A visitor who wants to visit Seychelles Islands as a tourist does not require a visa, regardless of his or her nationality. This is due to the fact that Seychelles is a visa-free nation.
However, a visitor must possess a valid passport and other travel documents recognized by the Republic of Seychelles in order to enter the country.
These documents are required to issue a Visitor’s Permit to the tourist. The Visitor’s Permit is issued by the Seychelles Department of Immigration when a visitor arrives at the Seychelles International Airport.
The Visitor’s Permit is meant for those visitors who wish to visit Seychelles for the purpose of tourism, visiting friends and relatives or attending any business meet. The permit is valid for the first month of a visitor’s stay in the Seychelles Islands.
Eligibility Criteria for Seychelles Visitor’s Permit
To be eligible for Seychelles Visitor’s Permit you will have to fulfil the following conditions:
- You must have a valid passport
- Your passport must have a validity that covers the duration of your entire stay in Seychelles, from the day of entry to the day of exit and at least 90 days after your intended departure date from Seychelles
- Your passport must have at least 2 unused pages
- You must provide proof of confirmed hotel reservation and your contact details for the entire duration of your stay in Seychelles
- You must provide a copy of your return or onward journey ticket
- You must provide proof of having enough funds to support yourself financially during your entire stay in Seychelles. As per the prevalent rules, Seychelles requires visitors to have USD 150 (INR 9,536.92) per day for staying in Seychelles
- You must not have a criminal record
- You must not have been refused entry into Seychelles previously
- You intend to leave Seychelles at the end of your authorized stay
Temporary Visa Requirement to Visit Seychelles
Though Seychelles is a visa-free nation, the Government of Seychelles has revised the list of countries whose citizens require visa prior to visit the islands-nation. This list was updated on 13th March, 2015 to include those countries that have registered cases of the Ebola Virus. This step was taken in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), as part of enhanced precautionary measures to prevent the importation of the Ebola virus into the islands-nation.
As such, citizens of only the following countries require visa to enter Seychelles:
- Guinea- Conakry
- Liberia
- Sierra Leone
With the exception of the Seychellois, citizens of any other nation will be denied entry into the country if they had travelled to any of the above-listed countries within 21 days prior to their arrival in Seychelles. This condition is also valid for passengers in transit. This restriction also holds for passengers and crew of any ship or aircraft that had visited the above mentioned countries within 21 days prior to their arrival in the country.
This restriction will be revised from time to time depending on circumstances and progression of the Ebola outbreak. As such, visitors are advised to enquire about any change in rules of entry before they plan to arrive in Seychelles.
Steps to Follow to Apply for Seychelles Visa
In case you require a visa to enter Seychelles, go through the Seychelles Immigration Information first. Remember that you must apply for Seychelles visa at least one month prior to your intended visit to the nation. Once you are aware of all the details regarding the application, you can go ahead with the following procedure:
Step 1: Download the visa application form
The first step of your visa application procedure is to obtain the visa application form. You can download the form from the internet.
Step 2: Fill up the visa application form
Fill out the details required in the application form carefully. Do not forget to put your signature on your completed application form.
Step 3: Submit your visa application form
Send your completed visa application form along with your passport to the below mentioned address along with courier charges or “Freight Collect” for either DHL or FEDEX for the return of your passport.
Director General of Immigration,
Department of Immigration
Independence House
PO Box 430, Victoria,
Mahé, Seychelles
Phone: +248 4 29 36 36
Email: info@immigration.gov.sc
Extension of Seychelles Visitor’s Permit
The visitor’s permit is valid for the first month of your visit in Seychelles. This permit can be extended for up to three months from the date of issue. The permit can be further extended for successive periods not exceeding three months at a time to a maximum period of twelve months, provided that the visitor still meets the following two conditions:
- The visitor is not a prohibited immigrant
- The visitor holds a valid open return ticket
- The visitor has enough funds to support himself/herself for the duration of the stay
- The visitor applies for the permit’s renewal at least one week before its expiry
Required Fees for Seychelles Visitor’s Permit
Seychelles Visitor’s Permit is issued free of charge for the first three months, after which there is a fee for extension covering each period of three months or any part thereof.
Fees for extension of Seychelles Visitor’s Permit – SCR 5,000 (INR 23,249.25)
Note:
- The conversion into Indian currency is based on current conversion rates, which may change.
- The visitor’s permit extension fee is subject to change at any time.
Dos and Don’ts for Seychelles Visitors
You must remember the following dos and don’ts before you start for your journey to Seychelles.
Dos
- Check with your airline in case you have connecting flights overseas as part of your journey to your destination. You may require separate transit visa for those countries that you pass en route to the islands-nation
Don’ts
- Do not apply for the visitor’s permit if you are a holder of a valid permit which entitles you to reside in Seychelles
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