Nearly 98,000 people live in the Republic of Seychelles, an island chain of 115 islets northeast of Madagascar, with the majority of them residing in Mahé, the largest area. With $12.3 billion, Seychelles has the strongest GDP (gross domestic product) per person in Africa (2020). The tourist industry and fishing are its two main industries, and climate variability puts its long-term viability in danger.

Import to Seychelles

The required credentials must be included with imported goods from all buyers who wish to import under any of the Preferential Trading Blocs to which Seychelles is a participant. Importers must also indicate which accord the preference is being asked.

Products can be imported into Seychelles by both locals and visitors. Requests from entrepreneurs are limited to the relevant Capital Laws as they relate to importation for corporate operations. The Regulations outline every industry in which overseas firms are permitted to invest as well as every industry that is subject to market restrictions. Imported goods are registered into ASYCUDA World for one of two reasons: 

• Household use
• Storage 

Transshipment 

The Harmonized System (which serves as the foundation for the categorization of commodities by importers, exporters, shipping firms, and marine security firms) allows for the categorization of all goods.

Import taxes 

For the benefit of the Seychelles Income Board, the relevant duties are levied on the imports and received at the connector of arrival by the revenue department: 

• Excise Duties 
• Value Added Tax (VAT) 
• Import Tax 

The initial cost of foreign goods is reduced to a Cost Insurance Fare (CIF) level to determine their worth. The buying price is determined by the international market, in which the contracting parties act independently of one another.

Furthermore, the following items are subject to an ecological fee in the shape of a particular cost upon importation: 

• Motorized devices 
• the packing of drinks in PET bottles, 
• soft drink containers used for packing, 
• Alcoholic drinks in glass bottles. 
• dish-like satellites 

The import duties are mentioned in the table below: 

Products	Final bound duties	MFN applied duties	Imports
AVG	Duty-free in %	Max	AVG	Duty-free in %	Max	Shares in %	Duty-free in %
Leather	16.5	29.4	200	6.9	86.1	200	1	65.4
Clothes	24.7	0	25	1.5	88.2	25	1.3	62.1
Cotton	0	100	0	0	100	0	0	100
Fruits	20.7	17	50	7	63.1	50	2.6	52.2
Coffee	21.5	4.2	25	12	52.1	25	0.5	65.9
Petroleum	17.6	29.4	25	8.3	66.7	25	16.1	100
Chemicals	1	85.9	25	0.4	97.7	25	6.8	95
Oils	2.5	80.7	25	0	100	0	4.1	100
Dairy	0	100	0	0	100	0	1.9	100
Paper	13.2	27.4	50	0.8	96.8	50	5.0	99

Requirements

All items brought into Seychelles must go through the proper customs registrations and inspection processes. When submitting a statement, the declarant must acknowledge legal liability for the truthfulness of the information presented. The legitimacy of the supporting documentation and compliance with all requirements is a necessary part of the procedure.

A clearance broker (Customs agent) or a designated agent who has been granted permission to record data for a Commercial invoice must present the Bill of Lading. The importer is required to provide all relevant information about the imported items, including their specific nature, value, and volume.

Additional paperwork needs to be filed, too: 

• Bill of lading,
• Trade invoices, 
• Shipping license, 
• Import certificate
• Description of the goods, 
• Receipt, 
• Safety certificate, 
• Phytosanitary credential, 
• Fumigation credential, 
• Surety license, and 
• Bank deposits are all required documents. 

An import certification is a letter that must be provided to SRC via Customs and contains details about the imported items.