The opportunity to take classes in the Seychelles is a chance to be in one of the most beautiful locations on Earth. For spouses and children accompanying you as an international student, however, the logistical challenges involved in relocating go well beyond finding a place to live and deciding on a topic for your course work. One of the biggest, but perhaps least understood, barriers to relocating with a spouse or child is getting the right health insurance.
Unlike Australia, that has the highly structured Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for family members of international students, there is no state-mandated “student-local” insurance program available to families moving to the Seychelles. Therefore, it is up to the student to choose among the various options available to him/her. You will enter a world of global expatriate medical insurance and international student insurance plans, all of which can serve as protection.
The purpose of this guide is to provide you with a clear explanation of how to navigate this complex system so that your family is adequately protected while meeting the very stringent requirements for entry into Seychelles.
The Seychelles Baseline: Entry and Visa Requirements
Before you ever get on a plane, the Seychellois Government will require that you have some form of proof of protection in place prior to entering the country. This is a non negotiable requirement to enter the country.
All visitors to Seychelles including students and their dependents are required to purchase and provide proof of valid travel/medical insurance to the Seychelles Department of Health and Immigration. The important aspect of this policy is that the coverage must include any costs associated with any medical treatment including but not limited to, COVID-19, and may include treatment and isolation. Students’ visas are contingent upon purchasing a policy like this, it’s not optional.
For students who bring spouses or children, the general rule is quite simple: each family member must be covered for the entire length of time that they will be staying in Seychelles. Because there is no nationalized “student family” product available, most families opt for an International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) plan. IPMI plans are designed to be portable, comprehensive and recognized by local authorities.
Top Insurance Providers for Families in Seychelles
When you begin your search, you will likely encounter these ten options. These providers are frequently used by the international community in the Seychelles because they allow for “linked” policies—meaning your spouse and children can be added to your primary student account.
1. IMG (International Medical Group)
IMG is a heavyweight in the international space. Their Student Health Advantage and broader expatriate plans are specifically built for those living outside their home country.
- The Value: They offer tiers that include telehealth, emergency evacuation, and even maternity on higher-level plans. It is a solid choice if you want a plan that feels more like “real” insurance rather than just emergency travel cover.
2. InternationalStudent.com
This platform distributes the StudentSecure and Student Health Advantage series.
- The Value: These plans are tiered (Smart, Budget, Select, Elite), allowing you to match your coverage to your budget. The Elite and Select tiers often provide better options for adding dependents while maintaining higher maximum coverage limits.
3. APRIL International
APRIL specializes in modular plans. This is particularly helpful for a student budget.
- The Value: You can often “bolt on” benefits. If you only need inpatient care for yourself but want outpatient and dental for your children, their modular system allows for that level of customization.
4. Bupa Global
If your budget allows for a premium experience, Bupa is the gold standard.
- The Value: They offer high limits and an extensive network of global hospitals. Their mental health and evacuation coverage are exceptionally robust, though you will pay a significantly higher premium for this level of service.
5. Insurancy.de (Broker Services)
This German-based broker is highly active in the Seychelles market.
- The Value: They specialize in tailoring plans to specific destinations. They are particularly adept at ensuring your policy includes the exact COVID-19 wording required by Seychellois immigration.
6. Generic “Seychelles-Specific” International Plans
You may find plans marketed specifically as “Seychelles Student Insurance.”
- The Value: These are usually standard expat plans rebranded for the region. They are reliable because they are designed to meet the exact visa requirements of the country, combining emergency medical with repatriation.
7. InternationalStudentInsurance.com (Aggregation Platforms)
Aggregators allow you to compare multiple underwriters at once.
- The Value: They highlight which plans meet university-specific minimums. If your institution in Seychelles has specific requirements regarding mental health or organized sports coverage, these platforms filter those for you.
8. Global Expat Insurers via Independent Brokers
For families planning to stay longer than two years, or those who might move to another country after their studies, a standard expat plan is often better than a student-specific one.
