Tanzania Mandatory Travel Insurance: The US$44 Rule Explained

Tanzania now has mandatory travel insurance. Since 1 October 2026, most foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold a government inbound travel insurance policy costing US$44, issued by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). Zanzibar has run its own version, through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC), since 1 October 2024. Without a valid policy, a traveller can be refused entry, and your own international travel insurance does not count as a substitute.

This guide explains who has to buy it, what it costs for adults and children, what it covers and what it does not, how to buy it, whether a safari and Zanzibar trip needs one policy or two, and the practical problems travellers have reported. We are a lodge in Karatu, near the Ngorongoro Crater, and we will update this page as the rules settle. Always confirm the latest details on the official portals before you fly.

Tanzania travel insurance at a glance

Who has to buy it?

The mainland scheme applies to foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania, whether you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam or Arusha, or cross a land border such as Namanga from Kenya. It sits alongside the visa: you still need a Tanzania visa if your nationality requires one.

Exemptions: residents of East African Community and SADC partner states are exempt from the mainland scheme. The regulations refer to residency, and NIC’s own wording has varied between residents and citizens, so EAC and SADC travellers should check their status with NIC. Tanzanian residents are outside both schemes.

Your own insurance does not replace it. This is the point that surprises most travellers. The government policy is a condition of entry, not a choice between insurers, so even an excellent international policy does not satisfy the rule.

How much does it cost?

The adult premium is US$44 per person, a single payment for a stay of up to 92 days, not a daily charge. On the mainland it is charged as the equivalent in Tanzanian shillings. Some card payments add a small gateway fee.

For children, Zanzibar’s rates are well established: US$22 for ages 3 to 17, and free for under 3s, who still need to be registered. For the mainland scheme, tour-operator associations report the same child and infant rates, plus a 10% discount for groups of ten or more adults, while some early NIC material listed only the US$44 per-person price. The portal shows the price for each traveller before you pay.

What a family pays

These figures are for the mandatory policy only. Add your own comprehensive travel insurance on top; see what it does not cover below.

What it covers, and what it does not

Covered

• Emergency medical and surgical treatment for illness or accident during your stay
• Emergency medical evacuation, including transfer to a better-equipped hospital if local care is not enough
• Repatriation
• Loss, theft or damage to checked baggage
• Personal accident and personal liability benefits, and 24-hour assistance

ZIC has published its main limit: emergency medical cover of up to US$50,000, including epidemics and pandemics. NIC has not published benefit amounts for the mainland policy at the time of writing; the limits are stated on the certificate you receive.

Not covered

• Trip cancellation or curtailment. If you cannot travel, the mandatory policy pays nothing towards your safari.
• Anything before you arrive, including your international flights and missed connections.
• Large medical bills beyond the policy limits, or long-distance evacuation home.
• High-value luggage and cameras; baggage limits are low.
• Activities your policy excludes; check the wording if you plan diving, kitesurfing or climbing Kilimanjaro.

That is why safari operators and lodges still recommend a full travel insurance policy with medical evacuation and cancellation cover. Serious medical care in northern Tanzania is concentrated in Arusha, with air evacuation to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam for complex cases. See our honest guide to safety in Tanzania.

Safari and Zanzibar: one policy or two?

This is the most confusing part of the new rules, and you will find conflicting answers online, partly because many articles were written before the mainland scheme began.

NIC and tour-operator associations say a trip that combines the mainland and Zanzibar needs one policy, bought for your first point of entry:

The official government notice itself does not spell this out, and some sources still say visitors to both need both. Our practical advice: buy the policy for your first point of entry, keep the certificate on your phone and on paper for the whole trip, and ask your safari operator to confirm the current procedure for your onward flight to Zanzibar. If a medical emergency happens, cover comes from the insurer you bought from, wherever you are in Tanzania.

Planning both? Read our guide to combining a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar.

How to buy it, step by step

1. Use the official portal for your first point of entry: inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz for the mainland or inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz for Zanzibar. Look-alike websites have appeared, so type the address yourself rather than clicking ads.
2. Enter each traveller’s details: passport number, nationality, date of birth, arrival date, length of stay, purpose of visit and contact details. Infants still need to be registered.
3. Pay by card. Your bank may flag a payment in Tanzanian shillings as unusual, so a travel card or a quick warning to your bank helps.
4. Receive the certificate by email, usually within minutes, with a QR code. Cover starts from the dates shown.
5. Save it twice: on your phone (downloaded, not just in an email) and printed, one per traveller.

Buying on arrival is possible, but the Ministry of Finance and NIC both advise buying before you travel. A queue for insurance after a long-haul flight, before immigration, is the last thing you need.

What travellers have found so far

Zanzibar’s scheme has been running for two years, and traveller forums give a good idea of what to expect on the mainland too.

• It is checked. At Zanzibar, travellers report officials scanning the QR code on arrival, before immigration. Expect a check at mainland entry points too.
• Portals can be temperamental. Payment failures and slow pages are a common complaint. Buy a few days before you fly, not at the gate, and check your bank statement before trying again, to avoid paying twice.
• Many see it as a tourist tax. Forum threads often call it an entry fee with limited cover. Whatever you think of it, budget for it: it is not optional.
• Seasoned travellers keep their own policy. The mandatory cover is a floor, not a replacement for proper insurance.
• Confusion is common at the start. In the first months of any new rule, guidance changes. Check your operator’s latest advice in the week before travel.

Pre-trip checklist

• Passport valid six months beyond your stay, with blank pages
• Tanzania visa or e-visa grant notice, if your nationality needs one
• Mandatory travel insurance certificate for each traveller, including infants
• Your own comprehensive travel insurance with evacuation and cancellation cover
• Yellow fever certificate if your route requires one
• Your safari itinerary and first night’s accommodation
• Read our safari packing list

How it affects your safari budget

For most safaris, US$44 per adult is a small part of the total, but it adds up for families and groups, so include it in your budget alongside visas, park fees and tips. Read our guide to what a Tanzania safari costs and Ngorongoro fees explained.

Our lodge, The Retreat at Ngorongoro, is in Karatu, on the road to the Ngorongoro Crater. If you have questions about arriving for your stay, our reservations team is happy to help. See our villas.

Questions about Tanzania’s mandatory travel insurance

Is travel insurance mandatory for Tanzania?

Yes. Since 1 October 2026, most foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold a US$44 government travel insurance policy from NIC. Zanzibar has required its own policy from ZIC since 1 October 2024.

How much is Tanzania’s mandatory travel insurance?

US$44 per adult for up to 92 days. Child rates of US$22 for ages 3 to 17, with under 3s free, apply in Zanzibar and are reported for the mainland; the portal confirms the price before you pay.

Does my own travel insurance count?

No. The government policy is a separate entry requirement. Keep your own insurance too, because the mandatory policy does not cover cancellation and has limited benefits.

Do I need separate insurance for Zanzibar?

According to NIC and tour-operator associations, a combined trip needs one policy, bought for your first point of entry. Confirm the current procedure with your operator before you fly.

Where do I buy it?

Online at inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz for the mainland or inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz for Zanzibar. It can also be bought on arrival, but buying in advance is strongly recommended.

What happens if I arrive without it?

You can be refused entry, or required to buy it on the spot before you clear immigration.

Who is exempt?

Residents of EAC and SADC partner states are exempt from the mainland scheme. Zanzibar charges EAC and SADC travellers a reduced rate.

How long is the policy valid?

Up to 92 days from arrival, with multiple entries on the mainland policy. Longer stays need a new policy.

Insurance sorted? Explore our villas and plan your nights in Karatu.