The short version
- Mauritius has the lower entry bar: €1,292 per month versus €6,935 for Iceland.
- Mauritius grants a longer initial stay (12 months vs 6), and it is renewable.
- Tax treatment differs: Iceland — unclear — verify individually; Mauritius — foreign income exempt. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Iceland Remote Work Long-Term Visa | Mauritius Premium Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €6,935 | €1,292 (better) |
| Income basis | Salary / employment contract | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 6 months | 1 year (better) |
| Renewable | No | Yes (better) |
| Maximum total stay | 6 months | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | No |
| Path to citizenship | No | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Unclear — verify individually | Foreign income exempt (Remittance basis (Premium Visa holders)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €85 | ≈ €0 (better) |
| Where to apply | In country | Online, In country |
| Processing time | 2–4 weeks | 1–8 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Iceland Remote Work Long-Term Visa →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Mauritius Premium Visa →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Long-term visa for remote workers and their family members — Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun), archived utl.is page (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Form L-802 — Application for a long-term visa for remote workers and their family members (official Directorate of Immigration form) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Sækja um langtímavegabréfsáritun vegna fjarvinnu — current official island.is application page for the remote-work long-term visa (utl.is now redirects here) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Long-term visa for remote workers in Iceland — Work in Iceland (official government portal): income ISK 1,000,000/1,300,000, 180/90-day tiers, no kennitala, fee ISK 12,200, processing 2-4 weeks (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Icelandic Health Insurance — Work in Iceland (official portal): public cover requires 6 months legal residence + kennitala (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Amendment to Remote Work Long-Term Visa Regulations — Government of Iceland (government.is), 1 Oct 2024 (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Remote Work Program Introduced — Fragomen (immigration law firm): program introduced 5 Nov 2020, up to six months, foreign-employment requirement (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Iceland Introduces Long-Term Visa for non-EU/EEA Teleworkers — SchengenVisaInfo (media): confirms 2020 launch and income/insurance requirements (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Iceland Remote Work Visa 2025: Digital Nomad Update — NNRoad (global mobility/compliance provider): Oct-2024 amendment, up to six months (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Iceland Digital Nomad Visa — Application and Requirements (VisaGuide.World): fee ISK 12,200, processing 2-4 weeks, ISK 2,000,000 insurance figure (unconfirmed against tier-1) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media ISK to EUR converter — exchange-rates.org (rate 144.20 ISK/EUR, 0.006935 EUR/ISK on 15 Jun 2026, used for EUR normalisation) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Stay in Mauritius under Premium Visa - FAQs (Economic Development Board, Nov 2023): income USD 1500/adult + USD 500/child, validity, free of charge, insurance, taxation/remittance, no local labour market (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Premium Visa - Passport and Immigration Office (Government of Mauritius): one year renewable, free of cost (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government The New Premium Visa - EDB Mauritius newsletter: launch 16 Nov 2020, free of charge, travel and health insurance, validity (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Mauritius Premium Visa - Residency in Mauritius: validity, free of charge, insurance, remittance-basis tax, no entry into labour market, separate USD 50 fee for Occupation/Residence Permits from Dec 2025 (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Mauritius Premium Visa - IBN Immigration Solutions: USD 1,500/month, not automatically tax resident, no local employment (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Mauritius: Taxation of Individuals under the Remittance Rules (WTS): 183/270-day residency, remittance basis, foreign credit-card spending not a remittance (Dilloo case) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Mauritius Premium Visa - Citizen Remote: income tiers USD 1,500 / 3,000 / +500, processing time, online application (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Media Understanding the Healthcare System in Mauritius - guide for non-residents (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15