Seychelles Tourism Levy 2026 and What US Visitors Pay
SEYCHELLES · TRAVEL GUIDE
Key Facts
- The levy Medium hotels with 25 to 50 rooms charge SCR 75 (about US$5.35) per person per night. Large hotels, island resorts and yachts charge SCR 100 (about US$7.10).
- Small stays Guesthouses and hotels with 1 to 24 rooms stopped charging the levy on 1 January 2026.
- Exempt Children aged 12 and under, Seychelles citizens and residents, and airline and yacht crew do not pay.
- Example Two adults on a seven-night large-resort stay pay SCR 1,400 (about US$100) in levy.
- Entry US citizens need no visa but must obtain an online Travel Authorisation, EUR 10 (about US$11), before flying.
- Safety The US State Department rates Seychelles Level 1, with Level 2 for Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands.
- What it means for you Budget about US$5 to US$7 per person per night at hotels with more than 24 rooms.
Seychelles charges visitors a nightly levy at larger hotels, but small guesthouses stopped charging it on 1 January 2026. Here is what US travellers pay and what to check before flying.
- Tourism levy: a per-person, per-night charge on visitors, collected by hotels and other accommodation providers.
- SCR: the Seychelles rupee, the local currency, worth about 7 US cents.
- SEBS: the Seychelles Electronic Border System, the government platform for travel authorisations.
- Level 1: the lowest of four US State Department advisory levels, called Exercise Normal Precautions.
Seychelles, an Indian Ocean island nation east of Kenya, charges visitors a tourism levy at medium and large hotels in 2026. The Seychelles tourism ministry lists SCR 75 or SCR 100 (about US$5.35 or US$7.10) per person per night.
Small guesthouses and hotels with 1 to 24 rooms stopped charging the levy on 1 January 2026. A US visitor in a small island guesthouse therefore pays no levy at all.
How the Levy Works
The levy is charged per person, per night, and accommodation providers collect it inside Seychelles. The rate depends on the size of the place where you sleep.
Medium establishments with 25 to 50 rooms charge SCR 75 (about US$5.35) per person per night. Large establishments with more than 50 rooms, island resorts and yachts charge SCR 100 (about US$7.10).
The finance ministry says small establishments charged SCR 25 (about US$1.80) per person per night before it was abolished. President Patrick Herminie announced the change in his first address to the National Assembly, the country’s parliament.
The change was made by Statutory Instrument 90 of 2025, the legal order that amended the levy rules. Levy collected in December 2025 still had to be paid to the Seychelles Revenue Commission by 21 January 2026.
What a Typical Stay Costs
Take two adults on a seven-night stay at a large resort. The levy is 2 x 7 x SCR 100, or SCR 1,400 (about US$100).
At a medium hotel the same stay costs SCR 1,050 (about US$75). In a guesthouse with 24 rooms or fewer, the levy is zero.
Children aged 12 and under are exempt, as are Seychelles citizens and residents and airline and yacht crew. A family of two adults and one young child therefore pays the levy for the adults only.
These amounts cover the levy only. Room rates and any other charges are separate, and the government notices do not set them.
Conversions in this guide use a rate of SCR 14.02 per US$1 on 31 October 2026. SCR is the Seychelles rupee, so check your card rate before you pay.
Entry Rules for US Citizens
The US State Department, which publishes official travel advice, says US citizens do not need a visa for Seychelles. They receive a visitor’s permit on arrival if they meet the entry criteria, which include a return ticket.
The State Department page asks travellers to check passport expiry dates and to carry one blank passport page. It lists a yellow fever vaccination for people arriving from countries where the disease is present.
Seychelles immigration says a visitor’s permit needs a valid return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and enough money for the stay. It also requires a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation, obtained before you leave your country of origin.
Seychelles also runs an online Travel Authorisation through its Seychelles Electronic Border System, known as SEBS. The tourism ministry gave a standard fee of €10 (about US$11) in a notice dated 7 February 2024.
The official portal says all travellers must complete a step before departure, and failure may bring a penalty fee on arrival. Use only the official government site, because the ministry warns that third-party sites charge significantly more.
Safety and Health Advice
The State Department rates Seychelles Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, the lowest of its four advisory levels. Its advisory, reissued on 9 December 2025, calls the country generally a safe destination for travellers.
It rates Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, because of health risks. Those smaller islands lack the medical facilities for common injuries or illnesses, so patients travel to Mahé by boat or plane.
The State Department urges travellers to buy insurance that includes medical evacuation cover. The United States has no consular office in Seychelles, so the US Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius, helps Americans there.
Getting There From the United States
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a lender to governments, says about 60% of tourists arrive through Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. US visitors should therefore expect a connection, often through a Gulf hub.
The IMF also calls the war in the Middle East a near-term shock for Seychelles. Check your airline’s routing and change terms before you book.
What It Means for You
Budget about US$5 to US$7 per person per night in levy at hotels with more than 24 rooms. Guesthouses with 24 rooms or fewer charge none.
Complete the official online authorisation before you fly, and buy insurance that covers medical evacuation. Allow extra time for connections through the Gulf.
What Is Not Known
The portal pages did not show the current Travel Authorisation fee, so EUR 10 comes from a 2024 ministry notice. The penalty fee on arrival is not stated either.
The State Department page did not give the full list of arrival criteria or a minimum passport validity. The government notices do not say how the levy appears on a hotel bill.
The notices do not say whether cruise passengers pay the levy or whether nights are capped. The US dollar cost also moves with the exchange rate, because the levy is set in rupees.
Related Coverage
Read the full Seychelles explained guide and the piece on how Seychelles lives on tourism and tuna. The Seychelles news hub lists all coverage.
See also the Seychelles cruise tourism strategy and the look at the island’s blue economy and debt. Both explain where visitor money goes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Seychelles tourism levy?
Medium hotels with 25 to 50 rooms charge SCR 75 (about US$5.35) per person per night. Larger hotels, island resorts and yachts charge SCR 100 (about US$7.10).
Do small guesthouses charge the levy?
No, the levy was abolished for establishments with 1 to 24 rooms on 1 January 2026. Larger places still charge it.
Who is exempt from the levy?
Children aged 12 and under, Seychelles citizens and residents, and airline and yacht crew are exempt. Everyone else pays per night at larger places.
Do US citizens need a visa for Seychelles?
No, the State Department says US citizens receive a visitor’s permit on arrival if they meet the criteria. Get the official online Travel Authorisation, about EUR 10 (US$11), before you fly.
Is Seychelles safe for American visitors?
The State Department rates Seychelles Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, and calls it generally safe. Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands are Level 2 because medical care is limited.
Sources: Seychelles tourism ministry, levy notice; Seychelles Ministry of Finance, levy abolished for small establishments; Seychelles tourism ministry, SEBS notice; Seychelles Electronic Border System; Seychelles Immigration and Civil Status, visitor’s permit; US State Department travel advisory; US State Department country page; International Monetary Fund; daily exchange-rate data, SCR per US$ (all accessed 31 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief