as you please. If you are a registered tax resident in your country of origin or any other country, you will need to check with your tax authority what the requirements are relating to foreign income and if there is a DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) in place with Mauritius. It is strongly advised you speak to a registered TAX consultant before packing your bags for the island. You can see the list of DTA’s here: [link under review]

Q. What is the cost of living in Mauritius?
This is very much case by case, as not everyone has the same lifestyle, but we can give you some information on average expenses by clients. Approximates at the beginning 2021:
•    Average size rental properties range between MUR 25,000 and MUR120,000 per month, depending on size and proximity or view of the ocean.
•    Car rental for a small car is about MUR 18,000 per month.
•    Food and groceries for 2 people (excluding alcohol) around MUR 30,000 to MUR60,000 per month.
•    Electricity bill for a standard house range between MUR 2,500 – MUR 6,000 per month. This can go higher in summer depending on air-conditioned use.
•    Internet costs are round about MUR 1,200 for a 20MB fiber line.
You can get a good idea of groceries and household items from online shops in Mauritius.

Q. Is there good internet connectivity on the island?
Yes, the internet connectivity is excellent, with Fiber to Home and Fiber to Business easily available.

Q. Can I rent, or do I have to buy a property?
You can rent anywhere on the island with no restrictions. If you want to buy you can only buy in government approved schemes: www.edbmauritius.org

Thank you Flaffie - very informative

TALIA 1304 wrote:

Hi Can you please help or advice my Name is Talia 1304 I am wanting to Move to Maurtius as soon as October/November,......a good Removable company , .Thanking you
Regards Talia

Here is a list of moving companies who you can get quotes from Talia

https://www.expat.com/en/business/afric … 29_moving/

If you obtain a residence permit / occupation permit first, then you are allowed to “import” a 20-foot container of furniture and household belongings duty free ONCE ONLY - thereafter, import duty will be applicable.

However, many Expats say that were they to do the move again, they would definitely not bring the following at all: blankets, jerseys and winter clothes; heaters.
There are differing views about bringing furniture: some say do not bring furniture at all - buy what is needed in Mauritius. A few years ago, beds, mattresses and modern furniture were difficult to find on the island. The situation has improved in the meantime, but these items are still expensive.
Considering that most houses are Furnished in Mauritius, it is certainly possible to get by for a while without having to buy furniture.

Bringing in a smaller container than the allowed 20ft would definitely reduce expensive shipping costs, but bear in mind that you will only be allowed to bring in a container once without paying tax on it.

Talia, if you do decide to fork out the expense of exporting a car from Cape Town, speak to Nico at vintagecarimporters.co.za in Brackenfell for a quote

(+27) 082 874 3804

Unit C38, Icon Business Park, Fourie Street, Brackenfell, Cape Town, 7560

Hi Viv ,My name is Talia ,living in Cape Town.Just saw your posts on the Expat site .I have been to Maurtius lots in the past but only on holiday , myself and my partner are thinking of moving to Maurtius hopefully at the end of October.,Is it possible if I can ask you questions concerning the move as I would like to start the ball rolling .,we are both over the age of 50 years old and would still like to work and live there ,Rent ,and at a later stage buy property .
Are you enjoying the island .?
Regards Talia