Mauritius Visa Guide for Chinese Citizens: Visa Types, Documents and Process

The short answer first: PRC ordinary passport holders do not need a visa in advance to visit Mauritius for tourism, family visits or short business trips. But visa-free entry only solves the question of getting in. If you want to work, study, retire or live in Mauritius long term, you need a separate Occupation Permit, student permit or residence permit – and their thresholds, fees and procedures are not the “easy immigration” that some agents in China advertise.

This guide sets out the visa and residence options open to Chinese citizens as of October 2026, the documents, fees, where to apply and common questions. It draws on the Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office (PIO), the Economic Development Board (EDB) residency portal, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Mauritius. Mauritius adjusts its residence rules almost every year through the budget and Finance Act, and official pages occasionally disagree on figures, so always check the latest notices before applying.

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Mauritius?

No. According to the Chinese MFA’s List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption, the China–Mauritius agreement entered into force on 31 October 2013 and covers diplomatic, service, public-affairs and ordinary passports. The MFA’s general note on the list says that visa exemption does not mean you can stay indefinitely, and that anyone planning a long stay should complete local residence formalities promptly. Mauritian border officers write the last permitted day of stay on your entry stamp – that date is what counts.

The PIO also says that tourists may generally stay up to six months in a calendar year (decided case by case), business visitors up to 120 days in a calendar year, and that medical visas are granted on arrival for the length of treatment, up to six months.

Changes worth noting for 2025–2026:

• Complete the Mauritius All-in-One Travel Digital Form online before arrival and bring a printed copy with the QR code; otherwise you will fill in a paper disembarkation card at the airport.
• From 1 December 2025, all Occupation Permit and Retired Residence Permit applications carry a non-refundable USD 50 application fee.
• Under the Finance Act 2025, employers must pay Rs 500 a year for each non-citizen worker they employ.

Visa types at a glance

Short-stay entry step by step

1. Check your passportIt must be valid for your whole stay; the Chinese MFA advises tourists to Mauritius to carry a passport valid for more than six months
2. Book return flights and accommodationA hotel booking, or an accommodation guarantee from a host in Mauritius
3. Prepare proof of fundsBank cards and recent statements showing you can cover your stay
4. Fill in the digital formComplete the All-in-One Travel Digital Form before arrival and print the QR code
5. ArriveShow your documents at the border; the entry stamp shows your last permitted day
6. Extend if neededApply in person at the Passport and Immigration Office in Port Louis before your stay expires; it is free

Document checklist

For a short visit (tourism, family, business) you will generally need:

• A valid passport (preferably more than six months’ validity)
• A return or onward ticket
• A hotel booking or an accommodation guarantee from a local sponsor
• Proof of sufficient funds
• A printed QR code from the All-in-One Travel Digital Form
• For business visits: an invitation letter from a local company or partner

To extend your stay in Mauritius, the PIO asks for: a signed extension application form; copies of the passport bio-data page and the page with your arrival stamp; a ticket reservation (and the confirmed ticket once approved); bank statements for the last three months; and proof of accommodation. If you have a local sponsor, add a sponsorship letter (name, address, phone, profession and relationship to you), a copy of the sponsor’s ID, a utility bill, a lease if applicable and the sponsor’s last three months of bank statements. Minors need a parental or guardian consent letter, a birth certificate and copies of the parents’ passports.

Occupation Permit applicants must submit original academic and professional certificates or certified copies, with certified translations if they are not in English or French; the retirement permit requires a clean criminal record certificate. For preparing these documents in China, see our guides to the police clearance certificate and notarisation and apostille; if your passport is close to expiry, start with Getting or renewing a passport.

Fees and processing times

Visa-free entry and extensions of stay are free. Statutory Occupation Permit fees depend on the length of the permit (residency.mu, in force since 11 July 2022):

The EDB says applying online is free and it charges no processing fee; only successful applicants pay the statutory fees above. In addition, a non-refundable USD 50 application fee is due on submission (from 1 December 2025). An older EDB page still lists fees in rupees (for example Rs 15,000 for up to two years), unlike the current USD schedule on residency.mu, so check the payment notice before paying. No official processing time is published; apply early and watch your email.

