VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychellois passport has been ranked the most powerful in Africa and 39th worldwide in the 2024 Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations. The ranking places Seychelles ahead of Mauritius, South Africa, and Botswana, and consolidates its position as the continent’s leading travel document in the annual survey. It is the first time Seychelles has held the African number-one slot for two consecutive years.
The result matters in practical terms for ordinary Seychellois travellers. A stronger passport reduces the friction of regional travel for work, family, and tourism, and it raises the country’s profile as a host for international business and investment. Officials at the department of foreign affairs have, in recent years, negotiated a series of bilateral visa-waiver agreements. The 2024 ranking is, in part, a return on that quiet, decade-long effort.
According to the Henley index, the Seychellois document now offers visa-free access to most of Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and large parts of Asia. The Seychelles government has separately announced a visa-exemption arrangement with Israel, allowing Seychellois visitors to enter for up to 90 days. The foreign affairs ministry described the new corridor as a useful opening for trade and tourism ties with the Middle East.
Seychelles’ climb in the global rankings has been gradual rather than sudden. The country first entered the top 40 in 2015, and has held a place in the leading group for African states since 2019. Analysts credit a combination of stable bilateral relations, a small but well-run consular service, and the country’s membership of regional and international bodies for the steady progress. The index itself is produced by the London-based firm Henley and Partners and is based on data from the International Air Transport Association.
The 2024 list is, again, led by European Union members, with France, Germany, Italy, and Spain tied at the top, followed by Japan and Singapore. Within Africa, Seychelles’ lead over Mauritius is now narrow, and analysts at Henley note that the next round of bilateral negotiations will determine whether the gap widens or closes. For Seychellois travellers, the practical effect of the new ranking is most visible at the visa-on-arrival counters of Asia and the Pacific, where the document is now waved through at the front of the queue.
The foreign affairs ministry is expected to publish a full list of the new visa arrangements on its website later this month.
