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Seychelles - Consular Information Sheet
November 30, 2000
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Seychelles is an island nation
in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. The principal
island of Mahe has a population of about 78,000. The two other
islands with significant permanent populations are Praslin and
La Digue. Facilities for tourism are generally well developed.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport, onward/return ticket,
and proof of sufficient funds are required. A one-month entry
visa may be obtained upon arrival, and it may be extended for
a period up to one year. There is an airport departure tax of
$40.00, which must be paid in U.S. dollars. For further information,
travelers should contact the Permanent Mission of the Seychelles
to the United Nations, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York,
N.Y. 10017; telephone (212) 972-1785.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: U.S. citizens should avoid crowds,
political rallies, and street demonstrations and maintain security
awareness at all times. It is dangerous to swim alone at isolated
beaches, especially after dark, due to strong currents.
CRIME INFORMATION: Petty crime is a problem. Violent
crime against tourists is rare. Travelers who keep valuables in
hotel safes and who close and lock hotel windows at night, even
while the room is occupied, are less likely to be at risk.
The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported
immediately to local police and to the nearest U.S. embassy or
consulate. U.S. citizens can refer to the pamphlets, A
Safe Trip Abroad and Tips
for Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa, for ways to promote a
more trouble-free journey. Both are available by mail from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs,
or via the
Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical facilities in the Seychelles
are limited, especially in the isolated islands where doctors
are often unavailable.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not always
valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs
do not provide for payment of medical services outside the United
States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment
for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care
overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether
your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical
evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems
requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United
States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please ascertain
whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor,
or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur.
Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric
treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas
insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State, Bureau
of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical
Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via
its web site at http://travel.state.gov and autofax service at
(202) 647-3000.
OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations
and other health precautions may be obtained from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s international
travelers' hotline at telephone 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747);
fax: 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or by visiting the CDC web
site at http://www.cdc.gov.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign
country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ
significantly from those in the United States. The information
below concerning the Seychelles is provided for general reference
only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location
or circumstance.
In the Seychelles, one drives on the left side of the street.
Roads are generally well maintained, but they are narrow and winding.
Drivers should exercise caution due to a lack of shoulders and
inadequate street lighting. Speed limits range from 25 to 50 miles
an hour. Drivers and front seat passengers are required to wear
seat belts. There are no laws regarding child safety seats.
The Seychelles Ministry of Health operates an ambulance service
on the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue that can be summoned
by dialing 999. Assistance on the more remote islands is limited.
For more information, please contact the Ministry of Health at
P.O. Box 52, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles; telephone (248) 388 000;
e-mail:
mohps@seychelles.net.
Public transportation by bus is good, but tends to be crowded
during rush hours, and usually requires several transfers to reach
a desired destination. Taxis are also available.
Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Availability of Roadside/Ambulance Assistance: Fair
For additional information about
road safety, including links to foreign government sites,
please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
web site at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific
information concerning Seychelles driving permits, vehicle inspection,
road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Seychelles
Ministry of Tourism via e-mail
at dgtmtca@seychelles.net or the Seychelles Tourism Marketing
Authority via e-mail
at seychelles@aspureasitgets.com.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial
air service by local carriers at present, nor economic authority
to operate such service between the U.S. and the Seychelles, the
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the
Seychelles’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with international
aviation safety standards for oversight of the Seychelles air
carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact
the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone
1-800-322-7873, or visit the
FAA web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/. The U.S. Department
of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers
for suitability as official providers of air services. For information
regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact
the DOD at telephone 618-229-4801.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: The Seychelles customs authorities
may enforce strict regulations concerning the temporary import
to or export from the Seychelles of items such as firearms, spear-fishing
equipment, and fruits and vegetables. Warm-blooded animals must
undergo a minimum quarantine period of six months. It is advisable
to contact the Permanent Mission of the Seychelles to the United
Nations in the United States for specific information regarding
customs requirements.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S.
citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which
sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States
and may not afford the protections available to the individual
under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe
than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating
the Seychelles law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested
or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in
illegal drugs in the Seychelles are strict, and convicted offenders
can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Many of the outer islands of the
Seychelles are extremely isolated, and travel by ship to these
areas, including for rescue attempts, may be impossible in stormy
weather. The outer islands have no airstrips to accommodate air
traffic.
Recent amendments to the Seychelles foreign exchange laws mandate
that visitors must settle their hotel bills with a credit card.
If visitors want to settle their hotel bills in Seychelles rupees,
they must show proof of acquisition. If won at a casino, the visitor
should show a casino receipt as proof.
CHILDREN’S ISSUES: For information
on international adoption of children and international parental
child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children’s_issues.html
or telephone (202) 736-7000.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY LOCATION: The U.S. Embassy in the Seychelles
closed August 30, 1996, and consular responsibility transferred
to the
U.S. Embassy in Mauritius, located at Rogers House (Fourth
Floor) on John F. Kennedy Street in Port Louis. The telephone
numbers are (230) 208-2347 or (230) 202-4400; fax (230) 208-9534
or (230) 202-4401. The Embassy web site is http://www.usembassymauritius.mu;
e-mail: usembass@intnet.mu.
There is a U.S. Consular Agency in Victoria, Seychelles which
provides limited services - such as distribution of forms and
information. U.S. citizens visiting or residing in the Seychelles
are encouraged to register at the Consular Agency and to obtain
updated information on travel and security in the Seychelles.
The agency is located at Victoria House, Victoria, Mahe; telephone
(248) 225-256; fax (248) 225-189; e-mail:
usoffice@seychelles.net. The international mailing address
is Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles.
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