Money in the Seychelles: what currency to take to the paradise islands

The Seychelles has its own currency - the Seychellois rupee, which is commonly referred to as SCR. 15 rupees is equivalent to approximately 1 euro or 1 dollar, so 1 rupee is approximately 6 cents. Up-to-date conversion rates can be found on the website of the Central Bank of Seychelles.

By the way, the currency of the Seychelles became the most profitable in the world in 2021.

The currency is as exotic as the islands, so you can buy it almost exclusively in the Seychelles.

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What Seychelles money look like

The Seychellois rupee is issued in 5, 10 and 25 cent coins, as well as in 1 and 5 rupee coins. Banknotes are available in denominations of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 rupees.

Banknotes dedicated to biodiversity Seychelles. This series was released in December 2016 in honor of the 40th anniversary of the independence of the Seychelles.

• 25 rupees - on both sides of the bill there are magpie-robin, blue dove and killifish fish.
• 50 rupees - Seychelles black parrot, tree frogs and Seychelles white-eyes. These are the rarest birds that were on the verge of extinction.
• 100 rupees - depicts two Seychellois black paradise flycatchers, sunbird, two striped Aldabra snails . This species was considered extinct until 2014. But on the uninhabited atoll of Aldabra, 7 individuals were found.
• 500 rupees - depicts a falcon, Seychellois kestrel. This is the only and rare predator that nests in the archipelago: only 800 individuals. On the reverse side there is an image of a rare Seychelles owl, and a tiger chameleon.

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What currency to fly to the Seychelles with

Take to the Seychelles euros or dollars. Euros are in high demand. Upon arrival, they can be exchanged for local rupees. There are Saymore currency exchange offices at Seychelles International Airport Ltd, as well as branches of Barclays and Nouvobanq. In addition to banks and exchange offices, you can use ATMs. They only issue Seychellois rupees. ATMs can be found at Victoria Airport, Baie Lazare, Anse Royale and Beau Vallon on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue.

Currency exchange

All major cities and towns in the Seychelles have banks and currency exchange offices. Money can be exchanged at any of the branches of 9 banks in the country, at official forex dealers Bureau de Change and in the hotels where you stay.

• In general, currency exchange offices tend to offer better deals than banks. Hotels offer the worst rate.
• Most currency exchange offices and banks are located in the Seychelles capital, Victoria, on the island of Mahe. In addition to the three main islands - Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, private islands offer currency exchange services, such as Frigate Island, Denis Island, Desroches Island and others.
• There is no commission for cash exchange. Don't waste time looking for the best deal: the exchange rate is almost the same everywhere. And do not change money from your hands: currency exchange in institutions that are not designed for this is prosecuted by criminal law.

Tip: don't forget to exchange any rupees you may have left before leaving the Seychelles. Upon arrival home, it will be almost nowhere to do it. Unless you want to bring local currency with you from the Seychelles as a souvenir.

By the way, by law you cannot enter or leave a country with more than 2000 SCR.

Therefore, do not exchange or withdraw a lot at one time. In addition, only small amounts are exchanged for currency at the airport. Large amounts will have to be changed at the seller, after presenting the exchange check.

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Banks Seychelles

There are four main banks in the Seychelles:

1. Barclays Bank
2. Seychelles Savings Bank
3. Nouvobanq
4. Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB)

They have branches on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. ATMs that accept major international cards are available at the airport and in all major banks in Victoria. On Mahe, Praslin and La Digue you will also find Beau ATMs Vallon and Anse.

ATMs are not always available on the smaller islands, but there are banks in the larger cities and all 4- and 5-star resorts accept major credit cards.

Banks generally do not charge a commission for currency exchange and work on weekdays from 8:30 to 14:30, on Saturdays until 11:00, Sunday is a day off.

Remember that when withdrawing money from the card, bank fees may be charged, sometimes quite significant. Therefore, minimize withdrawals on personal accounts. As in many remote corners of the planet, cash withdrawals from ATMs are subject to a high commission, in the amount of 100 SCR ($ 7) for withdrawing money. Withdrawal fees are set by the bank, so you should look for a better option. For example, Barclays charges withdrawal fees while MCB ATMs generally do not.

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What you need to know about money in the Seychelles

• The most popular currency is the euro. In fact, hotels, national parks, tour agencies only accept payment in euros or dollars, not in local currency. Prices for most tourist services, including accommodation, excursions, diving, car rentals and transport, are also quoted in euros. And tourists are often offered to pay for purchases in euros (less often in dollars) or by credit card. But you can also pay in Rs.
• Transactions in euros can be more expensive, so it's best to use rupees where possible.
• Small restaurants and street stalls selling food, fish only accept Rs. In more expensive restaurants, prices are quoted in rupees, but you can also pay in euros.
• If you do not have enough rupees or euros, you can make a payment by combining both options.
• All major hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and car rental operators in the Seychelles accept credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard or American Express, debit cards, and traveler's checks. Sometimes there are additional charges for using credit cards for payment. Some places add an additional charge (usually 3%) to the bill to cover “bank fees”.
• Many guest houses still prefer cash. Please take this into account when booking.

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Use credit cards wherever possible and don't keep too much cash to avoid theft.