How to fill out the Seychelles online travel authorization (SVA/eVisa) when passport scanning fails?
Based on 1 discussion with 2 participants · Last activity: 1 day ago
TL;DR
Scan the passport photo page with your camera (not the digital NFC chip), use a VPN, and attach a hotel booking (a Booking.com screenshot works) — processing takes about 9 hours. If your passport has no biometric chip (5-year passports), the application is still accepted, but the system may separately ask for an NFC scan.
What the community said
The mobile app often glitches during scanning — it's more reliable to apply via the website and just upload a passport photo, which skips both the chip scan and selfie steps.
19 days ago Apply via website instead of app
The entry authorization (SVA) costs 10 euros, payable only with a foreign bank card; if you don't have one, cash payment on arrival is accepted.
18 days ago 10 euros, foreign card or cash on arrival
One traveler got approval within a day: scanned the passport photo page with a regular camera while connected via VPN. Attached a hotel booking as a Booking.com screenshot. Also scanned the passport's NFC chip. No medical insurance was required. Processing took about 9 hours.
19 days ago VPN + camera scan + Booking screenshot, ~9 hours
Holders of 5-year passports often lack a biometric chip, so NFC scanning isn't possible. The application still gets submitted for processing, but you may later receive a notification asking for the chip scan anyway — in that case, contact support to clarify the status.
19 days ago 5-year passport without biometric chip
Technical glitches during the application are common — some travelers get stuck specifically at the passport-scanning step for several days in a row, even if they've successfully applied before. Retrying with a VPN and switching from NFC scanning to a regular camera photo of the passport page often helps.
19 days ago