Tools
Relocation Timeline
Get a personalised, step-by-step relocation checklist for your situation.
6–4 months before
- ✓Confirm your residence route and budget
- ✓Order your police clearance certificate
- ✓Gather proof of funds & income documents
3–2 months before
- ✓Submit your EDB permit application
- ✓Arrange international movers / shipping quotes
- ✓Book a scouting trip & shortlist neighbourhoods
1 month before
- ✓Open a Mauritian bank account (once permit issued)
- ✓Sort health insurance for arrival
On arrival
- ✓Complete biometrics & collect your permit
First weeks
- ✓Register utilities, get a local SIM & driving licence
When to start planning your move
Most relocations to Mauritius take three to six months from decision to arrival, and the order you tackle things in matters. Some steps have long lead times you can't compress: a police clearance certificate can take weeks, the pet-import process runs to several months, and international-school places for popular year groups fill up early. Others only become possible once your permit is issued — opening a resident bank account, for example. The generator above weighs your nationality, reason for moving, pets and children to produce a checklist in the right sequence, so nothing critical gets left to the last minute.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I start planning my move?
Begin about six months ahead for a smooth relocation. That window lets you research permits, gather and legalise documents, arrange finances and, if needed, import pets, which alone can take several months. Complex cases involving a business, children's schooling or property purchase benefit from even longer lead time. Starting early keeps the Occupation Permit or Residence Permit process calm rather than rushed.
What part of relocating takes the longest?
Two things usually dominate: assembling and legalising your documents, and the permit assessment itself. Police clearances, apostilles and translations can take weeks depending on your country, and the EDB then reviews a complete Occupation Permit file over roughly four to eight weeks. Pet import and sea freight of belongings run in parallel but also span months, so start these early alongside the paperwork.
Can I bring my pets to Mauritius?
Yes, but pet import is tightly regulated and slow, so start early. Cats and dogs need microchipping, up-to-date rabies vaccination, blood titre testing and an import permit, and the whole preparation commonly takes several months. Depending on your origin country, a period of home quarantine may apply on arrival. Work with a specialist pet-relocation agent to sequence the veterinary steps correctly.
When can I open a bank account in Mauritius?
You can usually start once your permit is approved or well underway, since banks require proof of residence status alongside your passport and address. Some banks let you begin the process remotely or during a scouting visit, but full activation often follows permit issuance. Opening an account is also necessary for retirement applicants, who must transfer the required monthly income into a local account.
What order should I do things in when relocating?
A sensible sequence is: confirm your permit route, gather and legalise documents, then submit your Occupation Permit, Premium Visa or Residence Permit application. In parallel, begin pet import and arrange shipping. Once the permit is approved, open a bank account, finalise housing, and book flights. Settle utilities, schools and local registrations after arrival. Starting the slow steps, permits and pets, first prevents bottlenecks.