Just Landed in Seychelles? Your First 7 Days

Two operators cover the islands: Airtel Seychelles and Cable & Wireless (Cwseychelles). 4G is solid across Mahe, Praslin and La Digue and gets patchier on smaller islands and in the hilly interior. SIM registration with your passport is required by law, so you cannot buy an anonymous SIM. Fixed home broadband and fibre are available from Cwseychelles and Intelvision in built-up areas, though installation can take time.

Typical cost: A starter SIM is around SCR 100, and a monthly prepaid data bundle typically runs SCR 200 to 500 (roughly USD 15 to 35) depending on the allowance. Larger multi-gigabyte bundles cost more, and home fibre packages generally start around SCR 800 to 1,500 per month.

The currency is the Seychellois rupee (SCR), divided into 100 cents, and roughly 13 to 14 rupees to the US dollar at the time of writing. Foreign currency is legally accepted in the tourism sector, but you get poor value paying cash in euros or dollars, so use rupees for daily life and cards where accepted. There are no restrictions on using international cards, and contactless is common in supermarkets and hotels.

Opening an account: Foreigners with a valid GOP or residence permit can open accounts at MCB Seychelles, Absa Bank Seychelles, Nouvobanq (Seychelles International Mercantile Banking Corporation) or Seychelles Commercial Bank. Expect to provide your passport, permit, proof of address and often an employer or income letter, and be prepared for the process to take several visits and some patience. Each bank has a mobile app for transfers and card management once you are set up.

Cash: Mixed. Hotels, supermarkets and mid-range restaurants take cards, but SPTC buses, the Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market in Victoria, small takeaways, roadside stalls and many small shops are cash-only. Keep a supply of small SCR notes and coins on you at all times, as change for large notes is not always available.

Tipping: Tipping is not obligatory and not deeply expected. Rounding up or leaving 5 to 10 percent for good restaurant service or a helpful guide is appreciated, but many hotels and restaurants already add a service charge, so check the bill before adding more.

There is no municipal address-registration or town-hall system for arrivals in Seychelles. Your legal status is tied entirely to your immigration permit, which is a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) for workers, or a residence, dependant or investor permit for others. These are handled centrally by the Immigration and Civil Status Division, not by any local council or address registry, so there is no separate step where you register where you live. Keep your permit valid and carry it, because it is what proves your right to be in the country.

Where: Immigration and Civil Status Division, Independence House, Victoria, Mahe, for all permit matters. There is no separate address registration office.

Getting around Mahe relies on the SPTC public bus network, which is cheap with a flat cash fare paid to the driver, plus taxis and self-drive hire cars. Many residents end up hiring or buying a car because buses stop running in the early evening, usually by around 7 to 8 pm, leaving you dependent on taxis after dark. Praslin has its own SPTC buses, while La Digue is largely bicycles, electric buggies and a few taxis.

From the airport: Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) sits about 10 km south of Victoria on Mahe. A metered or agreed-fare taxi takes 15 to 20 minutes and costs roughly SCR 350 to 500; hotel and guesthouse transfers are common and often easier. The SPTC bus passes along the airport road for a flat fare of a few rupees, but it is awkward with luggage. There is no train or ride-hailing app such as Uber operating in Seychelles.

Long-term rentals are tight and pricey, concentrated on Mahe around Victoria, Beau Vallon, Eden Island and the northern districts. Foreigners can rent freely, but buying property requires government sanction under the Immovable Property (Transfer Restriction) Act. Furnished flats and self-catering units are the norm for expats, and listings spread through word of mouth, employers and local Facebook groups far more than through formal property portals. Viewing in person before paying anything is essential.

Typical rent: A furnished one- to two-bedroom flat on Mahe typically runs SCR 15,000 to 35,000 per month (roughly USD 1,100 to 2,500). Eden Island and premium waterfront properties cost considerably more, while older or more remote units can be cheaper. Utilities are sometimes included in furnished lets, so confirm exactly what the rent covers.

Deposit norm: Landlords usually ask for one to two months' rent as a deposit plus the first month upfront. Get a written agreement and an inventory for furnished places, and photograph the condition on arrival to protect your deposit.

Public healthcare is largely free at the point of use for residents and is centred on Seychelles Hospital (also known as Victoria Hospital) at Mont Fleuri on Mahe, with smaller hospitals on Praslin and La Digue and a network of local health centres. Serious or specialist cases that cannot be handled locally are often flown to Mauritius, India or South Africa, so the system works well for routine care but has real limits.

How to access it: Register at your nearest health centre for routine care, or go directly to Seychelles Hospital for emergencies; call 151 for an ambulance. GOP holders contribute to and are generally covered by the public system, so carry your permit and ID when you attend. Private clinics and pharmacies exist on Mahe for faster non-emergency appointments and prescriptions.

Insurance: Comprehensive private medical insurance with international cover and, crucially, medical-evacuation cover is strongly advised. Because complex treatment usually means flying abroad and both private and overseas care are expensive, an evacuation policy is one of the most important things to arrange before or immediately after arrival.

• Greet people before getting to business; a warm 'bonzour' in Creole or a simple hello sets the right tone, and diving straight into requests reads as rude.
• Dress modestly away from the beach; swimwear belongs on the sand, not in Victoria's shops, offices, banks or churches.
• Respect the slower island pace; offices, buses, tradespeople and deliveries run on island time, and visible impatience rarely helps and often backfires.
• Protect the environment actively; taking shells, coral, sand or turtle products is culturally frowned upon and frequently illegal, so leave nature where it is.
• Be patient and polite in queues and offices; small talk and courtesy carry more weight than pushing, and reputations travel fast on a small island.
• Learn and use a few Creole words; even basic effort is warmly received and marks you as someone who respects the culture rather than just passing through.
• Cover up when visiting churches or attending funerals and community events; Seychelles is fairly religious, with Catholicism dominant, and respectful dress matters.

• Nudity and topless sunbathing are technically illegal and can genuinely offend locals despite the relaxed beach setting.
• Drug laws are strict, including for cannabis, and penalties are serious, with foreigners not exempt from prosecution or deportation.
• Buses stop running in the early evening, so plan a taxi or your own car for nights out to avoid being stranded far from home.
• Petty theft from beaches, cars and unlocked accommodation does happen, so do not leave valuables unattended on the sand or on show.
• Photographing people, especially without asking, or filming near sensitive sites such as some government buildings, is best avoided out of courtesy and caution.