Countries › Africa › Seychelles
Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Seychelles?
Tobacco snus is legal in Seychelles under general tobacco law: the Tobacco Control Act, 2009 covers 'a product containing tobacco in any form', bans sale to under-18s and bans sale by post, internet or vending machine, but does not prohibit smokeless tobacco. Nicotine pouches are not addressed by any Seychelles rule; GSTHR records no law on them, while e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are banned as tobacco products. Passengers aged 18 or over may bring 250 g of tobacco product or 200 cigarettes duty-free under the Customs Management (Passenger Allowance) Regulations.
Eastern Africa
Seychelles at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Unregulated (sold openly) | Legal |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Unclear | Allowed |
| Online sale inside the country | Unclear | Not allowed |
| Regulated | not specifically regulated | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | No specific limit found | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | No flavour restrictions | No flavour restrictions |
| Excise tax | Unclear | Yes |
| Legal basis | – | Tobacco Control Act, 2009 (Act 14 of 2009), ss. 2, 7 and 8 |
| In force since | – | 24 August 2009 |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 2. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Seychelles
Unregulated, no specific rule.
The 2009 Act defines a tobacco product as 'a product containing tobacco in any form', which excludes tobacco-free pouches. GSTHR: 'Available sources do not indicate any specific laws regarding nicotine pouches in Seychelles.' Because Seychelles bans e-cigarettes and heated tobacco outright, customs may take a strict view of novel nicotine products; no case of pouches being seized or cleared is documented.
Sources: Republic of Seychelles, Official Gazette, via Tobacco Control Laws, Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR)
Tobacco snus in Seychelles
Legal under tobacco law, 18+.
Section 7 prohibits sale to a child (under 18). Section 8: 'A person shall not sell a tobacco product through an automatic vending machine, through the post or through the internet, or by other means through which the age of the purchaser cannot be reliably ascertained.' Health warnings in English, French and Creole are required on tobacco packaging (2015 regulations). Tobacco Control Laws: smokeless tobacco sales are allowed. Swedish snus is not commercially distributed in Seychelles.
Tax: Tobacco products are excisable in Seychelles; the rate for oral tobacco was not found.
Sources: Republic of Seychelles, Official Gazette, via Tobacco Control Laws, Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Seychelles
| For personal use | Allowed Passengers aged 18 and over: 250 grams of tobacco product or 200 cigarettes (including cigars), plus 2 litres of spirits, 2 litres of wine or beer, 200 ml of perfume and SCR 15,000 of other goods. Nicotine pouches are not named in the allowance. |
| Declaration | Unclear |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
Legal basis: Customs Management (Passenger Allowance) Regulations, 2018 (S.I. 52 of 2018) as amended by S.I. 94 of 2024. Do not bring e-cigarettes or heated tobacco devices: they are banned.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Seychelles?
Frequently asked questions
Is snus legal in Seychelles?
Yes, under general tobacco law. The Tobacco Control Act, 2009 covers all products containing tobacco and does not ban smokeless tobacco. It may not be sold to under-18s or by post, internet or vending machine. Snus is not stocked locally.
Are nicotine pouches legal in Seychelles?
There is no rule on them. The tobacco law only covers products containing tobacco, and GSTHR records no Seychelles law on nicotine pouches. Note that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco are banned, so customs may scrutinise novel nicotine products.
How much tobacco can I bring into Seychelles?
Passengers aged 18 or over may bring 250 g of tobacco product or 200 cigarettes duty-free, according to the Seychelles Revenue Commission. Pouches are not itemised.
Can I bring a vape to Seychelles?
No. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are banned in Seychelles, including import. This ban does not extend to oral snus or, as far as documented, to nicotine pouches.
Nearby in the atlas
- Algeria – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Angola – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Benin – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Botswana – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal with restrictions
- Burkina Faso – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Burundi – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Cameroon – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Cape Verde – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Central African Republic – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Chad – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- Tobacco Control Act, 2009 – Republic of Seychelles, Official Gazette, via Tobacco Control Laws (Legislation, 24 August 2009; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“"tobacco product" means a product containing tobacco in any form [...] 8. A person shall not sell a tobacco product through an automatic vending machine, through the post or through the internet, or by other means through which the age of the purchaser cannot be reliably ascertained.”
- Seychelles: sales restrictions – Tobacco Control Laws, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Smokeless Tobacco: Allowed. The law does not specifically prohibit sales.”
- Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Seychelles – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“E-cigarettes are banned and regulated as tobacco products. [...] Available sources do not indicate any specific laws regarding nicotine pouches in Seychelles, including their sale, purchase, use, or import for personal use.”
- Customs and excises: passenger allowances – Seychelles Revenue Commission (Customs; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“250 grams of tobacco product or 200 cigarettes including but not limited to cigars”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.