Seychelles: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 45 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Seychelles.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Seychelles in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Seychelles may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Seychelles →

On the sanctions lists

45 entries on the official lists name Seychelles — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	43	43	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	1	1	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Seychelles recorded yet.

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Seychelles: logistics and trade

Indian Ocean island hub / tuna transshipment

Seychelles (ISO code: SC) is an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, north-east of Madagascar. It is a presidential republic with democratically elected institutions and a tropical maritime climate with a rainy season from November to March. The economy is dominated by tourism, fisheries and financial services, while industry and agriculture play a minor role. Exports are led by canned and processed tuna, fish products and re-exports, while the country depends on imports of food, fuel, machinery, vehicles and consumer goods. Logistically, foreign trade runs through Port Victoria, the only deep-water port, and Seychelles International Airport (SEZ), both on Mahe. The national currency is the Seychelles Rupee (SCR).

Capital: Victoria
Population: 121,354
Area: 459 km²
Currency: Seychelles Rupee (SCR)
Continent: Africa
Region: East Africa / Indian Ocean
Economic area: COMESA / SADC / AfCFTA
Religions: Christianity
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road

Current situation: Port Victoria is the central tuna transshipment hub (around 85 percent of regional purse seiners); the Mahe Quay container terminal is to be expanded from around 140'000 to 218'000 TEU.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical maritime climate; rainy season during the northwest monsoon from November to March with heavy rain; outside the main cyclone belt, but storm-related disruptions still possible.

Main seaports

Victoria
Port Victoria (SC POV): the Seychelles' only commercial deep-water port, ~140,000 TEU a year plus 70,000 t of tuna transshipment at Mahé Quay.

Main cargo airports

Seychelles International AirportSEZ
Seychelles International (SEZ/FSIA), Mahé: air freight moves mainly as belly cargo, led by fish and perishable exports via Dubai, Addis Ababa and Doha.

Road corridors

Mahe: Victoria - Pointe Larue (Airport) - Anse Royale
Victoria - Beau Vallon

Main trade lanes

Mahe - EU (canned tuna)
Gulf/UAE - Mahe (imports)
Asia (China/India) - Mahe (imports)
South Africa - Mahe

Customs and import

Customs authority Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) - Customs Division

Import customs system: ASYCUDA World; Bill of Entry under the Customs Management Act 2011; import duty (Trades Tax) under the Customs Management (Tariff and Classification of Goods) Regulations 2013.
Export customs system: Export declaration via ASYCUDA World at the SRC Customs Division; re-exports (mainly tuna) via Port Victoria.
Import VAT: 15 percent VAT on imports (CIF plus customs duty and excise), collected at import by the SRC Customs Division.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: EU-ESA Interim EPA (EUR.1 / origin declaration); COMESA and SADC certificate of origin; AfCFTA (ratified 2021).
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import licence / restriction requirements apply, among others, to weapons, ammunition, certain foodstuffs, plants and animals (biosecurity), and narcotic substances; species protection under CITES.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of Entry (ASYCUDA World)
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Packing list
Import licence (where required)
Certificate of origin (preferential)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Export declaration (ASYCUDA World)
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Packing list
Certificate of origin (EUR.1 / COMESA / SADC)
Health / fishery certificate (fish products)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium
Customs delays: Medium
Port congestion: Medium
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Low to medium
E-commerce relevance: Low to medium

Trade

Top import partners

United Arab Emirates China South Africa India France

Top export partners

France Spain Italy United Kingdom Germany

Top import goods

Food
Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Consumer goods

Top export goods

Fish
Re-exports
Services

Typical cargo

Tuna and canned fish
Food
Petroleum products / fuel
Machinery
Vehicles
Consumer goods
Construction materials

Logistics questions

What import tax applies in Seychelles?

Imports are subject to 15 percent VAT on the customs value (CIF plus duty and excise), collected at entry by the Customs Division of the Seychelles Revenue Commission.

Which port handles cargo?

Almost all seaborne trade passes through Port Victoria on Mahe, the only deep-water port; it is also a major tuna transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean.

Which customs system is used?

Customs clearance is electronic via ASYCUDA World; the legal basis is the Customs Management Act 2011, with the Bill of Entry as the central declaration.

Are there trade preferences with the EU?

Yes, the EU-ESA interim EPA grants preferential access for originating goods with EUR.1 or an origin declaration; COMESA and SADC preferences also apply.

How high are import duties?

Besides VAT, an import duty (Trades Tax) applies under the HS tariff of the Customs Management (Tariff and Classification of Goods) Regulations 2013; rates depend on the HS code.

What air freight connections exist?

Air freight runs through Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) near Victoria on Mahe with a cargo terminal; Air Seychelles and international carriers serve Europe, the Gulf and Asia.

Which goods are restricted or require a licence?

Licensing or restrictions apply to weapons, ammunition, certain foodstuffs, plants and animals (biosecurity) and narcotics, among others; species protection follows CITES.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