EXCLUSIVE: Expats reveal their new life on this tropical island, the place tax is decrease and the solar (almost) all the time shines.
The couple moved to the African island after contemplating Dubai (Picture: Penny Jones)
As Brits fly house from the Center East, one African island could also be on the radar as a enterprise hub, with some critical tax financial savings and sunshine. With no inheritance, capital positive factors or property duties, and earnings tax capped at 20%—in contrast with the UK’s tiered system of as much as 45%—international residency numbers have elevated lately, in response to its Financial Improvement Board.
Its CEO Mahen Kundasamy believes life in Mauritius is much “past the ocean, solar and sand”, regardless of the Indian-Ocean island hardly ever dropping under 20C, with world-class golf programs, vibrant coral reefs and white sandy seashores. “Over the previous decade, the nation has seen a rising variety of foreigners who’ve relocated to Mauritius and are staying completely,” he says, stating round 30,000 folks from Europe, Africa, and Asia have relocated to this point.
“Extra foreigners are selecting Mauritius attributable to private security, safety and low taxes, and expat-friendly insurance policies,” he explains.
This was the case for Penny Jones, 64, who moved together with her husband Ken to run their well being and security coaching firm INTRA on a retirement visa. They’d initially thought-about relocating to the Center East years in the past earlier than the newest battle broke out, however thought twice after evaluating life.
“We did go to Dubai and take a look, however there the warmth is unbelievable,” she stated. “You’ve got actually bought to dwell indoors and also you go from aircon automobile to aircon surroundings and sort of dwell in these bubbles, and we do not like that. We actually simply take pleasure in opening the door and strolling outdoors.”
“I believe for us the most important, the primary driver was simply the sensation of peace that we all the time have after we’re right here. That is actually the place we really feel probably the most comfy,” sharing that her husband’s cell phone was even returned to him after her misplaced it.
The couple lives subsequent to the seaside now on a retirement visa (Picture: Penny Jones)
“It isn’t for everyone, island residing. If you would like massive metropolis life and new eating places each day and the very best in opera and ballet, it isn’t that. However the peace that we really feel right here is simply super. That is what we actually worth probably the most.”
It’s a related story for Wayne Sheridan, who was born and bred on the border of South Staffordshire and Wolverhampton, however now lives minutes from the seaside in Mauritius as CEO of AFG Furnishings Group, the place he feels protected sufficient to go away his keys in his automobile in a single day.
“It is most likely like how the UK was once years in the past. After I bear in mind rising up, the entrance door was once left open.”
He was invited to maneuver to the volcanic island, which has 1.27million residents, to redevelop a product vary in a one-year job. Eight years later he’s nonetheless there. “With out query” his high quality and lifestyle has improved since, throughout his funds, well being and life-style.
“I really like England, I really like the place I come from, I really like what it stands for, nevertheless it’s simply chalk and cheese. There’s that expat life-style right here, it is simply a way more relaxed life. Being right here, it is simply friendlier, extra peaceable, extra calming,” he explains.
“I get up to a swimming pool each day that I haven’t got to warmth. You’ve bought an ideal seaside life-style, a incredible reef,” he continues, itemizing a number of issues that might make anybody enduring the UK winter jealous.
Wayne Sheridan has lived in Mauritius for eight years regardless of initially transferring for a yr (Picture: Wayne Sheridan)
“Do not get me fallacious, you get challenges in all places on the planet, however the place would I sooner be? Undoubtedly right here,” jokingly including: “And I nonetheless get a very good English breakfast.”
For each Wayne and Penny, the transfer has paid off professionally. Having began in a 25,000sqft warehouse, AFG expanded to a web site 4 instances the dimensions within the first 12 to 18 months, and now they make use of greater than 120 folks.
Penny factors out that she and Ken can nonetheless run a enterprise on the retirement visa with company tax capped at 15%. Within the UK, it’s increased at 19% for small corporations and 25% for corporations with earnings over £250,000.
“Now we have our desks in our lounge as a result of we like to take a look at the ocean every time we will,” Penny says. “The web is great. We’ve bought fibre web. I am undecided if it is fairly as quick as within the UK, nevertheless it’s sufficient for our wants.”
Nonetheless, there are some caveats. Most know in regards to the so-called ‘Golden Visa’, which permits international nationals to use for residency in the event that they make investments at the very least $375,000 (£280,000) into actual property.
However Brits may have money behind them both approach, since most retirement and occupational visas require a assured month-to-month earnings, and housing on common could be costlier.
Penny was born within the UK and moved to South Africa together with her RAF father (Picture: Penny Jones)
The common itemizing worth is £528,000 in 2024, in response to Propertycloud.mu, the nation’s main actual property platform. Within the UK in January 2026, the common was £268,421.
Costs are additionally rising steeply in Mauritius, having almost tripled in a decade from £184,557 in 2017, in response to the platform.
Wayne stated you are able to do “tremendously properly”, however it’s essential to have an entrepreneurial mindset, and naturally, work in an in-demand sector.
His enterprise now earns him greater than the UK, however he believes he will get “rather a lot” extra for his cash in Mauritius, mixed with the actual fact you pay decrease tax, so that you get to maintain “a hell of much more”.
“Would I ever be capable of have a six metre swimming pool within the UK and a 4 bed room indifferent property residing in mangroves? It is simply unattainable to get that. It is simply given in a single hand, taken within the different within the UK.”
Journey information and knowledgeable vacation recommendation plus chosen provides and competitions Subscribe Invalid electronic mail
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will embrace adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You possibly can unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Penny defined that some folks dwell lavish life within the premium actual property. “However it’s as much as you and what your finances is and the way you select to dwell,” she declares, saying you possibly can dwell “very, very fairly”.
Costs fluctuate massively by area, with homes within the centre costing a mean of £256,000, and houses on the east of the island reaching £2million. Not less than if you get there, you possibly can sip a pint of beer for £1.60.
Leave a Reply