Section 2: Interpretation

2. Interpretation In this Act— “alien” has the same meaning as in the Mauritius Citizenship Act; “Board of Investment” means the Board of Investment established under the Investment Promotion Act; “citizen” means a citizen of Mauritius; “Commonwealth citizen” means a citizen of any of the countries specified in the First Schedule to the Mauritius Citizenship Act; I2 – 1 [Issue 7] Immigration Act “dependent child”, in relation to a person, means the child, stepchild or lawfully adopted child of that person, who is under the age of 24; “exempted person” means any person specified in section 7 (1); “immigration officer”— (a) means a public officer designated as such by the Minister to carry out any functions under this Act; and (b) includes any other officer acting under the authority of the officer so designated; “investor” means— (a) a person who is not a citizen of Mauritius; or (b) an association or body of persons, whether corporate or incorporate, the control or management of which is vested in persons who are not citizens of Mauritius, and registered as such with the Board of Investment; “master” means the person in immediate charge or control of a vessel; “Mauritian Diaspora Scheme” means the Mauritian Diaspora Scheme prescribed under the Investment Promotion Act; “medical officer” means a person authorised or recognised by the Minister as a medical officer for the purposes of this Act; “member of the crew” means any person, including a master, who is employed on board or belongs to the staff of a vessel; “Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of immigration is assigned; “next of kin” means parent, grandparent, brother or sister; “occupation permit” means a permit issued under section 9A; “passenger” means any person arriving in Mauritius on any vessel, other than a member of the crew; “permanent residence permit” means a permit issued under section 9; “permanent resident” means the holder of a permanent residence permit; “permit” means a permanent residence permit or residence permit; “port of entry” includes any place designated by an immigration officer; “professional” means a non-citizen who is employed in Mauritius by virtue of a contract of employment and registered as such with the Board of Investment; “prohibited immigrant” means any person specified in section 8 (1); “Property Development Scheme” means the Property Development Scheme prescribed under the Investment Promotion Act; “public sector agency” has the same meaning as in the Business Registration Act; “residence permit” means a permit issued under section 9; “resident” means the holder of a residence permit; “retired non-citizen” means a retired non-citizen registered as such with the Board of Investment; continued on page I2 – 5 [Issue 7] I2 – 2 Revised Laws of Mauritius “self-employed non-citizen” means a non-citizen engaged in a professional activity and registered as a self-employed person with the Board of Investment; “Smart City Scheme” means the Smart City Scheme prescribed under the Investment Promotion Act; “transport company” includes the agents of any such company carrying on business in Mauritius; “vessel” means any ship, aircraft or other means of travel by sea or air and includes any boat or craft of any kind. [S. 2 amended by Act 33 of 1999; s. 5 (a) of Act 21 of 2006 w.e.f. 1 October 2006; s. 16 (a) of Act 17 of 2007 w.e.f. 22 August 2007; s. 11 (a) of Act 26 of 2012 w.e.f. 22 December 2012; s. 23 (a) of Act 9 of 2015 w ans the Smart City Scheme prescribed under the Investment Promotion Act; “transport company” includes the agents of any such company carrying on business in Mauritius; “vessel” means any ship, aircraft or other means of travel by sea or air and includes any boat or craft of any kind. [S. 2 amended by Act 33 of 1999; s. 5 (a) of Act 21 of 2006 w.e.f. 1 October 2006; s. 16 (a) of Act 17 of 2007 w.e.f. 22 August 2007; s. 11 (a) of Act 26 of 2012 w.e.f. 22 December 2012; s. 23 (a) of Act 9 of 2015 w.e.f. 14 May 2015.]