Arrival in Seychelles

Seychelles generally allows visa-free entry, but every traveler must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as an ETA, before departure through the official Seychelles electronic border system or e-Border App. The application records passport details, a photo or selfie, contact and flight information, accommodation or another place of stay, and payment details. The current ETA fee appears in the system. False information can lead to criminal consequences. The passport or travel document must remain valid until the traveler returns to the country of origin or residence. A yellow-fever certificate is required only after a stay in, or transit of more than 12 hours through, a yellow-fever-risk area. No general COVID-19 entry requirement is currently established, and travel insurance is not listed as a general current Immigration and Civil Status Department requirement, although travelers should check their own coverage. Most visitors arrive through Seychelles International Airport on Mahé. The usual sequence is immigration, baggage collection and customs. A Visitor’s Permit is issued on arrival for tourism, business or visiting. The traveler must not be a prohibited immigrant, must not already hold another valid residence status, and must show onward or return travel, confirmed accommodation and sufficient funds of at least US$150 per day. The initial permit lasts for up to three months. The first three-month period is free; extensions are granted in periods of up to three months to a total maximum of twelve months and cost SCR 5,000 for each extension period or part of one. Applications and extensions can be handled through the Immigration and Civil Status Department’s online permit service or at Independence House in Victoria on Mahé. People who intend to work, study or stay through a family or residence arrangement need the permit that matches their purpose. A Gainful Occupation Permit, or GOP, must be obtained before starting paid or unpaid work. The employer applies after employment approval, and the application should be made at least one week before work begins. A Student Permit requires admission, proof of funds, a passport, two photographs and, where applicable, accommodation and a birth certificate; the fee is SCR 1,000 for processing plus SCR 1,500 per year, and the permit does not allow work. A Dependant’s Permit is available for a spouse or minor child of a Seychellois person when the relationship, medical certificate, maintenance and security bond requirements are met; the fee is SCR 1,000 for processing plus SCR 1,000 per year, and it does not allow work. A Residence Permit can depend on a family connection, a local connection or a special contribution. It requires financial evidence and a bank guarantee of at least SCR 20,000 and does not itself authorize employment. The accommodation or residential address given to the authorities must be accurate. A change of address must be reported to the Immigration and Civil Status Department without delay. Seychelles has no generally evidenced local resident-registration procedure for visitors. Functional registration occurs through the electronic border system, the Visitor’s Permit and the address attached to a permit. Foreign residents may qualify for a National Identity Card with a passport and a valid GOP, Dependant’s Permit, Residence Permit, Student Permit or International Trade Zone permit. Foreign workers and dependants over 16 may also be eligible for a National Identification Number or an identity-letter process, and the identity card normally lasts as long as the permit. Customs uses a red channel for goods that must be declared, including goods that may require duties or approval and restricted goods. The green channel is for travelers with nothing to declare. Customs may inspect baggage, require packages to be opened and request receipts or other documents. Cash or monetary instruments of SCR 50,000 or more must be declared on entry and departure in the electronic border system; on arrival, the traveler should use the red channel and provide evidence of the source. Non-declaration or false declarations can result in fines and possible seizure. Airport taxis wait outside the arrival terminal. Rental cars are available, while public buses operate outside the airport rather than inside the terminal. The Seychelles Public Transport Corporation, or SPTC, is the public transport provider on Mahé and Praslin. Bus cards can be obtained online through the electronic border system or at the airport. Large luggage may be subject to transport rules, so those rules should be checked before taking a bus. Connections to other islands may use Air Seychelles, charter or helicopter services, or Island Development Company services. State health services are provided through the Health Care Agency, with hospitals and primary-care facilities on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. Seychellois citizens are entitled to free primary state care; visitors and foreign residents should clarify charges and insurance coverage for their own treatment. The emergency number is 999 and the ambulance number is 151. The airport customer centre can be reached at +248 4684077, Immigration at +248 4293636, and airport customs at +248 4293797 or +248 4293795.