Republic of Mauritius vs Republic of Vanuatu
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Republic of Mauritius
Mauritius routes most foreign work and residence applications through the Economic Development Board (EDB) via its residency portal, with the Passport and Immigration Office issuing the underlying permits. The headline routes are the Occupation Permit (Professional, Investor and Self-Employed categories), the Premium Visa for long-stay remote workers, the Young Professional Occupation Permit, and the Residence Permit for retired non-citizens aged 50 and over.
- Official portal
- Economic Development Board (Mauritius)
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Mauritian rupee
Republic of Vanuatu
Vanuatu administers residence through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, with six residence-visa grounds (partner, child, employee, self-funded, investor and leaseholder) and a permanent-resident visa. Its Development Support Program (citizenship by investment) is run separately by the Citizenship Commission and grants citizenship, not residence. Note that the EU removed Vanuatu from its visa-free Schengen list in December 2024.
- Official portal
- Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu)
- Languages
- Bislama, English, French
- Currency
- Vanuatu vatu
How Republic of Mauritius and Republic of Vanuatu differ
| Dimension | Republic of Mauritius | Republic of Vanuatu |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 6 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 4 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 4 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Occupation Permit (Professional) | Residence Visa (Employee ground) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | English | Bislama, English, French |
| Currency | Mauritian rupee | Vanuatu vatu |
| Primary regulator | MBA | VLS |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Republic of Mauritius
Routes unique to Republic of Vanuatu
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Mauritius (6)
Occupation Permit (Professional)
Sponsor · To settlement · Issued for up to 10 years and renewable, subject to a continuing qualifying employment contract.
Occupation Permit (Investor)
No sponsor · To settlement · Issued for up to 10 years and renewable, subject to meeting ongoing turnover conditions.
Occupation Permit (Self-Employed)
No sponsor · To settlement · Issued for up to 10 years and renewable, subject to meeting ongoing business income conditions.
Premium Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Valid for a period exceeding six months up to one year, with an option to renew.
Young Professional Occupation Permit (YPOP)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 3 years, with the actual term depending on the length of the employment contract.
Residence Permit for Retired Non-Citizens (50+)
No sponsor · To settlement · Initial residence permit valid for up to 10 years and renewable.
Republic of Vanuatu (7)
Residence Visa (Employee ground)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for set periods (commonly one to several years) and renewable while you remain employed by the sponsoring business. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Self-funded ground)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while you keep meeting the income condition. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground)
No sponsor · To settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while you hold a valid VIPA certificate and the investment continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while you maintain the qualifying leasehold and income. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground)
Sponsor · To settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while the qualifying relationship continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Permanent Resident Visa
No sponsor · To settlement · Longer-term permanent residence status, subject to the conditions and any renewal or reporting requirements set by the Department. Confirm the current terms on the official Department of Immigration page.
Development Support Program (citizenship by investment)
No sponsor · To settlement · Grants citizenship, not a time-limited residence; the underlying programme rules can change. Confirm the current rules with the Vanuatu Citizenship Office.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Mauritius or Republic of Vanuatu?+
Republic of Mauritius’s Occupation Permit (Professional) is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Vanuatu’s Residence Visa (Employee ground) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Republic of Mauritius or Republic of Vanuatu have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Vanuatu has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 4 for Republic of Mauritius. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.