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After being confined to our homes and country for some time now, I’m sure there are more than a few people out there looking for a bit of a change.

If a tropical island sounds like the perfect destination, then the Mauritian government is keen to help you along.

They’ve recently released what they’re calling a new ‘Premium Long-Stay Visa’ program, designed to appeal to South Africans.

Apart from a new way to work remotely if you’ve moved online, it’s also an opportunity to test out the island as a potential retirement spot later on.

If your kids are studying online, it’s also a great way to take them somewhere new and expand their horizons.

(Pro tip: check out Valenture Institute if you want to switch from brick-and-mortar schooling to online education.)

Here’s News365 with a word from Zainab Bouzaine, an immigration specialist at XpatWeb:

“The Mauritian government isn’t charging for this visa, and there aren’t any commitment fees associated with it.”

And, more via BusinessTech:

“We also foresee that people who aren’t quite ready to commit to moving to Mauritius will make use of this extended stay Visa to get a better feel of what life on the island could be like,” said Bouzaine.

You can dip your toe into the water, so to speak.

Mauritius has done a pretty decent job of handling COVID-19 thus far. In just a few weeks they managed to become the first African country to contain the spread of the virus, after their first reported infection in March.

Unfortunately, you can’t enter the Mauritian labour market, and you’ll need to prove that you have a decent source of income from outside of Mauritius to stay there, but who doesn’t want to end the workday with a cocktail in hand, and a beach view?

Applications have been open since November 16, through the economic development board. You can also enter on a tourist visa and apply once you’re there.

Find more details here.

[sources:news365&businesstech]