15 important factors to be considered before you make a move to Mauritius

Mauritius, is  a small island , east of Madagascar, situated in between Africa, Asia, India and Australia.  If you are considering traveling to Mauritius , the following points will help in your decision whether to move there temporarily or permanently. 

1. The main economy of the country is from tourism just like that of Dubai.
2. Mauritius offers mainly three types of visas: a. Tourist (though it is visa free to many countries. A Nigerian can visit for 14 days visa free). For those who wish to stay longer or need an extension on their visa, they will require a temporary residence permit which allows them to stay up to 90 days. Note that you can not convert the tourist visa to other type of visas, also the visa can not be used for study or employment purposes. It is just for visit or holiday b. Study visa: This is issued to intending  students , there are two major universities in Mauritius, University of Mauritius and University of Technology, there is also the open university of Mauritius which allows for part time study and distance learning. As an international student , one is limited to the number of hours that one can work can work part time. Not more than 48 hours per week. You can either apply and get admissions to study in a Mauritian university yourself or use an accredited agent who will ensure that you apply to the right schools, advise you on the right qualifications (Waec, neco results or degree certificates), also makes sure you apply to accredited universities. Otherwise the degree obtained can only be used in Mauritius and not in other countries. Universities in Mauritius offer low tuition, after study you can gain employment and thereafter process your legal residency. C. Work permit visa: This  is usually called occupation permit by the Mauritian authorities, it is issued to job seekers, business owners or companies who are employers of labour. It allows a person to work in the country. After successfully working for up to three years, the person can request for permanent resident visa which allows one to live and work in Mauritius for up to ten years. D. Transit visa: This is given to those passing through the island  , with stop over less than three days, to another destination. E. Spousal or marriage visa: This is issued to partners or spouses of a resident or citizen of Mauritius based on a proven relationship between both parties . F. Business visa: This is given for those who wish to engage in commercial activities on the island.  There are some people who are exempted from visa, they include flight or ship crew members, United Nations passport holders, diplomats (excluding those of Nigeria, Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Algeria), citizens , their spouses , children /step children or legally adopted kids. 
3. Cost of living is quite high : Compared to the United Kingdom, India and Nigeria, living on the island is expensive especially food and housing , this is also due to the fact that the government depend a lot on the taxation on imported goods, so prices of items goes up. Housing is around €300-€600 per month. For new immigrants, it’s cost effective to live in complexes . 
4. Employment : Main jobs  are in services, industry and agriculture sectors such as tourism, financial services, technology, mining , farming. Major employers are air Mauritius, Ceridian, shell Mauritius, Accenture, Mauritius commercial bank.  For new immigrants, the readily available jobs are  for security, hotel, construction, farm  workers with  salary month between 10000   to 30000  Mauritius rupees, or an average daily of N8000(N240000 monthly), people do get job in other sectors but  it’s very highly competitive with an average salary of 67000 rupees (€1500) . Mauritius , has a low population around 1.5 million people living there but is not a fully industrialized nation. 
5. Racial  issues: Citizens from other African nations should be prepared for racial profiling, it even starts from the airports, as black people are more subjected to more custom and security checks than other races. This does not happen in all cases. So when traveling to Mauritius, make sure your intentions are genuine, do not carry contraband or banned items. Confirm your itinerary and host details , hotel accommodations, have proof of funds and be consistent in your responses when asked by the immigration officers . Residents in Mauritius are allowed to invite their spouses or dependents to join them. Also for those who travel to the island and get married to a citizen. Note that the process of  getting your own citizenship can take up to ten years instead of the normal five years especially for Nigerian and Cameroonian passport holders. Mauritian citizens consider themselves half Asians, half Europeans though they are in the African continent , so most  still see other Africans as being different from them. 
6. Flights: From Nigeria, you can book Kenyan, Qatar, South African , Turkish airways  or Air France to Mauritius. The quickest flight is about 11-12 hours with one stop over. The two biggest airports are in Port Louis and Port Mathurin. 
7. Culture: Thé people are quite friendly, the food delicious  and its a multicultural country as there are different people from different parts of the world living there. There is also  diversity in nature, colorful displays during their festivals and you might get lucky to see the popular « dodo » an extinct flightless  bird. 
8. Climate: The coastal areas are usually warmer than the mountainous areas of the country. The island paradise offers a year round sunshine with beautiful ocean temperatures. There are lots of beaches to have fun and suntan in. 
9. Economy: Mauritius has good tax policies to encourage businesses . However the government has strict regulations in place and control almost everything, which is a point to be considered if you are thinking of starting and owing your own business. Tourists are exempted from paying tax, and when you spend less than 180 days in the country, you are also exempted from paying income taxes. 
10. Security and safety: Mauritius is one of the most peaceful places to live in.  There are cctvs  and security cameras almost everywhere keeping crime rate low. Travelers are subjected to intense checks when arriving into the country to prevent inflow of drugs or harmful substances. 
11. Social amenities: Education and health care is free for all her citizens. International students also have free access to government clinics , hospitals and get free drugs too. They are given 50% discount on the train’s metro cards . Monthly internet subscription is around 312 rupees (3200 naira) for 50gb. The rail system is quite reliable and there are also public buses for transport. 
12. Languages : The major languages spoken are English and French and they are also taught in the public schools. The Mauritian Creole is the popular language spoken by the locals. 
13. Religion: Various people hold different religious beliefs and they go exist in harmony. Majority practice Christianity, Islam, Hinduism. 
14. Currency : The official currency is the Mauritius rupee (MUR) . Other foreign currencies can also be exchanged for the local currency such as dollars and euros. 
15. Driving : International driving permits or a driving license is allowed up to one year. There is only one motorway in Mauritius. When driving , do not go too close to the vehicle before you , keep a safe distance as most vehicles usually carry some goods and may fall off.  Drive carefully and with caution. Renting a vehicle can be a cheaper option than buying a car except you intend to stay there permanently. 

In conclusion, Mauritius is a good country to go to for vacations, short term visits and a study destination. It is a great place to start your hustle from if you are still young. For long term purposes, ensure you have enough disposable income to play around with before you will finally get settled in.  The shortest route to obtaining permanent residency is by investing in Mauritius , this can be done by buying real estate or establishing a conglomerate venture that will provide maximum benefits to the country’s economy.