Oh no! I've moved countries again - now in Mauritius :)

[simon43]

2 hours ago, The Hammer2021 said:

It's the vicious cold that is the problem.

Yes.  Today I am very happy because I found the 'standard' treatment medicine (Intraconozole) in the shopping mall pharmacy! I was never able to buy this in Burma and Laos, so now I can treat myself to keep the nasty mushrooms at bay!

[Lacessit]

I've flown over Mauritius once, it looked like a green jewel in a blue ocean. Stunning from the air.

Sounds pretty good to me, modest income requirements and none of the Thai Immigration BS.

Best wishes for your new venture, simon43. I might have joined you if it was not for the relationships I have here.

[JustAnotherHun]

20 minutes ago, simon43 said:

3 - I am living on $1,500/month easily, but that doesn't mean that I only have an income of $1,500/month!  I spend what I need to spend and save the rest.  If I need to earn more money, then I open up my online teaching (science) calendar and the lesson bookings roll in.  But I don't need to do that because I'm happy with my income right now.

I did not want to insult you or insisting you're a "cheap charlie". I'm just curious if one can live on 11k THB (after fix costs) in Mauritius. This a less 10 Euros a day. 

[simon43]

38 minutes ago, JustAnotherHun said:

I did not want to insult you or insisting you're a "cheap charlie". I'm just curious if one can live on 11k THB (after fix costs) in Mauritius. This a less 10 Euros a day. 

Oh, I'm very much a cheap Charlie :), in that I don't spend what I don't need to spend, because I've learnt from bitter experience that it's better to save for the day when your business or personal income goes 'south'!

 

I guess my daily spend is low because I don't drink alcohol, smoke or take drugs (my body is a .. er .. flabby temple!).  No money wasted on women nowadays.  So I eat salads, fruit, nuts, yogurts, some chicken and fish etc.  My personal needs are met with only a small expense (I got used to not spending much when living in Burma and Laos, because there was nothing to buy!).

 

I usually budget $300 a month for expenses, after house and car rental, utilities and medical insurance.

 

[StayinThailand2much]

Great report! Any chance one can use a yearly lump sum instead of the monthly transfers?

[simon43]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Great report! Any chance one can use a yearly lump sum instead of the monthly transfers?

Yes, from what I read, that seems fine.  You have to show a bank statement when you apply to renew your annual retirement visa, that shows you have transferred $18,000 (or equivalent in other currencies), from overseas to a local bank account.

 

But to start the initial visa process, you need to open the local bank account, then transfer $1,500, and then your first annual visa is granted.

Edited January 11, 2022 by simon43

[CharlieH]

24 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Yes, from what I read, that seems fine.  You have to show a bank statement when you apply to renew your annual retirement visa, that shows you have transferred $18,000 (or equivalent in other currencies), from overseas to a local bank account.

 

But to start the initial visa process, you need to open the local bank account, then transfer $1,500, and then your first annual visa is granted.

And then do that for 3consecutive years and get a 20yr PR ? am I inderstanding that correctly ?

[simon43]

34 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

And then do that for 3consecutive years and get a 20yr PR ? am I inderstanding that correctly ?

Yes, once you have transferred in $54,000 over 3 years, you can apply for a 20-year PR visa (and no need to transfer in any further $ when you get your PR).  For me, (assuming I don't move countries again!), this is of interest because my UK state pension will start in just over 3 years from now, and it is index-linked if one lives in Mauritius.

[sharecropper]

Very interesting thread - thanks. What made you leave Laos in the end?

[tomazbodner]

On one flight, I think it was to Australia, I was seated next to a tall, curly long hair bloke from Mauritius. He was helping everyone around him with the bags, and was one of most illustrious characters I've ever met. Never knew Mauritius existed until he told me that's where he was from. That put Mauritius on my bucket list. Not to live there. I mean just to visit. No idea what it looks like, but if this guy is any indication, people there seem nice.

 

Kind of like.. you know, the opposite from most of Europe...

[StayinThailand2much]

Do you need travel and health insurance for visa purposes?

 

What do you think of the 6-month 'Premium Visa'?

 

Compared to Thailand (or Laos), how easy is it to open a bank account as a foreigner?

 

And how would you rate the hospitals (costs, quality)?

 

What is the food like (french/rye bread available)?

Edited January 11, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[simon43]

2 hours ago, sharecropper said:

Very interesting thread - thanks. What made you leave Laos in the end?

Lol, the local police boss in Luang Prabang 'encouraged' me to leave after he took great exception to my (legal) amateur radio hobby...... I also missed sunny beaches (the Mekong river beach in town is mostly mud flats).

