Living in the Seychelles: taxes, permits and tax residency, what we were able to confirm

In the Seychelles, payroll tax follows a scale that distinguishes between Seychellois citizens and non-citizens: a French national who is not a Seychellois citizen falls under the non-citizen category. The Seychellois Revenue Authority (SRC) also publishes VAT, corporate income tax, and a tax on real estate owned by non-Seychellois citizens. This page does not provide criteria for Seychellois tax residency: no official document consulted defines them. It presents what is confirmed and notes what is missing.

Citizen or non-citizen: the salary tax scale

Employee income tax is calculated on gross monthly salary, according to a progressive tax scale in effect since June 1, 2018. The employer withholds the tax and remits it to the SRC within 21 days of the end of the month in question. Amounts are in Seychellois rupees (SCR).

The SRC website does not define the term "resident": it only distinguishes between citizens and non-citizens. It adds a rate of 3 % for remuneration for a specific project funded by a government or international agreement, and a flat rate of 10 % for dockworkers. Non-monetary benefits are taxed at 15 % since January 1, 2023 (previously 20 %), payable by the employer.

Salary of 50,000 SCR per month for a non-citizen: numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. A French executive, a fictitious profile, is employed in the Seychelles. His gross salary is 50,000 SCR per month. He is a non-citizen.

Issue. He wants to know what the employer will retain each month.

Strategy. He applies tranche 3 of the scale: 1,500 plus 20 % of the excess over 10,000.

Result. Monthly tax: 1,500 + 20 % × 40,000 = 9,500.00 SCR, or 114,000.00 SCR over twelve months and an average rate of 19.00 %. The calculation does not take into account any social security contributions or French taxes. The amounts are fictitious, and we are not converting them to euros.

Entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals: profit tax

For individuals and partnerships, the SRC publishes 0 % up to 102,666 SCR of profit, 15 % from 102,666.01 SCR to 1 million SCR, and 25 % above that. A presumptive regime exists for turnover below 1 million SCR: 1.5 % of the annual turnover, with a simplified one-page declaration. For companies, the rate is 15 % on the first million, and 25 % above that.

The profit declaration must be filed no later than March 31 of the following year, even if no tax is due or in the event of a loss.

The SRC describes a historically territorial tax regime: "only income sourced in Seychelles was liable to tax in Seychelles." This statement is in the past tense. It also mentions an economic substance test, in effect since September 16, 2021, for certain passive corporate income. The page does not specify the current situation for individuals; do not draw any conclusions without local verification.

VAT at 15% and a threshold of 2 million rupees.

The standard VAT rate is 15%. A zero rate applies to exports and items listed in Schedule 2 of the 2010 Act. Registration is mandatory for taxable supplies exceeding 2 million SCR. Since January 1, 2025, voluntary registration is possible for supplies exceeding 100,000 SCR, following an inspection by the SRC.

Buying property: 0.50 % per year for non-Seychellois

The Immovable Property Tax Act of 2019 applies to non-Seychellois who own real estate: apartments, villas, residential buildings, land, whether owned outright or leased. The tax is 0.50 % of the market value, payable by December 31st.

Two exemptions are published: one for commercial or industrial properties, and another for residential properties owned by a person married to a Seychellois citizen. A non-Seychellois citizen who becomes a first-time owner of residential property after January 1, 2020, may apply in writing for a one-year exemption. Failure to register is punishable by a fine of 50,000 SCR for commercial, industrial, mixed-use, or villa properties, and 10,000 SCR for other types of property.

Social security: 5 % of the employee and 5 % of the employer

Since January 1, 2023, the Seychelles Pension Fund has set the employee contribution at 5 % of their gross monthly salary, supplemented by 5 % from the employer. The employer must pay this amount no later than the 21st of the following month. The information page indicates that all workers are liable for contributions upon taking up employment, with no separate rules for non-citizens. Therefore, we cannot confirm whether this contribution applies to expatriates; please contact the fund for confirmation. The Cleiss fact sheet on the Seychelles could not be accessed.

Staying, residing, working: three permits

• Visitor's permit. The first permit is free and valid for up to three months. It requires a return ticket, confirmed accommodation, and sufficient funds, although no specific amount is mentioned. An electronic travel authorization is required before departure.
• Residence permit. It does not permit any paid employment. The holder must reside in Seychelles for at least five days per twelve-month period, provide a bank guarantee of at least SCR 20,000, and is not entitled to free medical care or social security benefits. The application fee is SCR 1,000, and the principal applicant fee is SCR 150,000 (for five years). A spouse applying at the same time costs SCR 75,000, and each child costs SCR 25,000.
• Gainful Occupation Permit. «"All expatriate workers in Seychelles require a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP)." Starting a business requires this permit.

The immigration page does not address taxation: do not confuse these residency requirements with tax residency. Regarding stays exceeding three months, the official pages do not align: the France Diplomatie page, updated in 2020, mentions a residence permit for simple residency, while the immigration page describes extensions of visitor permits. Check with Seychelles immigration before finalizing your plans.

On the French side: what continues to apply

Staying in France for more than six months during the year is not an absolute requirement for French tax residency. Meeting one of the personal, professional, or economic criteria listed in Article 4 B of the French General Tax Code (CGI) is sufficient for your tax residency to remain in France. You then declare all your income from these sources there.

No tax treaty is listed for the Seychelles in the French tax authorities (BOFiP). The 2026 income tax guide specifies that, in the absence of a tax treaty, income is taxable in France, without any elimination of potential double taxation in France. Further details can be found on our page regarding the absence of a tax treaty between France and the Seychelles.

If you leave France, the exit tax may apply: 12.8% for income tax and 18.6% for social security contributions for a departure in 2026. Accounts opened in the Seychelles must be declared annually on forms 3916 or 3916-bis, with a penalty of €1,500 per undeclared account. The French government's tax authority (Service-public.fr) also mentions a penalty of €10,000 per account for countries without a tax treaty; however, the texts consulted do not include the Seychelles in this category, so this point should be verified before filing.

What this page does not cover

It does not address the criteria for Seychellois tax residency, capital gains tax, inheritance and gift tax, stamp duty, or local bank accounts and life insurance policies: no official website consulted provides information on these topics. It also does not address the tax base for foreign-sourced income of an individual. The firm is not a local tax advisor: these points should be verified with a professional based in the Seychelles.

What changes depending on your situation

• Your status: employee, entrepreneur or property owner.
• Your French tax residence on the date of installation.
• The duration and nature of your stay: visitor, resident or worker.
• The nature of your income: salaries, profits, rents, dividends.
• Seychelles law, which this page does not deal with.

The rule depends on your situation. No results are guaranteed.