How to pay for property in Mauritius from abroad in 2025

Mauritius blends resort living with a stable legal system and mature financial sector, making it attractive to foreign buyers. The practical challenge is execution: moving funds from your home bank into Mauritius, converting to Mauritian rupees (MUR) at a transparent rate, passing KYC/AML checks, and settling the seller or developer on time. This guide lays out a clean, auditable route you can follow for a predictable closing.

What makes the Mauritian flow different

Property transactions typically settle in MUR even if marketing prices appear in USD or EUR. Counterparties—developers, notaries and banks—expect a complete file proving identity, source of funds, and the link between payments and the sale contract. Foreign buyers may also interact with the Economic Development Board (EDB) framework depending on the project type (e.g., integrated developments or apartments above a certain specification). Building your file early prevents hold-ups at deed signing.

Documents and identifiers you will prepare

Assemble: passport, proof of address, bank statements or asset-sale evidence for source of funds, reservation/purchase agreement and a staged payment schedule. If a local tax number or additional declarations are required for registration, your notary or attorney will advise. Keep names, dates and amounts consistent across invoices, payment references and the deed.

Route 1: SWIFT with conversion on arrival

Send USD/EUR via SWIFT to the beneficiary’s Mauritian bank. The receiving bank converts into MUR and credits domestically. Benefits: bank-grade security and a robust audit trail. Watchpoints: intermediary fees, cut-off times and the bank’s FX policy. Ask for clarity on how the MUR rate is determined and whether the beneficiary expects a fixed MUR amount “net of all fees.” Always include contract and stage numbers in the reference.

Route 2: Licensed FX intermediary with pre-conversion

A licensed FX broker can accept your foreign currency, quote a spread, convert to MUR and deliver domestically to the seller—often same day after approval. Advantages are speed and a confirmed “MUR delivered” figure, which avoids shortfalls. Expect a thorough KYC pack and verification of the contract before the first transfer; subsequent stages then move faster.

Route 3: Notary/attorney escrow for staged builds

For off-plan projects or multi-milestone renovations, escrow reduces bilateral risk. Funds arrive internationally to a supervised account; the notary releases only against contractual conditions. If used, confirm how the MUR amount is fixed at each release and whether short rate-lock windows are available around inspections and handovers.

MUR conversion strategy and value dates

Decide who bears FX risk between your international value date and the moment MUR is credited. If the contract is denominated in MUR, you’ll usually seek a firm MUR figure for each stage. For larger sums, compare two quotes on the same day or split transfers across days to reduce rate volatility. Align value dates with notary appointments to avoid re-quoting.

Domestic last-mile settlement

Once foreign currency is converted, domestic payout to the developer, escrow or seller proceeds over local clearing rails. Design the flow so international funds land and convert first, then domestic credit completes under the correct narrative. This preserves a clean, end-to-end audit trail from SWIFT/FX confirmation to local receipt.

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Compliance essentials and common pitfalls

Keep one digital folder containing ID, proof of address, source-of-funds evidence, the purchase contract, schedule and each bank confirmation. Avoid paying to private accounts not named in the deed. Don’t fragment one milestone across multiple invoices unless the contract allows it. If family funds are involved, document the relationship and transfer path to keep the narrative clear for reviewers.

Indicative timeline for a clean closing

Week 1: Collect KYC, sign reservation, align with notary. Week 2: Receiving bank or FX intermediary approves your file; agree conversion method and value date. Week 3: First transfer, conversion to MUR, domestic credit to seller or escrow; snag-list or inspection if applicable. Week 4: Notary appointment and deed; utilities and ownership updates follow.

Costs and how to control them

Total landed cost = wire + intermediary + receiving bank fees + FX spread. Request quotes as “MUR delivered to beneficiary.” For stage payments, compare on the same day and use cut-off buffers to avoid missed value dates. A small improvement in the spread materially affects the credited MUR amount.

FAQs

Do I need a local account? Many buyers complete without opening one by sending SWIFT to the beneficiary or using a licensed FX intermediary for conversion and domestic delivery.

Can I pay fully in USD/EUR? Most obligations settle in MUR. If a price is shown in foreign currency, clarify in writing how conversion occurs and who bears any slippage.

Is escrow mandatory? No, but for off-plan or milestone builds it aligns releases with progress and reduces disputes.

Next steps

Choose the route—SWIFT, licensed FX with domestic delivery, or escrow—then align documents and value dates. Confirm the exact MUR figure and beneficiary details before booking travel or movers to avoid last-minute changes.

Professional support

For end-to-end coordination—from KYC file assembly and FX negotiation to MUR last-mile settlement and notary scheduling—VelesClub Int. works together with our trusted partner UNIBROKER to deliver speed, compliance and clarity for your Mauritian property purchase.