Religion in Seychelles

Article 21 of the Constitution protects freedom of conscience, thought and religion in Seychelles. People may change, express, teach, practise and observe their religion alone or with others, in public or private. Restrictions are permitted only under law and when necessary for matters such as defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health or the rights of other people. Seychelles has no state religion, cannot impose religious observance, and cannot require a religious oath from someone whose beliefs reject it. Religion is not a qualification for public office, and people cannot be forced to attend religious instruction, ceremonies or observances. The main access point is usually a local congregation or religious community; opening hours, fees and availability are not published in one national schedule and differ between Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands. Roman Catholic services are supported by the Diocese of Port Victoria, Anglican communities by the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles within the Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean, and Muslim communities by bodies represented through the National Muslim Council of Seychelles (NMCS). The NMCS brings together the Islamic Society of Seychelles, the Quaran and Sunnah Society of Seychelles and the Islamic Foundation of Seychelles. Other established communities include Hindu organisations such as the Hindu Council and Hindu Kovil Sangam, the Seychelles Buddhist Association, the Bahá’í Centre and several smaller Christian denominations. Religious practice includes worship, prayer, sacraments, rites, youth and adult education, community work and social support. The 2026 state holiday calendar includes Christian holidays such as Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Fête Dieu, Assumption Day, All Saints Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas Day. Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan, Diwali, Bahá’í Naw-Rúz and Buddhist Vesak receive public recognition or State House messages, but they are not shown in the regular public-holiday directory cited in the research, and some dates vary according to lunar or religious calendars. A religious group may register as an association or corporation through the Registrar General under the Associations Act 2022. An association requires at least five people with a shared non-profit purpose. The application normally includes a letter, officers’ list and identification documents, constitution, resolution and meeting minutes; the Registration Division checks the name and documents, issues a certificate or requests changes, and does not charge a registration fee. Registered groups must submit an annual officers return and audited accounts, report changes within 14 days and meet beneficial-ownership, anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing requirements supervised through the relevant financial compliance system. Lack of registration concerns the organisation’s legal status and does not remove an individual’s constitutional freedom of belief. Catholic and Anglican churches have provided religious instruction in public schools, with an opt-out for religious reasons or non-belief and no replacement class reported. Private schools may provide religious education; reports from 2023 found no confirmed faith-based school system, while discussion of possible Catholic schools in 2026 did not establish that such schools already operate. Religious baptism, initiation, wedding and funeral rites may be arranged through a community, but a religious ceremony does not replace civil registration. The Civil Status Office issues official birth, marriage and death records. Marriage procedures can involve 11 days of banns or a special marriage licence costing SCR 500; civil marriage at the office is free for Seychellois, while ceremonies outside the office or involving two foreign nationals have different island-dependent fees. A copy of a certificate costs SCR 50. In an in-articulo-mortis case, a minister of religion may have a statutory role, with the register sent to the authorities within three days. The Seychelles Interfaith Council (SIFCO) connects principal denominations and faith communities for dialogue, cooperation, peace, national unity, moral reflection and consultation with government, but it is not a public authority with a stated decision-making mandate. Its 2026 delegation included Anglican, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Hindu, Muslim and Evangelical representatives. A proposed formation centre costing about SCR 20 million remained a project rather than an established institution. Religious groups can use broadcasting access available to registered groups through the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, but they do not receive a separate commercial radio or television licence merely because they are religious organisations. Authorities and faith bodies have also raised concerns about vandalism, misleading representations and new groups lacking adequate oversight or accountability.