Seychelles tourist entry: the Visitor's Permit

All non-citizens need an approved Travel Authorisation before travelling. It is completed on seychelles.govtas.com or in the Seychelles e-Border app, which replaced the paper arrival card, and it costs EUR 10 for the standard 24-hour service. You need a booked ticket and accommodation before you can apply, because both are uploaded with the application. If you stay with friends or relatives, the portal asks for an invitation letter showing the host's name, address, phone number and national identification number.

The Immigration and Civil Status Division issues the Visitor's Permit on arrival to people coming for a holiday, for pleasure, on business or to visit friends and family. Five conditions apply: you are not a prohibited immigrant, you do not already hold a permit that allows you to reside in Seychelles, you hold a valid return or onward ticket covering the visit, you have confirmed accommodation, and you can show enough money for the whole stay. The visiting guidance sets the funds at a minimum of USD 150 per day or its equivalent.

Your passport, or another travel document recognised by the Seychelles government, must remain valid for the whole planned stay and until you are back in your country of origin or residence. Seychelles requires no visa from any nationality, so every passport holder follows the same rules.

The Visitor's Permit itself is free for the first three months. Each extension beyond that costs SCR 5,000 for every additional three-month period or part of one, so a stay of four months costs the same as one of six. The Travel Authorisation fee is separate and is paid online before departure.

Immigration expects you to declare the correct address or accommodation in Seychelles and to report any change of address promptly, by telephone on 4293611 or 4293600 or by email to the immigration office. Making a false declaration to an immigration officer in order to enter is a serious offence. The permit does not allow any work, full time or part time, paid or unpaid; that requires a Gainful Occupation Permit arranged before arrival.

The first permit runs for up to three months. As long as you still meet the five conditions, it can be extended for further periods of up to three months each, to a total of twelve months. Apply online at permits.ics.gov.sc, paying by card, or in person at the Immigration and Civil Status office at Independence House, Victoria, Mahé, using the extension form IMM/13.

The form asks for the permit card number issued on arrival, passport details, your full address in Seychelles, the reason for the extension, the expected departure date, the expiry date of your return ticket and the funds available to you; proof of funds may be requested. You also declare that you are not a prohibited immigrant, hold no other permit and will tell immigration whenever you change address.