[simon43]

1 hour ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Do you need travel and health insurance for visa purposes?

 

What do you think of the 6-month 'Premium Visa'?

 

Compared to Thailand (or Laos), how easy is it to open a bank account as a foreigner?

 

And how would you rate the hospitals (costs, quality)?

 

What is the food like (french/rye bread available)?

Yes, you must have Covid and general health insurance for your period of stay, but no stipulation for the amount of cover. I'm not sure of the requirements of health insurance for the elderly/pre-conditions etc 'cos I'm already fully covered.

 

The Premium visa is actually a 12-month renewal visa for remote workers.  It seems to offer exactly the same terms as the retirement visa, but not sure if you can apply for 20-year PR after 3 years.

 

No idea (yet) about opening a bank account, but it should be easy because immigration will give me a letter to give to the bank requesting that they open a bank account for my fund transfers etc.

 

Hospitals?  Wait and I'll throw myself in front of a car and find out! ????

 

The Intermarche is just like any Intermarche in France, with freshly baked bread, and also with local fresh Indian food.

 

This evening I finally got into the house that I have rented.  Nice garden, swimming pool, fast internet, 5 minutes drive to the big shopping centre, 10 to the beautiful beaches.  My lungs feel good!  Now I only need to spoil it all by falling for a local lass...

Edited January 11, 2022 by simon43

[daveAustin]

Fair play. Don’t blame you for not wanting to jump through all the hoops in settling back in Thailand. It gets worse. 
All the best. 
/Any pics of house, beaches?//

Edited January 12, 2022 by daveAustin

[GrandPapillon]

wondering if with the 20year PR you could go to Europe under Schengen since Mauritius (Ile Maurice) is a former French protectorate

[simon43]

2 hours ago, GrandPapillon said:

wondering if with the 20year PR you could go to Europe under Schengen since Mauritius (Ile Maurice) is a former French protectorate

Former French protectorate several centuries ago! It was seized by Britain in 1810....

 

Also of interest to me as plan B is Reunion, the island next door to Mauritius.  That is part of France's 'Outre-mer', and part of the EU.  I have applied for an Irish passport (citizenship via my Irish grandfather).  This would allow me to move to Reunion and live there visa-free, with my UK state pension index-linked as in Mauritius.  But this is a plan B (or C or D) option.

 

A useful fact about Mauritius is that UK driving licences are valid on the island without time limit.  One doesn't have to exchange them for a local licence.

[GrandPapillon]

8 hours ago, simon43 said:

Former French protectorate several centuries ago! It was seized by Britain in 1810....

 

Also of interest to me as plan B is Reunion, the island next door to Mauritius.  That is part of France's 'Outre-mer', and part of the EU.  I have applied for an Irish passport (citizenship via my Irish grandfather).  This would allow me to move to Reunion and live there visa-free, with my UK state pension index-linked as in Mauritius.  But this is a plan B (or C or D) option.

 

A useful fact about Mauritius is that UK driving licences are valid on the island without time limit.  One doesn't have to exchange them for a local licence.

sounds like you found a really good deal here, the women of "Ile Maurice" are quite nice when they are thin, they could rock your world.

 

Mauritius is one of the paradise island to go to for your wedding days or expensive vacations. There used to be a lot of "100% nude" beach there during summer, not sure if still the case, with a lot of gorgeous western girls looking for a 100% tan for their instagram ????

 

[Jingthing]

On 1/11/2022 at 1:03 PM, simon43 said:

I never said that ????.  I have to transfer $1,500 each month into my local bank account, but I don't need to spend it!  I just have to show a bank statement each annual visa renewal to show that I have transferred 12 x $1,500 = $18,000 into the country. I could beg for food by the side of the road and live for free in a tent and still have all the money in the local bank if I want ????

Hi there, Simon.

What an exciting and somewhat unusual new "home" that you have.

Coincidentally, I quite recently looked into Mauritius as an option but I'm confused about the income rules.

I have read that you need to import the 1500 per month but from another source I read that you need to PROVE at least that amount as income (such as pension).

So, which is it?
If it's more flexible then someone with pension of 1300 but having assets could still easily qualify but if the rule is based on proven income, it would be a no go.

Another question, do the transfers need to be each and every month, or could you in theory just import the full 18,000 one time?

 

[scubascuba3]

Mauritius is famous for honeymooners, I couldn't think of a worse place to go if you have to see that. When I went to Bahamas there was a conveyer belt of newly weds getting photos on the beach, so tacky, probably sounded good in the brochure

[BananaBandit]

On 1/10/2022 at 6:21 AM, simon43 said:

Well,  having recently moved from Laos to live on the beaches of south-west Turkey, I thought everything was fine...

