Tourism Seychelles advises potential travellers planning to visit the picturesque Indian Ocean destination to exercise caution when dealing with third-party websites for their travel authorisation requests.
The Seychelles authorities stressed that the official platform for obtaining valid Travel Authorisations procedures is the Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS), exclusively accessible through its official Government Website, Seychelles Electronic Border System – Official Government Website (govtas.com), where a standard application fee of €10 is charged per application. Travellers are warned that applications made by a third-party may not be accepted by the SEBS platform.
Speaking of the situation, the Director General for Destination Marketing at Tourism Seychelles, Mrs Bernadette Willemin, mentioned that the Seychelles Immigration Department and the Tourism Department are alert to the presence of these third-party websites.
“A third-party website emerged following recent complaints received by Immigration officers at the Seychelles airport. Travellers disembarking reported paying for their travel authorisations, with some not initially processed, resulting in additional payments. It is important to highlight that these websites operate with fees significantly higher than the standard 10 euros processing fee. It is our duty to remind visitors and international partners to use our official website for travel authorisation, urging caution and staying informed to prevent potential dissatisfaction,” said Mrs Willemin.
Mrs Willemin emphasised that these third-party websites could put travellers at risk, possibly causing problems during embarkation or requiring repayment for authorisation processing upon arrival. This might lead to extra costs for visitors and, unfortunately, create dissatisfaction while also affecting the reputation of our destination.
If travellers come across these websites, they are urged to report such activities promptly to the authorities in Seychelles through the Tourism Department via its website seychelles.com.
The Director General for Destination Marketing affirmed that Tourism Seychelles is committed to ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience for all visitors. By using the official Seychelles Electronic Border System, travellers can confidently acquire valid Travel Authorization, protecting themselves from potential scams.
