Seychelles

Seychelles demonstrates strong alignment with India on issues such as counter-terrorism and UNSC reform, including consistent explicit support for India's candidature for a permanent seat. While Seychelles does not typically comment on Kashmir, its position aligns with the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. However, a notable divergence exists regarding the conflict in Ukraine, where Seychelles has consistently voted in favor of UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia's actions, such as ES-11/1, ES-11/2, ES-11/3, and ES-11/4, whereas India has abstained on these key resolutions.

India-Seychelles relations continue to be characterized by exceptional warmth and a robust, multi-faceted strategic partnership, firmly underpinned by a long-standing history of trust and mutual respect. Diplomatic and official rhetoric from Seychelles consistently highlights India as a 'trusted friend' and 'loyal, sovereignty-respecting partner.' A significant recent event underscoring this positive sentiment was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State Visit to Seychelles from June 27-29, 2026, as the Guest of Honour for the nation's Golden Jubilee independence celebrations and 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. During this visit, Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure explicitly stated that 'India has never pressured us' and referred to India as a 'special friend,' a statement that significantly boosts positive sentiment by reaffirming India's non-interfering and respectful approach. Furthermore, Seychelles strongly backed India's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, citing India's population, global role, and contributions to peace and maritime security, demonstrating deep diplomatic alignment. Prime Minister Modi was also conferred with the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' award by President Patrick Herminie, described as the highest honour the Republic of Seychelles can bestow upon international dignitaries, recognizing his leadership in sustainability and ocean governance. The visit culminated in the signing of nine legal instruments and the announcement of 19 outcomes, including an extradition treaty, integration of India's UPI digital payment system, space cooperation, and an Umbrella Line of Credit worth INR 1250 crores, along with a $175 million Special Economic Development Package from India for various infrastructure and development projects. Seychelles also joined the India-backed Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). These actions and statements firmly reinforce India's position as a vital and deeply valued partner. The media narrative in Seychelles, primarily reflected in reporting by the Seychelles News Agency and other local outlets, mirrors this overwhelmingly positive official rhetoric. Reports extensively covered the success of Prime Minister Modi's visit, emphasizing the strengthening of bilateral cooperation across numerous sectors, developmental aid, and shared strategic interests in maritime security and the Blue Economy. While one international report noted minor typographical errors on the certificate of the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' award, this administrative detail did not detract from the substance of the visit or the positive portrayal of India and its partnership with Seychelles in the mainstream media. The consistent focus remains on India's contributions to Seychelles' development, security, and economic resilience, with no evidence of significant critical or negative coverage regarding India-Seychelles relations. Public perception and the engagement with Indian tourists in Seychelles also reflect a highly favorable outlook, with growing enthusiasm from both sides. Tourism Seychelles is actively pursuing India as a 'strong growth market' and 'key focus' in its long-term tourism strategy. Recent data indicates a robust increase in Indian tourist arrivals, with a nearly 75% surge in 2025 over the previous year, and projections for over 15,000 arrivals in 2026, representing a 12% increase. The success of the 2026 India Roadshow further solidified this commitment. Direct flight connectivity from Mumbai has significantly contributed to this growth, making Seychelles an accessible and attractive destination for a broadening range of Indian travelers beyond traditional honeymooners, now including families, celebration groups, and MICE tourism. The substantial Indian diaspora in Seychelles, comprising approximately 12% of the population, also contributes to strong people-to-people ties, with PM Modi interacting warmly with the community during his visit. The recognition of India's development assistance and cultural ties further cements a positive perception of India among the local population. All these factors indicate a continued and deepening positive perception.

[Strategic Partner with Blue Economy and Digital Focus] The bilateral relationship between India and Seychelles is a highly comprehensive and strategic partnership, moving significantly beyond traditional goods trade. The structured data indicates a goods trade volume of $560.55 million (India's exports: $199.48 mn, India's imports: $361.07 mn). Prominent goods traded include India's exports of 'OTHER COMMODITIES', 'ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES', 'FRESH VEGETABLES', 'COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES', and 'CEMENT, CLINKER AND ASBESTOS CEMENT', and India's imports of 'AIRCRAFT, SPACECRAFT AND PARTS', 'IRON AND STEEL', 'INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY FOR DAIRY ETC', 'CRANES, LIFTS AND WINCHES', and 'COPPER AND PRODUCTS MADE OF COPPER'. Crucially, the structured data had a significant gap in 'Services' trade, which has been inferred through deep research. Services trade is estimated at an additional $150-200 million annually, driven by Seychelles' tourism exports to India (estimated over $40 million in 2026 with 15,000 Indian visitors) and India's extensive services exports encompassing medical tourism, IT (e.g., IT Centre of Excellence), financial services (Bank of Baroda), telecom (Bharti Airtel), capacity building (ITEC program), and project-related consulting and implementation services tied to substantial Lines of Credit and grant assistance (e.g., $175 million Special Economic Package and Rs. 1250 crore Line of Credit). Latest developments up to July 2026 highlight a dramatically enhanced partnership: 1. A State Visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Seychelles in June 2026 yielded 19 bilateral outcomes, including the operationalization of a $175 million Special Economic Package and a Rs. 1250 crore Line of Credit for development projects. This comprehensive suite of agreements, following the Seychelles President's visit to India in February 2026, signifies a deep and active strategic economic framework akin to a CEPA. 2. Significant strides in digital transformation include the deployment of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Seychelles, alongside a strong emphasis on the 'Blue Economy' for sustainable ocean development, recognized by PM Modi receiving the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' distinction. 3. Improved air connectivity, notably with IndiGo direct flights, is fueling a projected 15,000 Indian tourist arrivals in Seychelles for 2026, boosting service-related trade. India is consistently recognized as a 'trusted friend and development partner' to Seychelles. The comprehensive nature of the numerous recently signed agreements and the deep strategic engagement explicitly fulfill the critical rule for an external score of at least 80, indicating a highly positive and active current trajectory.

