To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
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To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.
presidential republic
predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts
122,730Population2025
45.5 %Urban population2025
$19,449GDP per capita2025
5.8 %GDP growth2025
0.3 %Inflation2025
0.7 %Extreme poverty (international line)2018
93.9 %Adult literacy2010
87.8 %Internet users2024
100 %Access to electricity2024
31refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air ForceMinistry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
No organised violence event recorded in the country over this period.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Seychelles, attacks cannot be ruled out.
There is a risk of break-ins, robberies, burglaries and opportunistic thefts. Crime is generally non-violent, but people can have their bags snatched, cars and boats broken into or be robbed while walking at night.
Criminals may target parked cars, residential accommodation including guest houses, hotels, beaches, and marked and unmarked walking trails.
To reduce the risk to yourself and your belongings:
Be particularly alert in:
Call the Seychelles police on +248 428 8000 to report any incident.
Topless sunbathing is uncommon. Nudism is not accepted and is likely to cause offence.
Seychelles has strict laws on drug use and smuggling. Penalties are severe and may include fines and prison sentences, up to life imprisonment. This can be applied both for supplying and simple possession of any drugs, including when transiting through the airport. Bail is highly unlikely and prosecutions can take a year or more to come to court.
Seychelles International Airport has excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This can be used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.
Pack all luggage yourself and never carry anything through customs for anyone else.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Seychelles, but attitudes vary. Same-sex marriage is not recognised.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Beaches can be safe for swimming at some times of the year and dangerous at others. In general, the west coast is unsafe during the north-west monsoon (around December to March), and the east coast is unsafe during the south-east winds season (around May to September). Beaches at the southern tip are not suitable for swimming at any time.
Beaches do not always have safety information. You should not assume they’re safe. The popular Beau Vallon beach, and some other beaches, may have dangerous rip currents when the sea is rough.
There are not many lifeguards, though some are stationed on popular beaches. Ask for local advice about the conditions before you visit the beaches and follow any warning signs.
See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
It is generally safe to hike in Seychelles. Visitors have sometimes got lost on nature walks or hiking on trails. You can plan a route and access online guides and safety tips from the Seychelles Tourism Department.
If you are planning to drive in Seychelles, see information on driving abroad.
You can see the legal requirements you need to be aware of in the Road Transport Act.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Seychelles for 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get a 1968 international driving permit (IDP) as well.
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
Mahé is mountainous, and roads are narrow and winding, often with sheer drops and hairpin bends. Not all such roads are equipped with safety barriers. Deep, uncovered storm drains flank many roads.
Drink-driving is a problem, so other road users may behave erratically.
Sudden heavy downpours can reduce visibility and road surface conditions quickly. Potholes can appear suddenly after heavy rains. Drivers sometimes veer sharply across lanes to avoid them.
Buses are cheap but infrequent on some routes. A timetable is available from the bus station in Victoria or from the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation. Most public buses do not operate after 8pm.
Taxis are generally of a good standard. Taxi meters are increasingly common but if a taxi is not equipped with one, agree a fare before starting your journey.
Piracy in the region has decreased but there is still some risk, especially off the coast of Somalia. You can check the latest situation with United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa).
If you’re travelling by sea, read about the regional risks at sea.
Most of the inner island resorts are accessible by ferry. Pay attention to safety briefings when taking any boat trips. Make sure life jackets are provided, especially on smaller excursion boats.
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Heavy or prolonged rainfall can cause flooding, landslides, falling trees, and poor visibility, particularly during the months from November to March. Severe weather can cause damage to property and infrastructure. Roads may become damaged or blocked, leading to closures and travel disruption. Domestic flights and ferries may also be disrupted.
Monitor weather updates from the Seychelles Meteorological Authority and local media, and follow the advice of local authorities.
Call the Department of Risk and Disaster Management on 160 to report flooding, landslides, infrastructure disruptions or other related incidents. For life-threatening emergencies, call 999, 151 or 111.
Seychelles experiences periods of severe drought. The authorities may impose water restrictions during these periods. Follow local guidance and use water sensibly.
76.3yearsLife expectancy2024
14per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
42per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
6.6per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2022
97.7 %Basic drinking water access2024
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
See what health risks you’ll face in Seychelles.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
As a tourist, you must pay for medical treatment.
Residents in Seychelles from overseas need to pay for some treatment, including medication and prescriptions.
The main hospital is at Mont Fleuri in Victoria on Mahé, and there are local health centres in most residential areas. Victoria Hospital has an accident and emergency department, and facilities such as scans. There are many private clinics in Seychelles, mostly offering GP services.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Seychelles where some staff will speak English.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Seychelles’ current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Seychelles set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Seychelles High Commission in the UK.
If you’re visiting Seychelles, your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
You do not need a visa to visit Seychelles, but you must get a travel authorisation before you travel.
When you arrive, you’ll get a visitor’s permit for 3 months. You can apply for 3-month extensions, up to a maximum period of 12 months in total, if you meet visitor permit extension requirements. You can apply online to extend before your current visitor’s permit expires or in-person at the Immigration and Civil Status Office in Victoria.
The visitor’s permit is free for the first 3 months, but there is a fee for each 3-month extension.
You must apply and pay for a travel authorisation online to enter Seychelles. You can apply up to 30 days before you arrive. In an emergency, you can pay an extra fee for an express application.
When you apply, you will need to show you meet Seychelles entry requirements. These include having:
When you arrive, you may need to show proof you have travel insurance and are covered for any potential health costs.
You must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Seychelles guide.
As a precaution, Seychelles has introduced additional health measures in response to the Ebola outbreak.
Foreign nationals must spend at least 21 days outside the Democratic Republic of Congo and meet monitoring requirements before they can enter Seychelles.
Foreign nationals who have been in, or transited through, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 21 days, may be screened on arrival in Seychelles and not allowed to enter.
Seychellois citizens and residents may enter within the 21-day limit, but must comply with mandatory health measures, including possible quarantine.
For more information, contact the Seychelles Ministry of Health.
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Seychelles. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
If you are taking cash with a value of 50,000 Seychellois rupees or more into Seychelles, declare this when you apply for your travel authorisation.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Beaches do not always have safety information. You should not assume they’re safe. The popular Beau Vallon beach, and some other beaches, may have dangerous rip currents when the sea is rough.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
The main hospital is at Mont Fleuri in Victoria on Mahé, and there are local health centres in most residential areas. Victoria Hospital has an accident and emergency department, and facilities such as scans. There are many private clinics in Seychelles, mostly offering GP services.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.