Officially, a visa is not required to enter Seychelles. However, that does not mean you can simply arrive with a passport in hand and enter the country. There is one important requirement that travellers should not miss.
What is Seychelles ETA?
Seychelles requires all travellers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before arrival. While it is not technically a visa, it works in a similar way.
The ETA can be applied for up to 30 days before travel.
I applied through the official Seychelles ETA website: https://seychelles.govtas.com/en
During the application process, I had to upload:
- The first page of the passport
- A passport-sized photograph
- Flight tickets
- Hotel reservation details
The good thing is that the website already contains a list of registered hotels in Seychelles, making the process straightforward.
The ETA costs 10 Euros per person, which can be paid online using a credit card. One feature I liked was that I could apply for the entire family in a single application, provided everyone was travelling together.
The website mentions a processing time of up to 24 hours. In our case, the approval arrived within a day. There is also an express processing option that provides approval in about an hour for an additional fee.
Since 2024, the ETA requirement applies to travellers from all countries. Seychelles uses this system to verify accommodation and travel plans before arrival.
ETA Checks During the Journey
Our journey was from Bengaluru to Seychelles via Mumbai on IndiGo Airlines.
At Bengaluru Airport, the airline staff checked our ETA before issuing the boarding pass. Immigration officials in Mumbai also verified it. Finally, it was checked once again before boarding the international flight.
Although the flight was completely full, I noticed that there were fewer tourists than I had expected. A significant number of passengers appeared to be travelling for work. I had observed a similar trend on a flight to Armenia earlier.
Arrival in Seychelles
The arrival process in Seychelles was smooth and interesting.
Passengers were directed through a gate equipped with facial recognition technology. The system checked the traveller’s ETA and displayed the person’s name from the ETA database. It was impressive to see how technology was being used to streamline immigration procedures.
The immigration officer asked only a simple question about the purpose of our visit and then allowed us to enter. The entire process was quick and efficient.
Final Thoughts
Seychelles is a beautiful island nation with stunning beaches, clear waters, and a relaxed atmosphere. The entry requirements are straightforward, but travellers should remember that obtaining the ETA is mandatory even though a traditional visa is not required.
If you are planning a trip to Seychelles, make sure to apply for the ETA well in advance and keep a copy handy during your journey, as it may be checked multiple times before you arrive.
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