“It is extremely difficult to establish the exact number of persons holding a Seychellois nationality who are currently living abroad,” Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Minister Myriam Telemaque, revealed yesterday. 

The minister made this announcement in the National Assembly yesterday following a private notice question brought by the leader of the opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan.
The question sought to address the number of Seychellois living abroad and the number of persons who have become a Seychellois national in the last 10 years as well as under the economic citizenship programme.
Honourable Ramkalawan requested this information in the context of the referendum announced by President Danny Faure, where Seychellois have been asked to determine whether Seychellois living outside of the country will be allowed to vote in future elections.
In her answers yesterday, Minister Telemaque revealed that a total of 870 persons have been given Seychellois nationality under sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Citizenship Act from 2008 to 2018.

Of the 870 naturalised Seychellois, 128 gained nationality under Section 4 which sets provisions for citizenship of a child by registration; 408 gained nationality through Section 5 which allows the president to award citizenship based on distinguished service or special circumstance; and 334 gained Seychellois nationality through Section 6 which allows registration or naturalisation as per the Constitution.
These include Indians, Pakistanis, French, British, Mauritians, Portuguese, Germans, Saudis, Israelis, Kenyans, Chinese, Cubans, Americans, and Filipinos among others.
The minister noted that 75 Palestinians had also been provided with a Seychelles passport under section 5 in the period of 2009 to 2012.

Additionally, over 400 persons had purchased Seychellois nationality while the economic partnership programme was in force.
“We have issued 152,000 passports since 2004; this is not only for those who gained citizenship but this is in general, meaning it’s both people living abroad and in the country,” Minister Telemaque further revealed.
“Three-quarter of Seychellois (population) have a passport so we cannot expect that the number of our population will match the exact number of passports that are issued out. These two elements are not linked,” the minister stressed.

Complements of Seychelles NATION