 

You've probably already revealed your reason(s) in a previous thread...But might you tell me what caused you to leave Laos?

 

Did the work visa become more difficult?

 

You were once the Western World's biggest champion of that place.

[CharlieH]

1 hour ago, BananaBandit said:

 

You've probably already revealed your reason(s) in a previous thread...But might you tell me what caused you to leave Laos?

 

Did the work visa become more difficult?

 

You were once the Western World's biggest champion of that place.

He was being pressured for continual  payment by corrupt Police over his Ham  Radio interest  and refused to let that continue.

[simon43]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Hi there, Simon.

What an exciting and somewhat unusual new "home" that you have.

Coincidentally, I quite recently looked into Mauritius as an option but I'm confused about the income rules.

I have read that you need to import the 1500 per month but from another source I read that you need to PROVE at least that amount as income (such as pension).

So, which is it?
If it's more flexible then someone with pension of 1300 but having assets could still easily qualify but if the rule is based on proven income, it would be a no go.

Another question, do the transfers need to be each and every month, or could you in theory just import the full 18,000 one time?

 

JT, there are 2 different visas that I looked at:

 

1 - Premium (remote worker) annual visa, which requires transfer from overseas into a local bank account of $1,500 USD/month, or $18,000 in total per year. That visa allows you to work from your rented or purchased property, so long as your work is not within Mauritius.

 

2 - Retirement visa, which is the same as (1), except that you are not working!  But both require importation of $18,000 per annum.  You do not need to spend that income in Mauritius, and I guess you could send some of those funds out using Western Union and then import it in again!  But you must import $18,000, not just show proof of funds in a foreign bank account, EXCEPT during your initial visa application, when you need to show $1,500 in a foreign bank account.  Your visa application will then be processed, a bank letter supplied, $1,500 transferred in, and then you get the annual visa, with your total or monthly transfers checked at the renewal visa stage after 1 year.

 

The source of your funds for (2) are not important or checked.  They could be a pension, savings or whatever.  The source of your funds for (1) need to be explained, ie - if you're a remote worker, what do you do?  Sell drugs online? !!

[simon43]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

He was being pressured for continual  payment by corrupt Police over his Ham  Radio interest  and refused to let that continue.

Exactly as Charlie said.  I had zero problems with living in north Laos, lovely people, food, hills and rivers etc.

 

Then this <deleted> bigwig police officer drove past my house one day and saw all my radio antennas...! ????

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, simon43 said:

Exactly as Charlie said.  I had zero problems with living in north Laos, lovely people, food, hills and rivers etc.

 

Then this <deleted> bigwig police officer drove past my house one day and saw all my radio antennas...! ????

why didn't you just stop using the radio stuff and take them down?

[simon43]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

why didn't you just stop using the radio stuff and take them down?

Why should I stop a hobby that I enjoy, and which the Lao government allows me to do and has issued me with a licence to legally do that hobby? No way! Stuff the police guy - I go to where I can enjoy my hobby without some d*ck  sticking his nose in ????

[CharlieH]

Interesting fun fact on Mauritious

 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSe4tyL4S/

[simon43]

16 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Interesting fun fact on Mauritious

 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSe4tyL4S/

Nice clear water!  I need to buy a facemask etc and get my head under the water when I paddle each day ????

[BusyB]

On 1/11/2022 at 6:20 AM, simon43 said:

Yes, I'm fully aware that there are agents and corrupt officials who take bribes.  I prefer to try to live by the rules and not take risks or make myself a target for corruption or extortion.

 

Jeff, yes certainly I will see what prices are like.  So far no shocks at all. I have been shopping in the 'InterMarche' at the big shopping centre, plenty of choice of local and imported products.  The prices are what I expected, and quite affordable for me.  Not sure about beer, cigarettes etc, but I'll check next time.

You make it all sound very tempting 555 ...

[HKexpat]

Sounds like a great retirement spot. I have visited Seychelles which are only a 2 hour flight from you many times and love going there too.  

[worgeordie]

On 1/22/2022 at 11:20 AM, simon43 said:

Nice clear water!  I need to buy a facemask etc and get my head under the water when I paddle each day ????

Just be careful , when i was there , it must be about at least 45 years ago, I spent

too much time snorkeling , and  sun burned my back very bad , on the flight back

to the UK, it was all dried up and scales like a crocodile,  it was a terrible

flight and i could not put my back on the rear of the seat and it was as itchy as hell.

but apart from that had a great time there, good luck.

regards worgeordie