Work and long-stay permits

The Mauritian “work visa” is essentially the Occupation Permit, which combines a work permit and a residence permit:

• Professional: a minimum basic monthly salary of Rs 50,000. The EDB’s July 2026 newsletter says that, after the National Budget reforms, this single threshold applies across all sectors; the Rs 60,000 and Rs 30,000 (ICT/BPO) figures still shown on an older EDB page are the previous rules. A permit approved under the old Rs 30,000 criteria can be renewed once on those terms. The permit runs for the length of the employment contract, up to 10 years. A professional may be a minority shareholder or a director of a company, but not both.
• Investor: you must be a shareholder and director, and undertake to transfer at least USD 100,000 within 60 days of the permit being issued. Annual turnover must reach Rs 5 million from the third year of registration, and Rs 8 million a year from the fifth year for renewal. The permit lasts 10 years and is renewable.
• Self-Employed: transfer at least USD 50,000 within 60 days of the permit being issued; annual business income of at least Rs 2 million from the third year, and at least Rs 3 million from the fifth year for renewal. Valid for 10 years, renewable.
• Young Professional: for holders of at least an undergraduate degree from a Mauritian institution, who must apply within six months of their results being published.

Ordinary foreign employees who do not qualify for an Occupation Permit need a work permit arranged by their employer. Official data show how narrow this route has become for Chinese nationals: of about 2,000 new work permits issued in January 2025, only 7 went to Chinese citizens.

Student visas

The Passport and Immigration Office publishes “Guidelines for Application and Issuance of Entry/Residence Permit to Study in Mauritius”. The usual sequence is to obtain an offer from a recognised Mauritian institution, then apply to the PIO for a student permit with your admission documents and proof of funds for fees and living costs. Course length, whether you may work part-time and how many hours a week are set out in the latest version of the PIO guidelines.

Graduates who earn at least a bachelor’s degree in Mauritius can apply for the Young Professional Occupation Permit mentioned above, which offers a route from study to work.

Family reunification

According to the EDB residency portal, dependants of Occupation Permit holders and retired residents can apply for residence permits valid for the same period as the main holder. Dependants include a spouse (including an opposite-sex common-law partner), parents, and unmarried children not in gainful activity (including stepchildren and legally adopted children); applications go to the Passport and Immigration Office. For property bought under the Property Development Scheme, the buyer’s spouse and children under 24 also receive residence permits.

Chinese documents such as marriage and birth certificates usually need to be notarised and legalised or apostilled, with an English or French translation. Confirm the exact requirements with the receiving authority in advance.

Investment, digital nomad and retirement options

Premium Visa (digital nomads and long stays): valid for up to one year, renewable and issued free of charge. Your main place of business and source of income must be outside Mauritius, and you may not enter the local labour market. You need to show your long-stay plans, adequate travel and health insurance, the purpose of your visit and accommodation details. The portal page was first published in 2021, so confirm current conditions with the EDB before applying.

Retirement: aged 50 or over, showing bank funds of at least USD 24,000 or a guaranteed income of at least USD 2,000 a month (and USD 24,000 a year available in a Mauritian account at renewal), with a clean criminal record. The permit lasts 10 years and is renewable. Holders may invest as minority shareholders or non-executive directors but may not be employed by, or draw a salary from, the business.

Property-linked residence: buying a home for more than USD 375,000 in an approved scheme such as the Property Development Scheme (PDS) gives a residence permit for as long as you own the property, and you can invest and work without a separate Occupation or work permit. For the buying process and taxes, see Buying property in Mauritius.

Where to apply in China

Short visits are visa-free, so there is nothing to apply for in China. Occupation Permits, retirement permits and the Premium Visa are all applied for online through the EDB (start at residency.mu), not through the embassy.

For enquiries, Mauritius has an embassy in Beijing (the Mauritian foreign ministry website lists no consulates in China): 202 Dong Wai Diplomatic Office Building, 23 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Beijing; tel. +86-10-6532 5695, consular matters +86-10-6532 5698; email mebj@govmu.org; consular hours Monday to Friday, 10:00–12:00.

