A volcano erupted on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Updates are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Call 999.
Call 999 or go directly to a hospital.
Call 999 or visit the nearest police station.
Exercise normal safety precautions in Seychelles.
Exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
You're at risk of theft, both targeted and opportunistic.
Most thefts happen in tourist hubs, such as Beau Vallon beach and the capital, Victoria. Robberies and other attacks also occur at Cote D'Or beach on Praslin Island.
Thieves sometimes use knives.
Thieves also target parked cars.
Violent crime is less common but happens, including on beaches and walking trails.
To protect yourself from crime:
To avoid being a victim of crime, try to avoid:
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
To protect yourself during periods of unrest:
More information:
There are often strong currents in the Seychelles. Drownings occur at popular tourist beaches.
Safety information is often not provided at beaches.
The popular beach of Beau Vallon is prone to rip currents when the sea is rough.
To protect yourself at the beach:
Local tour companies don't always follow safety and maintenance standards. This includes for adventure activities, such as:
If you plan to do an adventure activity:
If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.
The Seychelles can experience tsunamis and severe weather, including:
To protect yourself if a natural disaster occurs:
If you're travelling during the wet season or after a natural disaster, contact your tour operator. Ask if tourist services have been affected in the areas you want to visit.
The Seychelles isn't normally affected by cyclones. However, the wet season from December to February can bring:
Call Seychelles Meteorological Services (+248) 4384 358 for weather updates.
For updates, monitor the weather through the media or via:
The Seychelles is prone to tsunamis.
To receive tsunami alerts, register with the Global Disaster Alert and Co-ordination System.
Follow the advice of local or regional authorities.
Move immediately to high ground if you:
Don't wait for official warnings. Once on high ground, monitor local media.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in the Seychelles:
Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
Outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya occur often in the Seychelles.
To protect yourself from disease:
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, a rash or a severe headache.
More information:
Medical facilities in the Seychelles are limited, especially on the more-remote islands. Doctors are often not available.
The island of Mahé has several clinics and a state-run hospital. The Mahé hospital can deal with accidents and emergencies.
The main hospital, including accident and emergency services, is in Victoria. Call (+248) 438 8000.
If you become very ill or badly injured, you'll need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities. This could be Mauritius, South Africa or India. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling, especially for an extended stay.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Drug taking and smuggling are serious offences. Punishments can be severe.
More information:
Same-sex relationships are legal in the Seychelles.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Seychelles recognises dual nationality.
More information:
The people of the Seychelles can be conservative. They don't tolerate topless sunbathing on public beaches. Nudism is not acceptable.
Avoid public displays of affection.
Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.
Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.
You won't need a visa to enter the Seychelles as a tourist. You will receive a visitor's permit on arrival which can be extended to a maximum period of 6 months.
You may need to provide proof of your hotel booking when you arrive.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
You need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter the Seychelles if you're coming from a country with yellow fever.
More information:
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
The currency of the Seychelles is the Seychellois Rupee (SCR).
Most tourist services, including hotels, accept euros.
You can change money at:
Hotels and resorts will usually change euros or US dollars for guests.
You may not find ATMs beyond the major tourist areas of Mahé, Praslin or La Digue. There are ATMs at the international airport.
ATMs only dispense SCR.
Most hotels, resorts and tourist services accept credit cards.
Contact your bank to make sure your cards will work in Seychelles.
You can drive in the Seychelles with either:
Get your IDP before leaving Australia.
The minimum driving age is 18 years old.
Driving in the Seychelles is only practical on the islands of Mahé and Praslin.
Roads on both islands are mountainous, narrow and winding.
Roads are often bordered by sheer drops and have sharp bends. Safety barriers are rare.
Drink-driving is a problem in the Seychelles. Some road users behave erratically.
You are 3 times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in the Seychelles than in Australia.
To protect yourself while driving:
Check your insurance cover before setting out.
More information:
Check with your travel insurer whether your policy covers you when using a motorbike or similar vehicle. Your policy may not cover you for accidents that happen on these vehicles.
Always wear a helmet.
Use registered taxis and limousines, preferably arranged through your hotel.
Taxis aren't metered.
Research what taxi fares to expect on trips. Agree the fare with the driver before you leave.
Buses on Mahé operate from early morning to early evening. Services are limited on some routes.
More information:
Boat travel may be dangerous.
Boats can be overloaded. They can lack necessary lifesaving gear.
Always wear a life jacket, even if others don't.
Piracy is a threat in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Attacks have occurred as far as 1000 nautical miles (1852km) from the coast of Somalia.
There have also been attacks in the Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Sailing boats are particularly exposed.
Read the piracy reports from the International Maritime Bureau.
Avoid travelling by yacht or leisure craft more than 12 nautical miles (22km) from the shore. This includes activities within Seychelles' EEZ beyond 12 nautical miles (22km) of the inner granitic islands.
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Seychelles' air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 999.
Call 999 or go directly to a hospital.
Call 999 or visit the nearest police station.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your travel insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Check the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Seychelles. Contact the Australian High Commission in Mauritius for consular help.
2nd Floor, Rogers House
5 President John Kennedy Street
Port Louis, Mauritius
Phone: +230 202 0160
Fax: +230 208 8878
Website: mauritius.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australia in Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros
Twitter: @AusHC_MU
Check the High Commission website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
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