Tanzania Visa

Most international visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania, including travellers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Australia. Citizens of some countries, including many East African Community and Southern African Development Community members, can visit without a visa for short stays, while a small number of nationalities must apply in advance through a Tanzanian embassy. Because the lists change from time to time, always confirm your nationality on the official Tanzania Immigration website before you book flights. Your visa is checked at the first airport or border post where you enter Tanzania.

• Most Western passport holders need a visa
• Some East African and SADC citizens are visa-exempt
• A few nationalities must apply through an embassy
• Check your nationality on the official immigration website
• Your visa is checked on arrival in Tanzania
• Zanzibar uses the same Tanzania visa

Tanzania issues several visa categories, and choosing the right one avoids problems at immigration. Holidaymakers on safari, climbing Kilimanjaro or relaxing in Zanzibar need the ordinary single-entry tourist visa, which costs US$50 for most nationalities. Citizens of the United States are issued the multiple-entry visa instead, which costs US$100 even if you only enter once. Business travellers attending meetings or exploring investments need a business visa, and travellers changing flights through Tanzania may need a transit visa. Fees are paid in US dollars, are non-refundable and can change, so confirm the current amounts on the official portal before applying.

Note: fees are set by the Tanzania Immigration Department, paid in US dollars and non-refundable. Always confirm the current amount on the official portal before you pay.

The Tanzania eVisa is the easiest and most reliable way to get your visa before you travel. Apply only through the official government portal at visa.immigration.go.tz, because unofficial websites often charge extra service fees for the same application. You complete the online form, upload a passport scan, a recent photo and your return flight details, pay by credit or debit card and track your application online. Once approved, the grant notice is emailed to you. Print it, save a copy on your phone and carry both with your passport, because airlines and immigration officers may ask to see it.

1. Open the official portalGo to visa.immigration.go.tz and choose the correct visa type for your nationality and trip.
2. Complete the formEnter your passport, travel and accommodation details exactly as they appear in your passport.
3. Upload documentsAdd a clear passport bio-page scan, a recent passport photo and your return or onward flight ticket.
4. Pay the feePay online by Visa or Mastercard and keep the payment reference number.
5. Track your applicationUse your application ID to check the status online; processing can take up to 10 working days.
6. Print your grant noticePrint the approval letter and keep a digital copy to show at check-in and on arrival.

Preparing the right documents before you start your application saves time and prevents rejection. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and have at least one blank page, though two are safer. You need a recent passport-style photo with a plain background, a scan of your passport bio page and proof of your return or onward flight. Business visitors also need an invitation letter from a registered Tanzanian company. Use the checklist below to tick off each document, or print it to keep with your travel papers before your safari begins.

Visa on arrival is still available at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar and major land borders for many nationalities. You complete a form, present your passport and pay the fee, usually in US dollars cash. However, queues can be long when several international flights land together, and some airlines ask for proof of a visa before boarding. For a smooth start to your safari, we strongly recommend applying for the Tanzania eVisa well in advance and keeping visa on arrival only as a backup option.

The official processing time for a Tanzania eVisa is up to 10 working days, and many are approved sooner. Delays usually happen when photos are unclear, passport details do not match or payments fail, and applications can take longer around public holidays and the busy July to October safari season. We recommend applying three to four weeks before departure, and no more than about three months ahead, so your dates fall within the visa validity. Do not start your journey until your grant notice arrives, and contact immigration if your status has not changed after 10 working days.

From 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania must buy mandatory inbound travel insurance from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). The policy costs US$44 per visitor, covers medical emergencies and is valid for up to 92 days. Visitors arriving through Zanzibar buy the equivalent policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC). This government insurance is an entry requirement and does not replace your own comprehensive travel insurance, which should still cover medical evacuation, trip cancellation and lost luggage. Buy the policy online well before you fly and keep the certificate with your passport and eVisa grant notice.

Tanzania asks for a yellow fever vaccination certificate based on your travel route rather than your nationality. You must show the certificate if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, or if you transit for more than 12 hours through an airport in such a country, for example on some routes through Kenya or Ethiopia. Travellers flying directly from Europe, North America or Australia usually do not need it. Speak to a travel clinic several weeks before departure about yellow fever, malaria prevention and routine vaccinations, and carry the certificate with your passport.

• Required if arriving from a yellow fever risk country
• Also required after long transits in risk countries
• Usually not needed on direct flights from Europe or North America
• Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel
• Ask a travel clinic about malaria prevention
• Carry the certificate with your passport

A Tanzania tourist visa usually allows a stay of up to 90 days, and the exact period is stamped by the immigration officer when you arrive, so check your passport stamp before leaving the airport. The multiple-entry visa can be valid for up to 12 months, but each visit is still limited to 90 days. If you need to stay longer, apply for an extension at an immigration office before your permitted stay expires. Overstaying can lead to fines, detention or difficulty returning to Tanzania, so plan your safari, climb and beach dates carefully within your allowed stay.

• Tourist visas allow up to 90 days per stay
• The officer stamps your permitted stay on arrival
• Multiple-entry visas can be valid for 12 months
• Extensions must be requested before expiry
• Overstays can lead to fines and future refusals
• A tourist visa does not allow paid work

Most visa problems are easy to avoid with a little care. The most common mistake is applying through an unofficial website that looks official but charges extra fees, followed by uploading blurred photos or passport scans that lead to delays or rejection. Travellers also choose the wrong visa type, forget that US citizens need the multiple-entry visa, apply too late before peak season or enter details that do not match their passport exactly. Others forget the yellow fever certificate after a long transit or travel without printing their grant notice. Check every detail carefully before you submit and pay.

• Using unofficial visa websites
• Blurred photos or passport scans
• Choosing the wrong visa type
• Applying too close to departure
• Names or numbers not matching the passport
• Travelling without the printed grant notice