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Boating in the Seychelles: entry, port dues and marine parks

The Seychelles lie on the western Indian Ocean route between Asia and East Africa, and Praslin and La Digue draw charter sailors. Arriving on your own boat means a travel authorisation in advance, an arrival report to the port authority and park fees in the marine parks. This page sums up what Seychelles port law, immigration and the parks authority require.

Emergency999UKW 16[9]

Alcohol limit?check locally

Liability covercheck locallyno requirement found

Licencebareboat: licence needed[8]

1 The arrival report reaches the port authority within 72 hours before entry. 2 In Port Victoria an immigration officer boards and the visitor permit is issued on arrival. 3 In a marine park everyone aged 12 and over pays a day ticket, and a night adds a fee per boat.

Best time to go: Praslin and La Digue

Praslin and La Digue: going by warmth, rain days and wind, July, August and October are the most pleasant months. Bars show the average daily high, the line the sea temperature, below them rain days and days with wind of 6 Beaufort or more per month, averaged over 2015 to 2024.

Air, daily high (°C) Sea (°C) best months

Rain days231718212218151618151922

Days with wind 6 Bft+0%0%0%0%0%2%2%1%0%0%0%0%

Weather: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis, grid values rather than station readings).

Sea temperature from NOAA satellite data. More cruising areas compared: Best time to sail

Arrival and clearing in

Passengers arriving by private yacht also apply online for the travel authorisation in advance, mandatory since 1 December 2024.[1]
Apply only through the government's official website or app. German citizens need no visa.[2]
The master or agent files an arrival report with the port authority within 72 hours before entering Port Victoria. Failing to do so costs a fine of SCR 10,000.[3]
Pleasure vessels under 300 GT are exempt from pilotage.[3]
An immigration officer boards and inspects the vessel and the list of everyone aboard. All show their passports and fill in an arrival card; the visitor permit is issued on arrival.[4]
If crew join or leave, inform immigration in writing. Apply for an extension before the permit expires at Independence House in Victoria.[4]
To clear out the skipper takes the passports to immigration and receives a clearance letter. The yacht then leaves Victoria within one hour and sails straight to its next destination.[4]
All international vessels leaving the harbour need port clearance, on payment of fees and against the passenger and crew list.[3]

Port dues and marine parks

Foreign pleasure vessels pay port dues per day or part day. Under 20 GT this is SCR 148.75 on days 1 to 5, 124.25 on days 6 to 10 and 99.75 from day 11.[3]
From 20 to 100 GT the daily rates are SCR 210, 148.75 and 124.25 in the same steps.[3]
Marine park day tickets for non-residents aged 12 and over: Curieuse SCR 300, St Anne 200, Baie Ternay and Port Launay combined 200, Ile Cocos 200.[5]
Staying in a marine park between 5 pm and 8 am costs SCR 250 per vessel per night.[5]

Licence and radio

Bareboat charter is only for licensed skippers who can show the necessary certificates. Which foreign licences are accepted is not stated.[8]
Anyone operating marine radio equipment should hold a certificate such as the ROC, or work under the supervision of someone who does.[7]

Liability insurance

We found no insurance requirement for visiting yachts in official Seychelles sources.

Charter, fishing and safety

Temporary cruising permits for charter yachts are only for yachts of 24 metres or more, for up to three months through a local agent.[8]
Sport fishing from a charter vessel requires a permit from the Seychelles Fisheries Authority.[8]
The risk of pirate attacks off the Seychelles and Somalia persists; the German Foreign Office advises registering with the Maritime Security Centre.[2]
Firearms, ammunition and blank pistols may not be imported.[2]
Animals may only be imported for stays of at least six months, and dogs and cats go into quarantine.[2]

Emergency and radio

Ambulance, fire and police: 999.[9]
The Seychelles Coast Guard, which runs the rescue coordination centre, answers emergencies on +248 4290900.[6][7]
VHF channel 16 is the distress and calling channel with mandatory listening watch. Talk to the Coast Guard on channel 71 after first calling on 16. Channel 12 is for port operations.[7]

In the Seychelles keep passports, the travel authorisation, the crew list and, when leaving, the clearance letter on board. The arrival report goes to the port authority 72 hours ahead, and marine park tickets are bought per day.

NAMMERT customers can get their liability confirmation in English.

Request a certificate (Seychelles)

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