Country guide
Seychelles
Destinations
Visa & entry
| eu passport | No visa required for tourism, but a Travel Authorization must be applied for and paid online before arrival (same general system as for UK nationals below); terms not separately confirmed for EU passports this session. |
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| us passport | No visa required for tourism, same Travel Authorization system expected to apply; not separately confirmed for US passports this session. |
| uk passport | No visa required, but must apply and pay for a Travel Authorization online up to 30 days in advance. On arrival, granted a free 3-month visitor's permit, extendable up to a maximum total of 12 months (extensions are paid). Must show proof of return/onward ticket, confirmed accommodation, and sufficient funds; may need to show proof of travel insurance on arrival [gov.uk, checked 2026]. |
| digital nomad visa | Seychelles is widely reported to run a 'Workation Retreat Programme' allowing remote workers to stay long-term; this was NOT independently verified via a primary source this session — treat as plausible but unconfirmed. |
| notes | Cash amounts of 50,000 Seychellois rupees (SCR) or more must be declared as part of the Travel Authorization application [gov.uk, checked 2026]. Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an at-risk country [gov.uk]. |
Money
| currency | Seychellois Rupee (SCR) |
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SIM & internet
| notes | Airtel Seychelles and Cable & Wireless Seychelles are commonly cited as the two national mobile operators covering Mahé and Praslin; this was not independently verified via a primary source this session. |
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Insurance
| kite excluded by standard policies | Yes — kitesurfing is excluded or requires an add-on under most standard travel/medical policies (general industry pattern, not Seychelles-specific). Note gov.uk states travelers may need to show proof of travel insurance on arrival as part of the Travel Authorization. |
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| recommended | A specialist watersports/adventure-sports policy that explicitly lists kitesurfing, satisfying the Travel Authorization's insurance-proof requirement. |
| evacuation note | Victoria Hospital on Mahé (with A&E and scanning facilities) is the main referral hospital; tourists pay out-of-pocket for treatment [gov.uk, checked 2026]. Evacuation logistics from Praslin to Mahé, or onward to Réunion/South Africa/Europe for serious cases, were not independently confirmed this session. |
Health
| vaccines | Yellow fever certificate required only if arriving from an at-risk country; otherwise consult TravelHealthPro 8+ weeks ahead — gov.uk does not itemize specific vaccines [gov.uk, checked 2026]. |
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| mosquito disease seasons | Not detailed by gov.uk. Seychelles experienced a notable chikungunya outbreak historically (~2005–2006) and dengue is periodically reported regionally; current risk level and seasonality were not independently verified this session. |
| tap water | Commonly reported as treated/safe on Mahé, but this was not independently verified via a primary source this session — many visitors still default to bottled water. |
| emergency numbers | 112 / 999 (general); Police 133; Ambulance 151 [per emergency numbers reference, checked 2026]. |
| hospital standard | Victoria Hospital (Mont Fleuri, Mahé) has A&E and scanning facilities; private clinics elsewhere mostly offer GP-level care, often English-speaking [gov.uk, checked 2026]. |
Driving
| idp needed | UK photocard licence usable for 3 months; paper licences may need conversion or an International Driving Permit beyond that [gov.uk, checked 2026]. |
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| road safety | Mahé is mountainous with narrow, winding roads, sheer drops, and hairpin bends, not all with safety barriers. Potholes appear suddenly after heavy rain and drivers may swerve sharply to avoid them [gov.uk, checked 2026]. |
Regulation
| drone rules | Seychelles is commonly reported to require a permit from its civil aviation authority for drone use by visitors; this was not independently verified via a primary source this session. |
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| protected areas | Marine National Parks exist around the islands (e.g., near Mahé and Curieuse near Praslin) that are known to carry watersports/anchoring restrictions; exact boundaries and whether kitesurfing is specifically restricted were not independently verified this session. |
| other | West coast of Mahé/Seychelles is described as unsafe for swimming during the north-west monsoon (~December–March), and the east coast during the south-east trade wind season (~May–September) — directly relevant to seasonal kite-spot choice between the two coasts [gov.uk, checked 2026]. Popular Beau Vallon beach can have dangerous rip currents when the sea is rough [gov.uk]. |
Calendar & costs
| currency | SCR |
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Open questions
- Whether the 'Workation Retreat Programme' digital nomad visa is still active/current terms.
- ATM/card acceptance and mobile operator specifics for Mahé vs. Praslin.
- Whether kitesurfing is explicitly restricted inside Seychelles' Marine National Parks.
- Numbeo cost-of-living data could not be retrieved this session (HTTP 429 rate-limited) — cost_index unverified.
- Current mosquito-borne disease risk level/season (chikungunya/dengue).
Sources: gov.uk · gov.uk · gov.uk · ics.gov.sc · en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org