The Seychelles will open up its borders to visitors from around the world, but only if they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
The new regulation was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde during a joint press brief with his counterpart from the Health Ministry, Peggy Vidot.
The Seychelles became the first African country to roll out the vaccine on January 10.
Under the new regulation, Seychelles will be welcoming vaccinated visitors from any part of the world with immediate effect.
Vaccinated visitors
In order to be recognised as a vaccinated visitor, travellers will be required to prove that they have taken the complete dose of the vaccine.
Visitors will also need to provide an authentic certificate from their national health authority as proof of COVID-19 vaccination alongside a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate, obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel.
Visitors that are not vaccinated are unable to enter. This will be in force until mid-March once Seychelles has vaccinated a large majority of its adult population.
Mid- March onwards
Once the Seychelles has vaccinated the majority of the adult population, which is expected to take place in mid-March, the country will open up to all visitors with a negative COVID-19 result, vaccinated or not. Once the country has reached herd-immunity amongst its adult population, new visitors will only need a negative PCR obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel.
According to the Seychelles Tourism Board, ‘Irrespective [of the new regulation], visitors are to abide to the existing health measures (e.g. wearing of face masks, social distancing, etc…) which remain applicable as per the travel advisory. All tourism operators will still be required to follow their existing COVID-19 standard operating procedure and protocol.’
As of January 20, Seychelles currently has 746 active COVID-19 cases and 563 recoveries. The country has also recorded 2 COVID-19 related deaths, according to World o Meter.
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