Seychelles travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Sea Travel section (piracy). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Travel Summary

• Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, especially for shipping which does not take appropriate precautions or follow agreed shipping industry best practice guidelines. See the Sea Travel section of this Travel Advice.
  

• You should be aware of an increase in petty theft on beaches, from parked cars and accommodation. See the Crime section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Most visits to Seychelles are trouble-free. 20 British nationals required consular assistance in Seychelles in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (5 cases); hospitalisations (3 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (7 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (19 cases).
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice .

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

There have been incidents of the hijacking of vessels by Somali pirates in the exclusive economic zone waters of the Seychelles. See the Sea Travel section of this Travel Advice.

Crime levels in Seychelles are low but you should take sensible precautions. Do not leave valuables in cars. Take care in isolated areas and also in more popular places such as Beau Vallon and the back streets of Victoria, especially after dark. Beaches, parked cars and accommodation are favourite targets for thieves.

Take particular care if alone.

Make sure your accommodation is well secured, especially after dark. Safeguard valuables and cash. Deposit them in the hotel’s main safe, where practical. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, separate.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation

Seychelles Country Profile
Local Travel Road Travel Mahé is mountainous, and roads are narrow and winding, often with sheer drops and hairpin bends. Safety barriers are rare. Take care when driving and avoid more remote roads, particularly at night. Buses are the only means of public transport. They are inexpensive but infrequent on some routes. Taxis are good but you should negotiate the fare before beginning your journey. When returning hired vehicles, obtain an acknowledgement that the vehicle has not been damaged during the period of hire. UK driving licences are valid for up to three months.

For more general information see Driving Abroad. Air Travel

You should be aware that the system used in Seychelles for issuing an Air Operator's Certificate currently does not fully meet the minimum requirements set down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The Seychelles authorities have already taken some corrective actions and are actively working closely with ICAO and other stakeholders, including the UK Civil Aviation Authority, to correct the remaining deficiencies identified and are in the process of re-certifying all their air carriers by the end of first quarter of 2010.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Sea Travel
Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and has occurred as far as 1000 nautical miles from the coast of Somalia. Attacks of piracy and armed robbery against vessels in and around the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin continue to affect only a very small proportion of overall shipping, but are frequent and continuing, proving successful almost exclusively against shipping which has not complied with agreed shipping industry best practice on self-defence measures, including on routing.

All mariners should follow the 'Best Management Practise for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia' (http://www.icc-ccs.org.uk/images/stories/pdfs/bmp 21-8-2009.pdf), published by the International Maritime Bureau. We urge mariners to register with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) for up to date advice and guidance on passage round the Horn of Africa - www.mschoa.org, and to plan their routing carefully so as to avoid placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

Although there have been no pirate attacks within the Inner Islands Group of the Seychelles, anyone travelling in the region by yacht should be aware of the significant levels of piracy in the wider Indian Ocean and the risks of pirate hijack throughout the Indian Ocean region. All vessels travelling in the region are strongly urged to take all possible precautions to minimise their risk of being attacked, following existing guidelines to shipping on choices of route plus the need for regular reporting of position and status (see www.mschoa.org). Sailing during daylight only in populated areas, keeping watch, anchoring in populated areas/harbours and above all regular reporting to the local Coastguard will help to lessen the risk.
For more general information see River and Sea Safety.
Swimming

Drownings do occasionally occur; be careful when swimming/snorkelling. Seasonal changes in sea conditions mean there are strong currents on beaches at different times. Beaches that offer safe swimming during the South East Monsoon (May-September) may not be safe during the North East Monsoon (November-March). Seek local advice. Dangerous rip currents can occur off the popular Beau Vallon beach when the sea is rough.

For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Local laws and customs

Drug taking and smuggling are serious offences. Punishments can be severe. Topless sunbathing is tolerated on many but not all beaches. Nudism is not acceptable. Homosexuality is illegal.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.

Entry requirements

Visas

Visas are not required for British passport holders.

Passport Validity

You will need a valid passport, onward/return ticket and proof of sufficient funds.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Health

Medical facilities in Seychelles are limited, especially on the more remote islands where doctors are often unavailable. The main hospital (including Accident and Emergency services) is in Victoria, Tel: (00) (248) 388000.

Bring sun protection creams and insect repellents with you, as local supplies are erratic and expensive.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to the Seychelles you should seek immediate medical attention.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to the Seychelles and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

General

Insurance We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, including provision for medical evacuation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Money
On 1 November 2008, the Government of Seychelles removed foreign currency restrictions that required non-residents to pay for accommodation and other services in hard currency, as part of its economic reform programme. Non-residents can now pay for goods and services in either Seychelles Rupees or hard currency (Sterling, US Dollars, Euros etc).