- The Value: These plans offer more “long-term” stability and usually have better coverage for chronic conditions that develop while you are abroad.
9. High-Limit Travel Medical Plans
If your course is less than a year, a travel medical plan might suffice.
- The Value: These are significantly cheaper. However, be cautious: they often exclude routine check-ups and pre-existing conditions. They are built for accidents, not for managing a family’s day-to-day health.
10. University-Linked or Agent-Arranged Policies
Some agencies that help students apply to Seychellois universities have pre-negotiated deals with insurers.
- The Value: These are often the easiest to set up. If your university recommends a specific provider, it is usually because that provider’s certificates are automatically accepted by the local immigration office.
Understanding the Cost of Family Coverage
Pricing isn’t always fixed due to fluctuating exchange rates and medical inflation; however, you can use benchmarks as a guide for budgeting purposes.
A twelve month Australian family OSHC plan can cost upwards of $4200AUD. When it comes to the Seychelles, expect to pay the same as if you were purchasing an international private medical insurance plan. A mid-level plan for a student, spouse and one child that includes reasonable in-hospital coverage (i.e., hospitalization) typically falls within the lower to upper four figures (in USD/EUR) annually.
When adding optional “extras” such as maternity or full outpatient care (e.g., GP visits and prescriptions), the premium increases dramatically. Since national plans are government funded programs, private OSHC contracts vary based on your age, your health history and how much you want to be covered.
Critical Features: What to Prioritize
When you are staring at a 50-page policy wording document, it is easy to get lost. For a family in the Seychelles, focus on these four pillars.
| Feature | Why it Matters in Seychelles |
| Inpatient & Hospital Care | Serious medical issues in the Seychelles may require private facility care. Look for high limits on surgery and ICU. |
| Medical Evacuation | While the Seychelles has good medical facilities, highly specialized care may require a flight to South Africa, Mauritius, or the UAE. This can cost $50,000+ without insurance. |
| COVID-19 Protection | This is a visa requirement. Ensure your policy explicitly mentions coverage for testing, treatment, and isolation costs. |
| Outpatient Care | For families with children, GP visits for ear infections or minor fevers are common. A plan that covers these “small” costs prevents them from adding up. |
A Note on Maternity: If you are planning to expand your family while studying, you must plan ahead. Most international plans have a “waiting period” of 10 to 24 months before maternity benefits kick in. You cannot buy a policy today and have a birth covered next month.
Practical Steps for a Smooth Transition
Securing insurance isn’t just about paying the premium; it’s about the paperwork. Follow this checklist to ensure you don’t run into trouble at the border or the doctor’s office.
- Verify Institutional Acceptance: Before you buy, send the policy summary to your university’s international office. Ask them a simple question: “Will this policy satisfy my enrollment and visa requirements?”
- Use a Specialist Broker: Don’t just buy a plan off a general website. Use a broker who understands the “Student + Dependents” dynamic. They can ensure that your spouse and children are linked to your policy correctly, which often results in a family discount.
- Compare Three Tiers: Always look at the Economy, Mid, and Premium tiers of at least two different companies. Often, the “Mid” tier offers significantly better value for families because it includes outpatient care for a relatively small price increase over the “Economy” version.
- Digital and Physical Copies: Seychelles is an island nation; while digital connectivity is good, always have physical copies of your insurance certificates and emergency contact cards. If you end up in a clinic during a power outage or in a remote area, you’ll be glad you have the paper.
- Check the “Cashless” Network: Ask the insurer for a list of “Direct Billing” providers in the Seychelles. This means the hospital bills the insurer directly, so you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket and wait weeks for a reimbursement.
Moving Forward
The Seychelles offers a unique and enriching academic environment, but it does require a proactive approach to family welfare. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” local plan, your choice of international insurance becomes the safety net for your entire journey.
