Seychelles

Seychelles decriminalized same-sex relations on May 18, 2016, when the National Assembly approved the reform 14-0 (signed June 1, in force June 7). Workplace anti-bias cover dates to the 2006 Employment Act. Parliament's September 18, 2024 Penal Code amendment introduced hate-crime cover on SO, GI and sex-characteristics grounds. No marriage or legal gender change. Victoria · beach-resort destination · social stigmatization persists in the general population.

Population 0,1M Capital Victoria Language Seychellois Creole, English and French (official) Currency Seychellois Rupee (SCR)

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LGBTQI+ legal framework · Seychelles

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LGBT identity

Legal (since 2016)

National Assembly decriminalised on 18 May 2016 by 14-0 vote · signed 1 Jun 2016 · in force from 7 Jun 2016

Partnership recognition

Not recognized

No same-sex marriage or civil union · no joint or stepchild adoption

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Legal protection

Employment anti-discrimination (2006) · hate crimes (2024)

Employment anti-discrimination by SO since 2006 (Employment Act 1995) · Sep 2024 Penal-Code amendment: protections span SO, GI and sex characteristics; hate-speech offences included

Trans rights

No legal gender change

No right to change legal gender · gender identity protection only in hate crime framework (since 2024)

Conversion therapies

No ban

No legal ban on conversion therapy

Social context · Seychelles

Social acceptance

Mixed

Mixed · stigmatization in general population

Wider society can still stigmatise queer Seychellois, even as the legal framework keeps improving.

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Anti-LGBT violence

Low

Low · criminal aggravator in place (2024)

No documented reports of systemic anti-LGBT violence. Hate crime legal framework since 2024 provides reporting framework.

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Indicative data as of 2026-05-18. Check the destination country's official sources before travelling.

Experiences
gay friendly · Seychelles

Top-booked tours and activities, with instant booking via Viator.

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Evolution
LGBTQI+ · Seychelles

Laws, rulings and events that shape the LGBTQI+ situation in the country.

SEP 18, 2024 · LEGAL

Hate crimes act passed

Parliament passes the Penal Code (Amendment) Act establishing hate crime protections including sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics, and criminalizing hate speech.