Most visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania, and the easiest way to get one is the official e-visa, applied for online before you travel. For most nationalities a single-entry tourist visa costs US$50; citizens of the United States pay US$100 for a multiple-entry visa. Since 1 October 2026 there is also a new rule many travellers have not heard about yet: foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold a US$44 government travel insurance policy, on top of the visa.
This guide covers who needs a visa, how to apply, fees, visa on arrival, the new insurance rule, Zanzibar, and the mistakes that cause problems at the airport. Rules change, so always check the official Tanzania Immigration Services portal and your own government’s advice before you travel.
Tanzania visa at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need a visa? | Most nationalities, yes. Citizens of East African Community countries and some others are exempt. |
| Best way to apply | The official e-visa portal, visa.immigration.go.tz |
| Ordinary tourist visa | About US$50, single entry, for most nationalities |
| US citizens | About US$100, multiple entry, valid for one year |
| Processing time | Often a few working days, but apply at least two to three weeks ahead |
| Visa on arrival | Still available at major entry points, paid in US dollars cash |
| Passport | Valid at least six months beyond your stay, with blank pages |
| Mandatory insurance | US$44 government policy for foreign visitors to the mainland, from 1 October 2026 (EAC and SADC residents exempt) |
Who needs a visa for Tanzania?
Visitors from most countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia need a tourist visa. Citizens of East African Community member states can enter without one, and Tanzania has visa-waiver arrangements with a number of other countries, mostly in Africa and the Commonwealth. Because the list changes, check your nationality on the official immigration portal rather than relying on an old blog post.
One common misunderstanding: the East Africa Tourist Visa does not cover Tanzania. That joint visa is for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only. If your trip combines the Maasai Mara or Uganda’s gorillas with a Tanzania safari, you need Tanzania’s own visa as well.
How to apply for the Tanzania e-visa
- Go to the official portal run by Tanzania Immigration Services: visa.immigration.go.tz. Avoid look-alike sites that add service charges.
- Choose the tourist (ordinary) visa, or multiple entry if that is what your nationality is issued.
- Upload your documents: a scan of your passport photo page, a recent passport-style photo, and usually your return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation, such as your safari confirmation.
- Pay online by card.
- Wait for the grant notice by email. Print it and carry it with your passport; immigration officers may ask to see it.
Approval is often quick, but it can take longer at busy times or if a document is unclear. Applying two to three weeks before you fly leaves room to fix problems.
Documents worth having ready
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the end of your stay, with at least two blank pages
- A clear digital passport photo on a plain background
- Your flight details in and out of Tanzania
- Your first night’s accommodation and your safari itinerary
- A yellow fever certificate if your route requires one (see below)
- Proof of the mandatory travel insurance, once you have bought it
Visa on arrival
Visa on arrival is still offered at main entry points, including Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, and at major land borders such as Namanga from Kenya. Fees are paid in US dollars cash, and officers often refuse old, torn or marked notes, so bring clean, recent bills.
It works, but queues after a long-haul flight can be slow, and policies at individual borders can change. The e-visa is the safer choice, especially if you are connecting straight to a light aircraft or have a driver waiting.
The new mandatory travel insurance (from 1 October 2026)
From 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania by air, land or sea must hold a government travel insurance policy costing US$44. The policy is issued by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) or registered insurers working with it, and covers emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, repatriation and lost luggage. It is valid for up to 92 days with multiple entries.
- Who is exempt: residents of East African Community and SADC partner states.
- When to buy: before you travel or at the point of entry. Buying in advance avoids another queue.
- What to carry: the certificate, on your phone or printed.
- It does not replace your own insurance. The government policy has limited cover. Keep comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical evacuation, cancellation and your safari activities.
As with any new rule, details of how it is checked may evolve in the first months. Ask your safari operator to confirm the latest procedure before you fly.
Zanzibar: visa and insurance
Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania, so your Tanzania visa covers it; there is no separate Zanzibar visa. Zanzibar does, however, run its own mandatory travel insurance scheme, introduced on 1 October 2024 through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. The mainland’s own US$44 scheme, run by NIC, followed on 1 October 2026. NIC and tour-operator associations say a combined trip needs one policy, bought for your first point of entry; confirm with your operator before you fly. See our full guide to Tanzania’s mandatory travel insurance.
Planning a beach finish? Read our guide to combining a Tanzania safari with Zanzibar.
Yellow fever certificate
Tanzania asks for a yellow fever vaccination certificate from travellers arriving from, or who have spent a long transit in, a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. This catches people out on routes through Nairobi or Addis Ababa, depending on the rules in force and the length of the layover. Check your exact route with a travel clinic, and if you need the vaccine, have it at least ten days before you travel so the certificate is valid.
Common visa mistakes
- Using an unofficial website. Many sites look official and charge large fees on top of the visa. Use the .go.tz portal.
- Assuming the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Tanzania. It does not.
- Not enough passport validity or blank pages. Airlines can refuse boarding.
- Old or damaged US dollar notes for visa on arrival.
- Forgetting Kenya’s own entry rules if you start or finish in Nairobi. Kenya now uses an electronic travel authorisation, applied for separately.
- Leaving it to the last week. Most approvals are fast; the ones that are not cause real stress.
- Forgetting the new insurance. From 1 October 2026 it is a condition of entry for most foreign visitors.
Arriving for your safari
Most northern circuit safaris start at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha. From there it is about 2.5 to 3 hours by road to Karatu, the base for the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, or a short flight to the Lake Manyara airstrip. Read our Arusha to Karatu guide and our honest look at safety in Tanzania.
Our lodge, The Retreat at Ngorongoro, is in the Tloma area of Karatu, 20 to 30 minutes from the Ngorongoro gate. See our villas or what a safari costs.
Questions about the Tanzania visa
How much is a Tanzania tourist visa?
For most nationalities about US$50 for a single-entry tourist visa. US citizens pay about US$100 for a multiple-entry visa. Check the official portal for your nationality.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Tanzania?
Yes, at major airports and land borders, paid in clean US dollar notes. The e-visa is quicker and more predictable.
How long does the Tanzania e-visa take?
Often a few working days, but apply at least two to three weeks before you travel in case documents need correcting.
Does the East Africa Tourist Visa include Tanzania?
No. It covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Tanzania requires its own visa.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and the same visa applies, but Zanzibar has its own mandatory travel insurance.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Tanzania?
Yes. From 1 October 2026, most foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold a US$44 government travel insurance policy. Residents of EAC and SADC partner states are exempt.
Visa sorted? Check availability at The Retreat at Ngorongoro for your nights in Karatu.
