- Mauritius Launches US$1 Million Golden Visa to Attract Global Investors
Mauritius has launched a US$1 million Golden Visa programme aimed at attracting high-net-worth individuals, as the island economy seeks to strengthen its position as one of Africa’s most stable investment destinations. The programme, announced by Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, requires applicants to invest US$1 million within 12 months of arrival. Successful applicants will receive a multiple-entry visa valid for up to two years, with the possibility of renewal subject to further investment.
The initiative is expected to target about 100 investors annually and will focus on priority sectors including fintech, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy and global treasury services.
“We are offering this program to individuals who wish to contribute to the country’s development while enjoying a peaceful and stable environment,” Ramgoolam said during a parliamentary address. He added that the programme offers applicants an opportunity to invest in key sectors and become part of Mauritius’s growing economic community.
The move comes as Mauritius intensifies efforts to diversify its economy and attract long-term foreign capital. Once heavily dependent on sugar, the country has over the years repositioned itself around finance, tourism, manufacturing and investment services.
Business Insider Africa reported that Mauritius is ranked as Africa’s second-richest country under the HelloSafe Prosperity Index 2026, while also being regarded as the continent’s most peaceful nation in the 2025 Global Peace Index, ranking 26th globally.
The Golden Visa programme was approved by Cabinet on April 10 and adds to Mauritius’s existing suite of investment migration products.
The country already offers a Permanent Residency Permit requiring a US$375,000 investment in approved real estate, which provides a 20-year renewable permit. It also operates an Occupation Permit for investors, starting from US$50,000 for a Mauritius-based business, with a 10-year term.
Unlike those residence permits, the new Golden Visa is structured as a multiple-entry visa, offering flexibility to investors who want to explore opportunities while maintaining mobility.
The programme places Mauritius in the growing global competition for mobile capital, where countries use residency and visa incentives to attract wealthy individuals, entrepreneurs and strategic investors.
For African economies, such schemes are becoming part of a wider strategy to capture global wealth flows and position themselves as safe, well-regulated gateways for investment. Mauritius is seeking to distinguish itself through political stability, strong governance, modern infrastructure, security and a business-friendly environment.
The policy also carries lessons for countries such as Ghana, which are seeking to attract higher-quality investment beyond portfolio flows, donor financing and traditional commodity-backed capital. Mauritius’s approach shows how a smaller economy can use regulatory stability, investor services and targeted sector incentives to compete for global wealth.
However, the real test will be whether the programme attracts productive capital into sectors that deepen economic transformation, rather than merely serving as a mobility product for wealthy individuals.
If implemented effectively, the Golden Visa could strengthen Mauritius’s role as a financial and investment hub while channelling private capital into new growth sectors.
