Updated 2026-09 · NŌRÉA Realty
To sell property in Mauritius you set a price with a valuation, sign a written mandate with a REAA-registered agent, market the property, accept an offer, sign a compromis de vente with a 10% deposit held by the notary, then let the notary search the title and draft the acte de vente, usually four to eight weeks later. You pay 5% land transfer tax and up to 2% plus VAT commission. Here is each step, what it costs, and what changes if you live abroad.
How do I work out what my property is worth?
Start with comparable sales, not asking prices. Ask your agent for recent sold prices of similar properties in your area, in rupees per perche for land and per square metre for built property, and for a formal valuation from a sworn valuer if you need a figure for a bank, a divorce or an estate. In Mauritius the Registrar-General also assesses the property's market value for duty purposes, so a price far below the market invites a reassessment rather than saving anyone tax.
Be realistic about what buyers can pay: Mauritian buyers face the 5% registration duty and mortgage limits of around 70% of value, while foreign buyers can only consider your property if it sits inside an approved scheme or is a G+2 apartment priced at Rs 6 million or more. NŌRÉA gives a price opinion after a visit and shows you the comparables behind it.
Do I need a written mandate with an estate agent?
Yes. Since 1 August 2026 only agents registered with the Real Estate Agent Authority (REAA) may sell property for a fee, and the Real Estate Agent Authority Act 2020 provides for a written contract between agent and client setting out the property, the validity period and whether the agent is sole agent. An unregistered agent cannot legally recover a commission, so ask for the REAA certificate number before you sign anything.
The mandate should state the asking price, the commission (capped since August 2026 at 2% of the price plus VAT from the seller under GN 125 of 2026), the term and whether it is exclusive. An exclusive mandate for a fixed period, typically three to six months, lets the agent invest in professional photography and a filmed tour; an open mandate spread across several agencies tends to produce duplicate listings at different prices, which buyers notice. Whatever you choose, never pay a commission to someone who cannot show their registration.
How is a property marketed and how are offers handled?
Filmed tours sell property in Mauritius. NŌRÉA shoots a walkthrough of every listing and publishes it on the site, TikTok and Instagram, where our tours have been watched more than 800,000 times; buyers arrive having already seen the layout, light and surroundings, and visits are fewer but serious. Alongside video we list on the site with the area in perches or square metres, the price, and, where the property is scheme-eligible, the fact that foreigners can buy.
Offers come through the agent, usually on WhatsApp. An offer is not binding until both parties sign the compromis, so you can negotiate price, deposit, inclusions and the deadline for the deed. Once you accept, the buyer pays a deposit, normally 10%, into the notary's escrow account, and the property is taken off the market for the agreed period. Every advertisement must also display the registered agent's name and certificate number, so check your agent's listings carry them.
What happens at the notary: compromis de vente to acte de vente?
The compromis de vente is the binding preliminary contract. It fixes the price, the deposit, the deadline for the final deed and the conditions precedent, typically the buyer's loan approval and, for a non-citizen buyer, EDB authorisation. If a condition fails, the deposit is returned; if the buyer simply walks away, it is usually forfeited to you.
The notary, a public officer rather than either party's lawyer, then verifies your title back through prior deeds, checks for mortgages, charges, servitudes and unpaid taxes, obtains the surveyor's plan and any morcellement permit, and drafts the acte de vente. This stage typically takes four to eight weeks, longer if the buyer needs a loan or EDB approval, so two to three months from compromis to completion is normal. At signing, the buyer pays the price into escrow, the notary deducts your land transfer tax and pays the agent, and the deed is registered with the Registrar-General.
What does it cost to sell and what if I live abroad?
The seller pays 5% land transfer tax, deducted at completion, plus the agency commission of up to 2% plus 15% VAT under the 2026 cap. On a Rs 10 million sale that is Rs 500,000 tax and Rs 230,000 commission, about Rs 730,000 in total. Mauritius has no capital gains tax on property. The buyer pays the notary and the 5% registration duty. The planned increase of land transfer tax to 10% for non-citizens from July 2026 was repealed by the Finance Act 2026, so the 5% rate applies to everyone; the one exception is a seller of a G+2 apartment on State Land or Pas Géométriques selling to a non-citizen, who pays an extra 10% duty.
If you are a non-citizen selling a scheme property, the EDB must approve the disposal beforehand, and the buyer must themselves be eligible, either Mauritian or an approved non-citizen; your notary handles the non-objection. You can sign by power of attorney without flying in, and sale proceeds can be repatriated freely since exchange control was suspended in 1994, provided your bank sees the acte de vente, tax receipts and source-of-funds paperwork. Check the tax treatment in your country of residence. Rates change with each Finance Act; verify with your notary at the time of sale.
Frequently asked
- How long does it take to sell a house in Mauritius?
- Once you have an accepted offer, expect four to eight weeks for the notary's title search and drafting, and two to three months from compromis to signed acte de vente if the buyer needs a loan or EDB approval. Marketing time before the offer depends on price and location.
- What taxes does a seller pay in Mauritius?
- Land transfer tax of 5% of the sale price, deducted by the notary at completion. There is no capital gains tax. The only surcharge is an extra 10% duty when a G+2 apartment on State Land or Pas Géométriques is sold to a non-citizen.
- Can I sell my property in Mauritius without an agent?
- Yes, a private sale is legal; you still need a notary for the compromis and acte de vente. If you do use an agent, they must be REAA-registered since 1 August 2026, and their fee is capped at 2% plus VAT from the seller.
- Can a foreigner sell their Mauritius property to another foreigner?
- Yes, if the property is in an approved scheme or is a qualifying G+2 apartment and the buyer obtains EDB approval. The seller also needs the EDB's prior approval to dispose of the property, which the notary arranges before the deed.
Sources
- https://lawsofmauritius.govmu.org/portal/viewlegislationdocument/web/?doctitle=UmVhbCBFc3RhdGUgQWdlbnQgQXV0aG9yaXR5IEFjdCAyMDIw&docnumber=&doctype=act
- https://www.reaamauritius.org/
- https://www.villa-vie.com/en/2026/07/reaa-registration-becomes-mandatory-in-mauritius-of-1-august-2026/
- https://www.lexpressproperty.com/en/news-advices/accommodation/our-files/buying-in-mauritius/a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-property-buying-process-in-mauritius.html
- https://www.propertycloud.mu/blog/must-have-legal-documents-when-buying-a-property-in-mauritius-1
- https://esalesinternational.com/2026/09/02/selling-property-in-mauritius-as-a-non-resident-a-comprehensive-2026-guide/
- https://edbmauritius.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/aop-guidelines.pdf
- https://real-estate-mauritius.mu/en/mauritius-budget-2026-2027/
General information, not legal advice. Verify figures with a notary or the EDB at the time of purchase.
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