Dealing with the Authorities

That applies if you simply need a permit in advance, are looking for contacts among lawyers, notaries or ministers, or want to set up a company or an offshore company. Or perhaps you have ideas and want to learn about the local markets, or get in touch with ministries or specialists? You may be looking for a property or a great building plot, or you want to emigrate and need information, including on schools and universities. Whatever it is, we have an insight into a good deal and are happy to pass on what we have learned.

We will of course treat your enquiry discreetly and in confidence.

The following sections show which office is responsible for which matter, and which documents and fees you should plan for.

Most offices are in and around Victoria on Mahé. For matters on Praslin or La Digue, it is worth phoning or emailing beforehand to check whether the office there is responsible. For current times, see Opening hours in the Seychelles.

The Seychelles do not require a visa, but all travellers must apply online for a Travel Authorization before departure. According to the US State Department, you can do this up to 30 days before the trip. You will need proof of onward or return travel and either confirmed accommodation or a letter of invitation from a Seychelles resident. The fee quoted there is EUR 12.06 (as of November 2026). Third-party providers often charge considerably more, so you should submit the application through the official website of the immigration authority: ics.gov.sc. Everything else about passports and documents can be found under Entry requirements.

If you want to stay longer, you need a Residence Permit. It expressly does not allow you to work. Among other things, you must provide proof of assets or income, including a bank confirmation. According to the application form, permit holders must spend at least five days in the Seychelles in every twelve-month period. The form we have lists a processing fee of SCR 1,000 and a permit fee of SCR 150,000 for the main applicant and SCR 75,000 for a spouse applying at the same time. Have these amounts confirmed by the Immigration Department before you apply, as fees are adjusted from time to time.

Anyone who wants to work in the Seychelles, whether as an employee or self-employed, needs a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP). Without one, non-Seychellois may not work full time or part time, paid or unpaid. The processing fee is SCR 1,000 (as of November 2026). On top of that comes a fee for the whole period applied for, calculated per month. The sources give different amounts here (SCR 500 to 700 per month), so the current fee schedule of the Immigration Department is what counts.

• According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the application should be submitted at least ten weeks before the planned start of work. You may only enter the country to take up the job once the permit has been granted.
• For employees, the employer submits the application; self-employed people apply themselves.
• Once the permit is approved, you will usually be asked for a bank guarantee (security bond) from a bank in the Seychelles and an employment contract certified by the Employment Department. The amount of the guarantee depends on your nationality.
• If you want to set up a business, you first submit a project concept to the Seychelles Investment Board.

Birth, adoption, marriage and death certificates are issued only by the Civil Status Office. You can apply in person or online through the CertExpress service, which requires a validated SeyID account. If you apply in person, you will be asked for a document showing your national identification number (NIN). Details and payment options (including bank transfers from abroad) can be found on the website of the Immigration Department.

Certificates intended for use abroad need an apostille. It is issued by the Supreme Court and costs SCR 250 (as of November 2026). If necessary, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs then adds its authentication. For personal documents such as certificates, diplomas or police clearance certificates, the fee is SCR 150 per document (as of November 2026). Private documents and copies must first be notarised and then apostilled. You will find details at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For a civil ceremony, the authority asks for both partners' birth certificates, divorce or death certificates where relevant, copies of your passports and, if names differ, supporting evidence. Foreign documents must be translated into English or French by a sworn translator and carry an apostille. The original with the apostille must be presented. For the whole procedure, read Getting Married in the Seychelles.

Foreign investors need a feedback letter from the Seychelles Investment Board before applying for a licence. This step does not apply to activities regulated by the Financial Services Authority or the Central Bank. Licences are issued by the Seychelles Licensing Authority. Typical requirements include proof of the business address and rental or ownership documents for the premises. Depending on the sector, health or safety permits may also be needed. The Investment Board provides information at investinseychelles.com. General information on the Seychelles as a business location can be found under Investing in the Seychelles, and on choosing a company form under Setting up an offshore company.

Non-Seychellois may only acquire property with prior government approval (a Sanction) under the Immovable Property (Transfer Restriction) Act. This also applies to leases and to shares in companies that hold land. The moratorium on residential plots was lifted in 2025. It was replaced by criteria: a minimum market value of SCR 10 million for plots with a house and SCR 4,000 per square metre for undeveloped land. State land and units from government-subsidised housing schemes are closed to foreigners. The approval fee is quoted differently depending on the source. The authority gives 12 per cent of the market value, while other sources quote different rates. Have the current rate confirmed in writing before signing a purchase contract.

No, but a Travel Authorization is compulsory and must be applied for online before departure. You will find more under Entry requirements.

No. For that you also need a Gainful Occupation Permit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends submitting the application at least ten weeks before the start of work. The actual time depends on the individual case.

Yes, with a government Sanction and subject to the minimum values given above. State land and subsidised housing schemes are excluded.

An apostille from the Supreme Court and, if required, additional authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.