Yes. Since the residential-purchase moratorium was lifted in early 2025, non-Seychellois can buy property in the Seychelles — but only within government-approved Designated Areas and developments, and only after obtaining a mandatory Sanction permit from the Ministry of Land Use and Habitat. Every foreign acquisition also carries a Sanction Duty of 12% of the property's market value (1.5% for a condominium unit), on top of the standard transfer costs. In practice, freehold access for foreign buyers is concentrated in approved developments such as Eden Island, where villas and apartments start from around USD 500,000.
What changed in 2025
For years, a moratorium effectively blocked most residential purchases by foreigners. It was lifted in early 2025 (announced in January, effective around March 2025), reopening the market on a controlled basis. Foreigners buy inside Designated Areas and approved developments rather than anywhere across the islands, and freehold ownership remains prohibited on the outlying islands.
The permit and the thresholds (official)
Every non-Seychellois buyer must obtain a Sanction — government consent — before completing. The application is form IP/3, filed with the Ministry of Land Use and Habitat, valid for one year, with a non-refundable application fee of SCR 3,000 for a purchase (SCR 2,000 for a lease). Minimum-value thresholds apply: a house must be worth at least SCR 10 million, bare land at least SCR 4,000/m² (for plots of 2,000–4,000 m²), and a condominium unit at least SCR 30,000/m².
Budget for the full cost, not the headline price
The 12% Sanction Duty is the largest single add-on for a standard residential purchase. Once you add stamp duty, processing and registration, the total transaction cost for a foreign buyer typically lands around 18–19% of the price — a directional figure that should be confirmed with a local notary or lawyer for your specific property. And note the most common misconception: owning property in the Seychelles does not, by itself, grant you residency.
Sources
Primary and expert sources behind this answer:
- Seychelles Planning Authority — Guidance on Property Acquisition by Non-Seychellois (SPA.gov.sc, March 2025) ↗
- Chambers & Partners — Real Estate 2026, Seychelles ↗
- Eden Island Seychelles — Official development site ↗
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Figures marked as official are drawn from the Seychelles Planning Authority guidance; figures marked directional are market estimates and must be confirmed with a local notary, lawyer or tax adviser for your specific property.
Luxury buyer's agent, on the buyer's side only — Mauritius, Dubai, Marbella, Greece, the Maldives and the French Alps. Every price and every rule on this page is sourced (developers, sales offices, official EDB/MRA texts) and dated; pages are re-verified quarterly.
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