Promote:
Invest in Seychelles
A short guide for companies expanding into Seychelles: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Seychelles at a glance
Population
122,730
Population was 122,730 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank, Seychelles population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$2.39 billion
GDP was US$2,387,022,853 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank, Seychelles GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$19,449
GDP per person was US$19,449.38 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank, Seychelles GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
5.8%
Real GDP growth was 5.8 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank, Seychelles real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
1.2%
Consumer prices rose 1.22 percent in the year to September 2026, the year-on-year rate on the Central Bank of Seychelles website.
Source: Central Bank of Seychelles, inflation rates, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$339.8 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$339.776 million in 2025, by UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment flows (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Seychelles rupee (SCR).
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Seychelles, October 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2022
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The Seychelles Investment Board (SIB) is the investment agency; State House announced its new chief executive on October 1, 2026.
Source: State House, Seychelles Investment Board chief executive, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 1, 2026
The 2026 budget funds an Investment Portal as a one-stop digital platform for approvals, due in 2026, so no investor one-stop shop is recorded yet.
Source: Government of Seychelles, Budget 2026 speech, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 12, 2026
Open activities are in the First Schedule of S.I. 76 of 2022, capped ones in the Second, and unlisted activities face an economic needs test.
Source: Official Gazette, investment economic activities regulations, July 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 4, 2022
The Financial Services Authority declares International Trade Zones by gazette notice and lists 15 licensees, some with revocation notices, but publishes no count of zones in force.
Source: Financial Services Authority, International Trade Zone licensees (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Seychelles
- Check your activity against the economic activities regulations, where unlisted activities face an economic needs test.Seychelles Investment BoardOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Official Gazette, investment economic activities regulations, July 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 4, 2022
- Submit your project memorandum to the investment board, which circulates it to referral agencies and sends you a feedback letter.Seychelles Investment BoardOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Seychelles Licensing Authority, license procedure for foreigners (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register the company or business name with the Registration Division at Independence House in Victoria.Registration DivisionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Trade Department, Seychelles Export Guidebook, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
- Apply to the licensing authority for the business license, which inspectors check before the chief executive approves it.Seychelles Licensing AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Seychelles Licensing Authority, license procedure for foreigners (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Get a tax identification number from the revenue commission.Seychelles Revenue CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Trade Department, Seychelles Export Guidebook, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
- Apply for a gainful occupation permit for foreign staff or self-employed owners, after approval from the employment ministry.Department of Immigration and Civil StatusSCR 1,000 processing fee plus SCR 500 a monthOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Immigration and Civil Status, gainful occupation permit (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- To work inside an International Trade Zone, apply to the Financial Services Authority for a zone license and a declared zone.Financial Services AuthorityManufacturing license: US$1,300 processing fee and US$2,700 a year, as of 2022Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Trade Policy Review of Seychelles, October 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2022
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with SIB and SRC. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
National investment promotion agency
SIB
Seychelles Investment Board
Receives foreign investors' projects, circulates them to referral agencies and sends a feedback letter before licensing.
Visit SIB (opens in a new tab)Source: Seychelles Licensing Authority, license procedure for foreigners (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Financial and zone regulator
FSA
Financial Services Authority
Licenses and regulates International Trade Zone operators and runs a warehouse zone near Victoria.
Visit FSA (opens in a new tab)Source: Financial Services Authority, International Trade Zone licensees (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Business licensing authority
SLA
Seychelles Licensing Authority
Issues business licenses once the investment board has sent its feedback letter and inspectors have reported.
Visit SLA (opens in a new tab)Source: Seychelles Licensing Authority, license procedure for foreigners (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration and permits authority
Immigration Services
Department of Immigration and Civil Status
Issues the gainful occupation and residence permits that foreign owners and staff need.
Visit Immigration Services (opens in a new tab)Source: Immigration and Civil Status, gainful occupation permit (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
CBS
Central Bank of Seychelles
Publishes the monetary policy rate and inflation data, and oversees the foreign exchange market.
Visit CBS (opens in a new tab)Source: Central Bank of Seychelles, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
SRC
Seychelles Revenue Commission
Registers taxpayers, takes export declarations and issues certificates of origin, including online ones for COMESA and AfCFTA.
Visit SRC (opens in a new tab)Source: Seychelles Revenue Commission, customs and excises (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
SCCI
Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Links Seychelles firms to chambers abroad, as in its 2026 trade memorandum with the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
Visit SCCI (opens in a new tab)Source: State House, Seychelles chamber trade memorandum, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 8, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The 2026 budget says the central bank will amend the Foreign Exchange Act so credit unions and payment providers can trade currency.
What to do: Confirm current foreign exchange rules with the central bank before you schedule payments.
Sources: Government of Seychelles, Budget 2026 speech, February 2026 (opens in a new tab); Central Bank of Seychelles, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
Foreign investors may enter only listed activities, and reserved ones include boat charter, clearing agency and tour guiding.
What to do: Check your activity against the First Schedule and the reserved list with the investment board before you commit funds.
Sources: Official Gazette, investment economic activities regulations, July 2022 (opens in a new tab); WTO Trade Policy Review of Seychelles, October 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Zone regime reform
Cabinet approved a special economic zones framework on September 9, 2026, to replace the International Trade Zone Act, 1995.
What to do: Check which zone rules apply before you apply for a zone license.
Sources: State House, Cabinet business, September 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab); WTO Trade Policy Review of Seychelles, October 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Public debt and arrears
Public debt was about 54 percent of GDP at the end of 2025, and the budget targets 50 percent by 2030.
What to do: Follow tax and levy changes in each annual budget before you fix project costs.
Sources: Government of Seychelles, Budget 2026 speech, February 2026 (opens in a new tab); Government of Seychelles, Budget 2026 speech, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more
Investment approvals
The 2026 budget funds an Investment Portal to join approvals, licensing, immigration and registration, to start during 2026.
What to do: Ask the investment board which steps still run on paper before you set a start date.
Sources: Government of Seychelles, Budget 2026 speech, February 2026 (opens in a new tab); State House, Seychelles Investment Board chief executive, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Investment appeals
An Investment Appeal Panel, appointed for three years from September 1, 2026, hears appeals against certain decisions under the Investment Act.
What to do: Keep the investment board's written decision, since appeals run against decisions.
Sources: State House, Investment Appeal Panel appointment, August 2026 (opens in a new tab); Official Gazette, Seychelles Investment Amendment Act, April 2021 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Seychelles with other countriesSet Seychelles beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Seychelles project.
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Promote:Seychelles is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.