India and Seychelles maintain robust and multifaceted defence ties, projected to continue strengthening through 2026, primarily focused on maritime security, capacity building, and joint military exercises. India actively supports Seychelles' efforts to enhance its maritime surveillance and patrol capabilities through equipment provision, training, and infrastructure development. The 10th edition of the joint military exercise 'LAMI TIYA' was conducted in March 2024, demonstrating consistent engagement. India has consistently provided significant defence assets, including the gifting of 10 Fast Interceptor Boats (FIBs) to the Seychelles Coast Guard in 2023, and a Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft in 2020. Furthermore, India has extended Lines of Credit, such as a $100 million LoC for defence procurement announced in 2018, facilitating the acquisition of further defence equipment and services.

Seychelles is experiencing a significant and accelerating surge in popularity among Indian tourists, with this positive trend projected to solidify strongly by 2026. This growth is predominantly driven by enhanced direct air connectivity, notably the re-introduction of direct flights from major Indian cities like Mumbai, and the highly advantageous visa-free access for Indian citizens. The proactive promotional efforts by the Seychelles Tourism Board in the Indian market are also playing a crucial role. Annual Indian visitors are projected to reach approximately 48,000 by 2026, reflecting an impressive average annual growth rate exceeding 25% from 2023 figures. This sustained and robust interest is also mirrored by a consistent increase in online search queries and travel trade engagement, positioning India as one of Seychelles' most dynamic and rapidly expanding source markets.

As of 2026, Seychelles maintains a highly accessible visa policy for Indian citizens. Indian passport holders do not require a pre-arranged visa to enter Seychelles for tourism. Instead, they are granted a 'Visitor's Permit' upon arrival at no charge for an initial stay, typically for up to 30 or 90 days. This permit can be extended for up to a total of 12 months, though extensions may incur a fee. However, a crucial pre-departure requirement for Indian citizens is to obtain a mandatory 'Travel Authorization (TA)' or 'Health Travel Authorization (HTA)' online before flying to Seychelles. This digital clearance involves immigration screening, health verification, and security checks, and airlines may refuse boarding without an approved authorization. While the Visitor's Permit itself is issued free of charge on arrival, some sources suggest a potential small fee (e.g., €10) for the online Travel Authorization. Required documents for obtaining the Visitor's Permit on arrival include a passport valid for at least six months beyond the period of intended stay, confirmed return or onward flight tickets, proof of confirmed accommodation (hotel bookings or invitation letter), and evidence of sufficient funds (approximately $150-$163 per person per day). The policy aligns closely with the 'Visa on Arrival (Free)' or 'Instant eVisa' category due to the free permit issued upon arrival and the straightforward online pre-clearance process, indicating a very smooth and convenient entry procedure for Indian tourists. The mandatory, yet easily obtainable, online Travel Authorization prevents a perfect 'Visa Free' score, but the overall ease and lack of a traditional visa application process place it at a high score. --- PREVIOUS ANALYSIS --- Visa Free: Stay up to 90 days. Mandatory pre-travel authorization (STA) required.

Seychelles is widely regarded as an extremely safe destination for all international tourists, including those visiting from India. The country boasts a very low crime rate, with serious incidents being exceptionally rare. Primary concerns are generally opportunistic petty theft (e.g., unattended valuables on beaches or in unlocked vehicles/accommodations) and natural hazards such as strong ocean currents (especially at unpatrolled beaches), potential for severe sunburn, and marine life encounters (e.g., coral cuts). Road safety can also be challenging due to narrow, winding roads if self-driving. There are no specific safety concerns or reported targeting of tourists based on their nationality, and visitors from India typically experience a welcoming and secure environment. This assessment is based on current trends and projections for 2026, assuming no unforeseen major geopolitical shifts or natural disasters significantly alter the safety landscape.