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Money & duty free for Seychelles

Currency information: 

Seychelles Rupee (SCR; symbol Rs) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Rs500, 100, 50, 25 and 10. Coins are in denominations of Rs5 and 1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Note: Tourists must pay hotel bills in foreign currency (in the form of cash, traveller's cheques or credit or debit cards). Payment in local currency is only allowed if an exchange receipt can be shown as proof of the conversion from foreign currency into local currency. The duty-free shop at the airport only accepts credit cards or foreign cash.

Credit cards: 

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted; Diners Club has more limited use. ATMs are available in Mahé and Praslin.

ATM: 

ATMs are available in Mahé and Praslin.

Travellers cheques: 

Accepted in most hotels, guest houses, restaurants and shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Banking hours: 

Mon-Fri 0830-1430, Sat 0830-1100.

Currency restriction: 

The import and export of foreign currency is unrestricted. The import and export of local currency is limited to Rs2000.

Currency exchange: 

Exchange facilities are available at the airport banks, which are open for all flight departures and arrivals. The following banks have branches in the Seychelles and will exchange traveller's cheques and foreign currency: Barclays Bank, Bank of Baroda, Banque Française Commerciale, Central Bank of Seychelles, Development Bank of Seychelles, Habib Bank Ltd, Nouvo Banq, and Seychelles Savings Bank. Currency exchange receipts should be kept in order to facilitate re-exchange on departure.

Seychelles duty free

The following items may be imported into the Seychelles by persons of 18 years or older without incurring customs duty:

• 400 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco.
• 2L of spirits or 2L of wine.
• 200mL of perfume or eau de toilette.
• Other items not exceeding R3000.
• One video camera and one camera.
• Musical instrument.
• Portable electronic or electric equipment.
• Sports requisites and other leisure equipment.

Banned imports: 

The import of non-prescribed drugs and all firearms, including air pistols, air rifles and spearfishing guns, and plants and plant products, animals and animal products, radioactive substances and apparatus, dangerous drugs, biological specimens, fireworks and explosives, medicines and poisons are prohibited, unless prior authorisation has been granted. Video tapes must be declared and may be retained for security reasons. The import of animals and food and other agricultural produce is strictly controlled and subject to licensing.

Banned exports: 

Shells, unprocessed coco-de-mer, processed or live fish and live tortoises may not be exported.

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