Acquisition of Citizenship

Below is the process of how to acquire a Seychelles citizenship, registration in special circumstances, naturalisation, parental descent and the official citizenship examination.

General conditions

  • He or she is not a prohibited immigrant
  • Period of absence does not exceed 1 year without consent of Minister
  • Has not been sentenced with an imprisonment for more than 1 year
  • Passes citizenship exam with more than 80 percent mark

In addition to all of the benefits of a Permanent Resident, a Naturalised Citizen;

  • Receives social security benefits, free health care and a state pension if they have worked for the relevant number of years
  • Is able to vote in elections

Citizenship Examination

Prospective applicants for Seychelles citizenship would need to answer 25 questions out of a Pool of 100 questions in one of the three National languages, English, French and Kreol in which an 80% pass mark is required prior to submission of application for citizenship.

Naturalized Citizen

You may apply for citizenship by naturalisation if you fall under the following criteria:

  • You have been married to a Seychelles citizen (for marriages from 29th June 1976 and after) for a period of at least 15 years
  • Has been a legal resident in Seychelles for an aggregate period of 2 years or more
  • You have obtain at least 80% marks in 1 of the 3 national languages in the citizenship qualifying examination
  • You have not been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 1 year or more for an offence punishable under any laws of Seychelles
  • You have not been absent from Seychelles for a continuous period of one year or more without the written permission of the Minister.

Parental Decent

You did not automatically become a citizen of Seychelles

  • And any of your parent or grandparent was born in Seychelles
  • You have not been sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding 1 year or more for an offence punishable under any laws of Seychelles


For further enquiries, please telephone 4293636 or e-mail: m.laporte@gov.sc

Special Circumstances

Special Circumstances apply if you have been married to a Seychelles Citizen and;

  • Your spouse is deceased
  • You have resided in Seychelles for an aggregate period of 2 years or more
  • Would have, if not for the death of his/her spouse, celebrated at least 15 years of marriage at the time he/ she lodges the application
  • Has lived together with the spouse for a period not less than 5 years prior of his/her death
  • Has not re-married at the time of making an application for citizenship
  • Has obtained at least 80 percent mark in one of the 3 national languages in the citizenship qualifying examination
  • Has not been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 1 year or more for an offence punishable under any laws of Seychelles