Common reasons for refusal and how to avoid them

Refusal of visa-free entry usually comes down to missing documents: no return ticket, no hotel booking, insufficient funds, a passport without enough validity, or a past overstay. Occupation Permit refusals or failed renewals often stem from a salary below the threshold, certificates that were not certified or translated, investment funds not transferred within 60 days, or turnover that falls short of the renewal criteria.

From visa to permanent residence and citizenship

The Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) is valid for 20 years and can be renewed for another 20 if the residence requirements are met. The main condition is holding the relevant permit for at least five years and: for investors, annual turnover of at least Rs 15 million in each of the previous five years, or Rs 75 million in aggregate over any five consecutive years; for professionals, a basic monthly salary of at least Rs 400,000 for five consecutive years; for the self-employed, annual business income of at least Rs 3 million for five consecutive years, or Rs 15 million in aggregate; for retirees, at least USD 200,000 transferred in aggregate over five consecutive years. More detail is in Residence and permanent residence in Mauritius.

Citizenship has its own residence requirements; follow the official Mauritian notices. Remember that China’s Nationality Law does not recognise dual nationality: acquiring a foreign nationality means automatically losing Chinese nationality – see Dual nationality and China’s Nationality Law. For a country overview, see Moving to Mauritius.

FAQ

Do Chinese citizens need a visa to visit Mauritius?

Not for short tourist, family or business visits. The China–Mauritius mutual visa exemption agreement has been in force since 31 October 2013; you can enter on an ordinary passport, and the length of stay is shown on your entry stamp.

What documents do I need for a tourist trip to Mauritius?

Strictly speaking there is no tourist visa to apply for, but at the border you must show a valid passport, a return ticket, a hotel booking and proof of funds, and you should complete the All-in-One Travel Digital Form in advance.

How do I get a work visa for Mauritius?

If you are hired by a local company, you or your employer apply online through the EDB for a Professional Occupation Permit, and your basic salary must meet the threshold. If you are setting up your own company, apply for an Investor or Self-Employed Occupation Permit.

How do I apply for a student visa for Mauritius?

Get an offer from a recognised Mauritian institution, then prepare your documents according to the PIO “Guidelines for Application and Issuance of Entry/Residence Permit to Study in Mauritius” and apply for a student permit.

Sources

1. Chinese MFA: List of Agreements on Mutual Visa Exemption (accessed October 2026)
2. Chinese MFA consular notice on entering Mauritius (Apr 2023) (accessed October 2026)
3. Chinese Embassy in Mauritius: travel safety reminder (28 Sep 2026) (accessed October 2026)
4. Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office: Visa Requirements (accessed October 2026)
5. Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office: Travel Requirements (accessed October 2026)
6. Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office: Extension of Visa (accessed October 2026)
7. Mauritius Passport and Immigration Office: Annual Fee for Non-Citizen Worker (accessed October 2026)
8. Mauritius PIO: Guidelines for Entry/Residence Permit to Study (accessed October 2026)
9. UK FCDO: Mauritius entry requirements (accessed October 2026)
10. Economic Development Board residency portal (residency.mu) (accessed October 2026)
11. residency.mu: Professional Occupation Permit (accessed October 2026)
12. residency.mu: Investor Occupation Permit (USD 100,000) (accessed October 2026)
13. residency.mu: Self-Employed Occupation Permit (accessed October 2026)
14. residency.mu: Retired Non-Citizen Residence Permit (accessed October 2026)
15. residency.mu: Property Development Scheme (accessed October 2026)
16. residency.mu: Permanent Residence Permit (accessed October 2026)
17. residency.mu: Mauritius Premium Visa (accessed October 2026)
18. Economic Development Board Mauritius: Occupation Permit (accessed October 2026)
19. Economic Development Board Mauritius: Residence Permit (accessed October 2026)
20. Mauritius Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Embassy in Beijing (accessed October 2026)
21. Statistics Mauritius / Ministry of Labour: country presentation, UNSD SADC migration workshop (Mar 2025) (accessed October 2026)
22. EDB Mauritius newsletter: Occupation Permit criteria after the National Budget reforms (July 2026) (accessed October 2026)