Complete Seychelles ETA Guide

Yes. As of September 1, 2024, the Seychelles requires every visitor to obtain an ETA before boarding their flight, regardless of nationality. The previous on-arrival Visitor's Permit was abolished. The only exemptions are Seychellois citizens, airline/ship crew on duty, and airside transit passengers. If you arrive on a commercial flight or cruise ship, you need an ETA — there is no on-arrival fallback.

Standard processing is 2 working days from submission. Most applications are approved within hours. Complex cases (Yellow Fever follow-up, security check for certain nationalities) can take 3 to 5 working days. We recommend applying at least 5 days before departure to absorb any unexpected delay.

The Seychelles ETA grants a stay matching what you declare on the application — typically up to 90 days for tourism. The ETA itself is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, meaning you must enter the Seychelles within 90 days of approval. Extensions on the ground at the Department of Immigration in Victoria are possible for genuine tourism, up to a total of 1 year, with proof of funds and accommodation.

The standard ETA is single-entry. Once you exit the Seychelles, the ETA is consumed and you cannot re-enter on the same authorisation. To return, apply for a new ETA. This rarely matters in practice as the Seychelles is an end-destination archipelago, but if you plan a side-trip to the Maldives, Sri Lanka or East Africa and a return to the Seychelles, plan for two ETA applications.

No. The Seychelles ETA strictly authorises tourism, family visits, short business activities (meetings, conferences, contract negotiations), and transit. It does not allow paid employment by a Seychelles company, freelance work paid in SCR, journalism for hire, or academic enrolment leading to a qualification. For paid work, you need a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) sponsored by your Seychelles employer.

The total cost is $33 per traveler — $13 government fee + $20 Evisa Rocket service fee. Children, infants and seniors pay the same as adults. The government fee is non-refundable once the application is filed, even if the ETA is denied.

If denied, the government fee is non-refundable. Evisa Rocket refunds our service fee on request for first-time denials caused by issues we should have caught. Common rejection reasons: photo non-compliant, passport less than 6 months from expiry, no return ticket, missing Yellow Fever certificate when required, insufficient funds. We help diagnose the cause and re-apply correctly.

Only if you are arriving from or have transited through (more than 12 hours airside or any time landside) a Yellow Fever endemic country in Africa or South America. The Seychelles requires the Yellow Fever vaccination certificate at the time of ETA application — the system asks where you've travelled in the last 12 months and flags the requirement. Travelers from non-endemic countries do not need it.

Almost every commercial arrival is at Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahé Island. The ETA is also accepted at Praslin Airport (PRI) for the rare direct international flights, at the Port Victoria cruise terminal for cruise arrivals, and at the Mahé Yacht Club / Eden Island marina for yacht arrivals (with separate cruising permit). Always declare your actual port of entry on the application.

Yes. Every traveler — including newborns, infants, toddlers, and minors — must have their own valid ETA linked to their own passport. The fee is the same as for adults ($33). Family group applications are accepted, paid once for all members. Children traveling without both parents should also carry a notarized authorization letter from the absent parent.

Yes. The Seychelles offers ground extensions for genuine tourism. Visit the Department of Immigration in Victoria (Mahé) at least 1 week before your initial stay expires, with your passport, ETA printout, return ticket, accommodation proof for the extension, and proof of funds. Extensions are granted in 3-month increments up to a maximum of 1 year. The fee is approximately SCR 1,500 per 3-month block (around $110 USD).

No. The on-arrival Visitor's Permit was abolished in September 2024. The ETA must be approved before you board your flight — airlines verify it digitally at check-in and will deny boarding if it is missing or invalid. Apply at least 5 days before departure.

Two transition windows are ideal. April-May (between the northwest and southeast monsoons) brings calm seas, perfect diving, and warm weather. October-November (the second transition) is similarly ideal. June-September is the cooler dry season with stronger trade winds — great for sailing and beach activities, but the southeast wind brings seaweed to some beaches. December-January-February is the warmer wet season with afternoon thunderstorms — still beautiful but less reliable for beach days.

Yes. One Seychelles ETA covers the entire archipelago — the inner islands (Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse, Cousin, Sainte Anne) and the outer islands (Aldabra, Bird, Denis, Frégate, North, Silhouette, Astove). For outer islands, you may need additional landing permits from the operator (typically arranged by your charter or resort), but the underlying immigration document is the ETA. Aldabra Atoll specifically requires a separate visit permit from the Seychelles Islands Foundation due to its UNESCO conservation status.