Immigration
Visitor's permit on arrival with Gainful Occupation Permits for employment
Seychelles issues a visitor's permit on arrival to all nationalities without a prior visa, subject to proof of accommodation and funds. Employment requires a Gainful Occupation Permit, granted where the skill is unavailable locally, and residence permits are available on investment grounds.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — The Department of Immigration and Civil Status decides; the Supreme Court reviews.
- Deadline — Visitor's permit: initially up to 3 months, extendable
- Deadline — Gainful Occupation Permit: obtained before commencing work
Governing law
- Immigration Decree 1979
- Licences Act — Gainful Occupation Permit
- Citizenship Act 1994
In practice
The universal visa-free entry policy is unusual and deliberate, supporting a tourism-dependent economy, while employment is tightly controlled through the GOP system to protect a very small domestic labour market.