Seychelles Airport Guide — Quick Summary
Mahé International Airport (SEZ) is the only international airport in Seychelles. No visa required for any nationality — a free visitor’s permit is issued on arrival. Complete your travel authorisation online before departure at seychelles.govtas.com. Immigration takes 20–45 minutes. SIM cards, currency exchange, and ATMs are available in the arrivals hall. The fastest way to your hotel: pre-book a rental car — free airport delivery, waiting at arrivals.
Whether this is your first visit or your tenth, this guide covers everything that happens from the moment your plane touches down at Mahé International Airport to the moment you drive away towards your first beach.
| Visa | Not required. Seychelles is visa-free for all nationalities. A visitor’s permit (up to 3 months) is issued free at immigration. |
| Travel Authorisation | Mandatory. Complete the free online form at seychelles.govtas.com before departure. Requires passport details, flight info, accommodation address, and travel insurance details. Approval is usually instant — print or save the confirmation. |
| Passport | Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay. |
| Return Ticket | Required. Immigration may ask to see proof of onward travel. |
| Proof of Accommodation | Hotel confirmation or booking reference. Immigration checks this. |
| Vaccination | No special vaccinations required for entry. Yellow fever certificate needed only if arriving from an endemic country. |
| Currency | Seychelles Rupee (SCR). Euros and USD widely accepted. ATMs at the airport. ~1 EUR = 15–16 SCR. |
| Rental Car | Pre-book with SeyBooking — your car is delivered free to the airport and waiting when you clear customs. No deposit, no credit card required. |
Mahé airport is small and charming. You exit the plane via stairs and walk across the tarmac to the terminal — your first taste of tropical heat. Have your passport and travel authorisation confirmation ready.
Present your passport, return ticket, accommodation proof, and travel authorisation. The officer stamps your passport with a visitor’s permit (up to 3 months). The queue can be long when multiple flights arrive — peak times are early afternoon and late evening.
One baggage carousel. Luggage usually arrives within 10–20 minutes. Trolleys are available free of charge.
Walk through the green channel unless you have goods to declare. Duty-free allowance: 200 cigarettes, 1 litre of spirits, 2 litres of wine, and 200ml of perfume.
Immediately after customs you enter the small arrivals hall. Here you will find:
Step outside into the tropical air. This is where your transport choice matters — see the comparison below.
| Option | Cost | Wait time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeyBooking Rental Car | From €45/day | 0 min — car is waiting | Pre-booked, delivered free to arrivals. Keys handed to you. Drive directly to your hotel. Use the car for your entire stay. No deposit, no credit card. |
| Taxi | €25–60 one way | 5–15 min queue | Taxis line up outside arrivals. Fixed rates by zone. No meter. Negotiate before getting in. You will need taxis every day if you don’t rent a car — costs add up quickly. |
| Hotel shuttle | Free – €30 | Pre-arranged | Some resorts offer airport transfers. Check with your hotel when booking. Only covers airport-to-hotel — you still need transport once there. |
| Bus (Route 1) | SCR 7 (~€0.40) | 30–60 min wait | No direct airport stop — walk from the main road with luggage. Last bus ~7 PM. No service for late-night arrivals. Impractical after a long flight. |
A typical 5-day stay without a rental car:
| Airport taxi (one way) | €35 |
| Return airport taxi | €35 |
| 3 × beach taxis (round trip) | €120 |
| 2 × dinner taxis (evening — no bus) | €60 |
| Total taxi spend | €250 |
| 5-day car rental (Suzuki Celerio) | €225 |
A rental car is cheaper than taxis — and you have unlimited freedom, 24 hours a day, for your entire stay.
| Airport code | SEZ (Seychelles International Airport) |
| Location | Pointe Larue, east coast of Mahé |
| Distance to Victoria | ~11 km (20 minutes by car) |
| Distance to Beau Vallon | ~16 km (30 minutes by car) |
| Terminals | 1 (small, single-level) |
| Runway | 2,987m — can handle wide-body aircraft |
| Airlines | Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Seychelles, Ethiopian Airlines, Condor, British Airways, Kenya Airways, and others |
| ATMs | Yes — Barclays and MCB in the arrivals hall |
| SIM cards | Airtel and CWS counters in arrivals |
| WiFi | Free but slow |
| Duty-free (departures) | Small shop after security with alcohol, perfume, and souvenirs |
If your final destination is Praslin or La Digue, you have two options from Mahé:
Mahé → Praslin: 60 minutes, ~€55. Mahé → La Digue: 90 minutes. A shuttle bus runs between the airport and Victoria Jetty (€10). Allow 2+ hours between your flight and the ferry. See our complete ferry schedule.
Air Seychelles and Zil Air operate small-aircraft flights from Mahé to Praslin (15 minutes, from ~€120 one way). No direct flight to La Digue. Convenient if the ferry schedule does not align with your arrival — but more expensive.
Arriving on Praslin by ferry? SeyBooking delivers your rental car free to the Baie Sainte Anne Jetty. Your car is waiting when you step off the ferry — no taxi queue, no hassle. Book now from €45/day →
No. Seychelles is visa-free for all nationalities. A visitor’s permit for up to 3 months is issued free at immigration on arrival.
A free, mandatory online form completed before departure at seychelles.govtas.com. It requires your passport details, flight information, accommodation address, and travel insurance details. Approval is usually instant. Save or print the confirmation.
Yes. Airtel and Cable & Wireless have counters in the arrivals hall. Tourist SIM with data costs approximately SCR 200–500 (€12–30). Bring your passport for registration. Airtel generally has better coverage across all three islands.
The most practical option is a pre-booked rental car with free airport delivery (from €45/day). Taxis cost €25–60 one way depending on your hotel location. A hotel shuttle may be available if pre-arranged. The bus is impractical with luggage and doesn’t stop at the terminal.
About 11 km — a 20-minute drive along the east coast road. The airport is near Pointe Larue.
Euros or US dollars are ideal — both are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and tourist businesses. The local currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR), roughly 15–16 SCR to 1 EUR. ATMs at the airport and in Victoria dispense SCR. Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at most hotels and larger restaurants. Carry some cash for small shops, bus fares, and market purchases.
Pre-book with SeyBooking and walk straight from arrivals to your car. No queue, no negotiation, no deposit.
From €45/day · Free airport delivery · Unlimited mileage · Full insurance · No credit card
WhatsApp: Book Airport Delivery
or call (+248) 2 577 772
SeyBooking.com — Seychelles’ leading car rental and travel booking company since 2016
