Seychelles is a country situated almost 1,450 kilometers from the East African coast. Travelers around the world, especially Indian tourists, travel to Seychelles every year because of the hundreds of islands and tourist spots.
So, if you want to visit this country, learn the following details about the Seychelles visa for Indians. Moreover, the travel documents for Seychelles are entirely different from the requirements of the rest of the countries. Therefore, going through this blog to understand the basic information is mandatory.
Details about Seychelles
Officially known as the Republic of Seychelles, the country is famous for its 155 islands in the Indian Ocean. While the majority of the islands are abandoned, the ones inhabited are ideal spots for romantic dates and tourist destinations.
Moreover, Victoria is Seychelles’ capital and is fifteen hundred kilometers long, thus connecting with the mainland of Africa.
Seychelles is the smallest and the least populated country in Africa, with an estimated ratio of almost 100,700 people.
Other nearby islands and countries are as follows:
What places should I visit after landing in Seychelles?
- A walk in the Vallée de Mai
- Hiking on Mahé
- Visiting the Bird Island to watch the birds
- Fregate Island famous for water adventure sports
- Boat trips
What is a Seychelles Visa?
Surprisingly, the first thing every traveler should learn is the fact that Seychelles is a visa-free country. This means that there is nothing like a Seychelles visa for Indians.
As a result, you can travel to Seychelles from India without a visa. This applies to almost every citizen of each country in the world. However, Seychelles does not recognize the State of Kosovo, so they cannot enter the country either with or without a visa.
Traveling to Seychelles without a visa requires you to have some documents to show your eligibility for entering the country. Although you do not need a visa, getting a permit is a mandatory requirement to cross the border of Seychelles when traveling to India.
Why Is It Important to Have a Permit?
Since Indian citizens can enter the country visa-free, they must get a visitor’s permit from the Immigration Department of Seychelles. It is also known as a Seychelles Immigration Permit. You can use it when visiting the country for purposes such as a vacation, visiting family and friends, or attending a business conference.
Furthermore, as an Indian citizen, you must have other documents such as a passport and identification form that should be recognizable by the Republic of Seychelles to enter the country.
Besides, these documents are important to get a visitor’s permit to legally enter and stay in Seychelles.
Validity
The Department of Immigration of Seychelles will issue you an Immigration Permit upon entering the Seychelles International Airport. This is mandatory to have to because Seychelles is a visa-free country and you must get permission from the authorities to enjoy your stay.
In addition, this Immigration Permit has a validity period of one to three months, which is free of cost. However, you can also extend it for an additional three months from its issuance date by paying almost 5,000 Seychelles Rupee (SCR). This equals to almost 29,710 Indian Rupees.
The total period of extensions should not cross the limit of twelve months.
Travel Authorization (TA)
Since you do not need a visa to enter Seychelles, you are required to apply for a travel authorization (TA) before departing from India. This is one of the legal documents that you must have when entering the airport of Seychelles to show the immigration officials.
Associated fee
A travel authorization requires you to submit a fee of almost 11 Euros. This is equivalent to up to 1,006 Indians Rupees.
When to apply?
You can apply for a TA (Travel Authorization) at least 30 days (one month) before your flight to the host country.
How to apply?
The application process for a TA is straightforward. For this purpose, make sure to visit this website. Another method is to download the Seychelles E-border app.
Requirements of the process
To apply for travel authorization, make sure you have the following documents with you.
- Passport
- A selfie photo
- Contact details
- Information about the trip
- Details of the place where you will stay after you arrive in the destination country
- Booking confirmation of the flight or airline
- Information on the debit or credit card
Prohibited items
When applying for Travel Authorization, ensure to learn that the following items are prohibited and need permission to take with you when traveling to Seychelles.
- Alcohol
- Pharmaceutical items
- Tobacco
- Fruits or vegetables
- Types of equipment such as radio
Visa On Arrival
Indian citizens are not required to apply for an e-visa or visa on arrival to enter Seychelles, as it is a visa-free nation for Indian citizens and all other foreign travelers.
However, you must get a permit to enter and stay in the country without any restrictions or legal threats. The application process for a permit is usually offline.
Various Purposes for Traveling to Seychelles from India
You can travel to any foreign country for any reason including tourism, study, work, visiting a friend or family member, business, etc. Similar is the case while traveling to Seychelles from India.
However, the following are some of the common categories of the purposes you can think about to plan a trip to Seychelles from India.
- You can visit the Republic of Seychelles from India for tourism purposes. This will also allow you to visit friends or family members or satisfy the thirst for adventure. When visiting the country in this regard, you cannot work in Seychelles. You can get an entrance permit for tourism purposes upon arrival in Seychelles. This method eliminates the need for going through the lengthy application process and waiting for the processing time.
- As an Indian national, you can also visit Seychelles for business-related or work purposes. This specific purpose is further categorized into certain fields depending on your skills or experience. For example, it includes cultural, sports, and shooting purposes.
- Furthermore, you can also travel to Seychelles for a brief duration of time. This is known as the transit period. It allows you to stay at the International Airport of Seychelles while traveling to another destination country.
Eligibility Criteria for a Seychelles Immigration Permit
Make sure to fulfill the following eligibility criteria for a Seychelles Immigration Permit when visiting the country for business, pleasure, or family meet-up.
