The Cabinet of Ministers has recently approved two bills for the amendment of the Citizenship Act and the Immigration Decree, in line with the announcements President Michel made in the State of the Nation Address this year.

The President had announced that new stricter laws would be put into place for the acquisition of Seychelles citizenship by foreign nationals. Applicants for citizenship will be expected to know, understand and appreciate Seychelles, its constitution, its people, its history, its culture, aspirations and heritage, and a period of residence and marriage will not suffice for citizenship.

Persons applying for citizenship will need to be loyal and sincere towards Seychelles and show the contribution they have towards the development of their adoptive country. The new law will also outline the conditions for the revocation of citizenship when the national interest is threatened.

A new ‘permanent residency’ status will also be introduced which will allow foreign nationals to live in Seychelles on a permanent basis, who have the necessary financial means to do so, without enjoying the rights of full citizenship such as social security, pension, voting rights. They would however be able to work and invest in businesses in categories which are not reserved for Seychellois.

The two new bills are expected to be presented to the National Assembly for approval in November this year.