Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2%.

Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6%

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services.

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard.

Americans living or traveling in Seychelles are encouraged to register with the US Embassy in Port Louis Mauritius through the State Dept’s travel registration website and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Seychelles. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The US Embassy is located at Rogers House, Fourth Floor, Port Louis, Mauritius. The telephone numbers are (230) 202 4400; fax (230) 208 9534. In the event of an after hours emergency, the Embassy duty officer may be contacted at (230) 253 3641. The Embassy website is http://mauritius.usembassy.gov; e-mail usembass@intnet.mu.

The US Consular Agency in Victoria, Seychelles is open to US citizens Tue, Wed, and Thu from 8:30 to 12:30. US citizens are able to obtain passport applications, Social Security applications, and consular report of birth applications there. The US Consular Agency is located at Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria, Mahe; tel (248) 225-256; fax (248) 225-189; e-mail consular agencyseychelles@gmail.com. The international mailing address is US Consular Agency, P.O. Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles.

A valid passport, onward/return ticket, the local address where the visitor will stay, and proof of sufficient funds are required.  A one-month entry visa may be obtained upon arrival and may be extended for a period of up to one year.  There is an airport departure tax of approximately $40, which must be paid in U.S. dollars.  This charge is typically included in the cost of an airline ticket.  Travelers should contact the Permanent Mission of the Seychelles to the United Nations, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017; telephone number (212) 972-1785, for the most current visa information.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.

Airports: 15,   Airports w/paved runways: 9

US citizens should avoid crowds, political rallies, and street demonstrations. It is dangerous to swim alone at isolated beaches, especially after dark, due to strong currents.

Petty crime is a problem, but violent crime against tourists is rare. To reduce the risk of theft, travelers should keep valuables in hotel safes and close and lock hotel windows at night, even while the room is occupied. Hotels that do not have private safes in the rooms will usually have one at the reception desk.

In Seychelles, one drives on the left side of the street.

Infant MR total:  14.75 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:  TOTAL 72.34 years   (male 66.98/female 77.86)

Required: None

Recommended: Hep A & B, Typhoid, MMR booster

Dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness) are other diseases carried by insects that also occur in the region. Protecting yourself against insect bites will help to prevent these diseases. In 2005-2006, massive outbreaks of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, occurred on island countries in the southwest Indian Ocean (Réunion, Mayotte, Mauritius, and Seychelles). Infections were also imported by returning travelers to Europe (160 imported cases in France alone) and the United States.

Plague occurs sporadically or in outbreaks. Outbreaks have occurred since 2000 in Madagascar.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, can be contracted in fresh water in this region. Do not swim in fresh water (except in well-chlorinated swimming pools) in these countries. (For more information, please see Swimming and Recreational Water Safety.)

For more information, see the Geographic Distribution of Potential Health Hazards to Travelers and Goals and Limitations in determining actual disease risks by destination.

Medical facilities in Seychelles are limited, especially on the isolated islands where doctors are often unavailable. There is one government-owned hospital and several private clinics.

Recent years have seen an increase in the number of cases of chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes, and also of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease transmitted to humans and animals by exposure to water contaminated by infected animals. For more information and information on current outbreaks, please see the CDC’s fact sheets on Chikungunya at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentChikungunyaIndia.aspx  and on Leptospirosis at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/files/Leptospirosis_FAQ.pdf.

Country Code: +248
Internet Code:  .sc