Tourism purposes
- You must not be an illegal immigrant
- Must not have a valid permit to live in Seychelles
- Must have a valid return ticket
- If you are traveling to the Republic of Seychelles for work purposes, you must have a GOP (Gainful Occupation Permit). Alternatively, it is called a work permit
- Must have a genuine accommodation and enough funds to cover your stay
- Before leaving your country, make sure to complete the immigration forms through this website
Resident permit for employees
- The applicant should not be an illegal immigrant
- Must have good health and moral character
- An active participation in the social, economic, and cultural life of the country. Thus, this will enable them to get connected with their families and domestic life in the Seychelles
- Lastly, must be technically and professionally trained
Post COVID-19 Regulations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Seychelles introduced several travel rules and restrictions for the safety of travelers. These rules are still applicable in today’s time.
Therefore, you need to bring certain papers to ensure that you are not infected with COVID-19 ahead of your entrance to the Seychelles.
- If you belong to a low-risk nation, you must have a PCR COVID-19 report that should be negative. Moreover, it should not be older than the last three days. A Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is also acceptable.
- Make sure to send these negative reports to the Public Health Authority.
- Furthermore, this also includes the flight and accommodation information that should be forwarded to the authorities for verification before leaving your home country. If you do not fulfill these rules, you have to perform a RAT or COVID test after landing in the Republic of Seychelles.
- In addition, make sure to book your hotel or other lodging places in advance at a licensed facility. These documents will be analyzed by the Public Health Authority. Besides, they will be monitoring your cleanliness for almost two weeks after you arrive in Seychelles.
Legal Requirements to Get a Seychelles Immigration Permit
The following documents are requested by the Immigration officials. Therefore, make sure to bring them with you to get a permit for Seychelles.
Photos
Two passport-sized photographs according to the regulations of the visiting country. For example, it may include,
- the photo should be free from any marks/spots
- must be recent
- clearly show your face
- has a white color background, etc.
Passport
Moreover, your Indian passport (of all types) with a validity period of at least one hundred and eighty days is required. Besides, it should be free from any signs of damage or wear/tear.
Travel authorization
Since you need an Immigration Permit and not a visa for Seychelles, be sure to apply for a travel authorization document that will allow you to enter the country. You can submit it with the rest of the papers.
Confirmed flight tickets
Confirmed flight tickets are needed to show that you will not overstay in Seychelles. Moreover, it also demonstrates your intention to return from the target country to your home state. It will represent your travel dates and times, flight numbers, airport terminals, etc.
Proof of accommodation
Furthermore, proof of accommodation to show that you have managed your place in Seychelles should be submitted. This may include a hotel reservation or a rental contract for an apartment or house.
Letter of invitation
In case, you will be staying with a friend or a family member in Seychelles, submit a letter of invitation. The document should include the details of the host such as the place of their residence, their relationship with you, and their financial status.
Travel health insurance
Having travel health insurance is also important as it helps you cover expenses related to travel and health factors. For instance, surgery, hospitalization, evacuation, repatriation, etc.
Proof of financial resources
Having financial documents is a mandatory requirement to show that you have enough bank balance/funds/resources to support yourself during your stay in Seychelles. The average amount per day should be around 150 dollars. This is equivalent to almost 12,605 INR.
Documents required for study purposes
In case you are traveling to the Seychelles for study purposes, submit the following documents as well along with the standard requirements highlighted above.
- Letter of admission from the respective educational institute in the Seychelles
- A copy of the birth certificate
- No Objection Certificate from the current institute in your home country
- A copy of the bio page of your passport
- A copy of the payment receipt. This 1,000 SCR should be paid during the time of the submission of the application
- Lastly, if your application is approved, you are required to pay 1,500 Seychellois Rupee for a residence permit valid for one year
Fee and Processing Time
Because you can travel to Seychelles without a visa, there is no applicable fee that you have to pay. Similar is the case with the processing time, since you are not applying for a visa, the factor of the processing time does not apply to it.
You only need a visitor permit that you can get from the International Airport of Seychelles within a few minutes. All you have to do is to show the documents to the Immigration Department at the airport and they will stamp your papers, allowing you to travel through the country freely.
FAQs
- Is it possible to apply in advance for a Seychelles visa?
Seychelles is a visa-free country. This means that you do not need a visa to enter the country when traveling from India. So, there is no need to apply for a conventional visa in advance to enter the country.
You only need a visitor’s permit, which you can get after arriving at the airport, to enjoy your stay in the Republic of Seychelles.
- Can I get a visa on arrival in Seychelles?
No, Indian nationals are not required to get a visa on arrival in Seychelles, as it is a visa-free country.
However, a visitor’s or Immigration permit is needed that you can obtain on arriving in the Seychelles. The Department of Immigration will issue you this document.
You can get this permit easily if you submit certain documents such as your valid passport, return or onward travel tickets, proof of accommodation, or a letter of invitation if living with a friend or a family member.
- What is the cost of a Seychelles Immigration Permit?
For the initial three months, the Seychelles Immigration Permit is issued free of charge. However, if you apply for an extension covering three months each, you must pay at least 5,000 Seychelles Rupee (SCR), which is equivalent to almost 29,710 Indian Rupees.
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