Travel Visa Guide
so that you can get your travel documents in order in good time.
Do you need a visa to enter Tanzania?
In most cases, yes.
Nationality holders from most countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and most European countries, require an entry visa for Tanzania.
Please always visit the official website of the Tanzanian Immigration Authority or contact your nearest Tanzanian embassy before your trip.
Types of visa, depending on the purpose and duration of your stay:
1. Standard (tourist) visa.
This is the most common visa for holiday trips, safaris, beach holidays or visits to friends and family.
Validity: 90 days (single entry)
Cost: USD 50 for most nationalities
Processing time: 3–10 working days (online)
2. Multiple-entry visa for mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
For visitors who wish to enter and leave Tanzania multiple times within a year, such as those travelling back and forth between Kenya and Tanzania to extend their safari.
Validity: Up to 12 months
Cost: 100 USD (mainly for US citizens)
Condition: Each stay must not exceed 90 days per visit.
3. Transit visa.
If you are merely transiting through Tanzania for a maximum of 7 days
Validity: Up to 7 days
Cost: 30 USD
Requirement: Proof of onward travel required
4. Business visa.
You are visiting Tanzania for short-term business meetings, conferences or temporary employment.
Validity: 90 days
Cost: 250 USD
Requirement: Official letter from your company or partner organisation in Tanzania
How to apply for a visa for Tanzania.
Tanzania has made the visa application process simple and straightforward. You have two main options:
1. Apply online (recommended)
You can apply for your visa before your trip via the Tanzania e-Visa system at https://visa.immigration.go.tz/ and receive your approval electronically.
After completing the online form and uploading the documents (passport, photo, return flight ticket), and
secure online payment via VISA or MASTERCARD
Once your application has been approved, download the e-visa approval and print it out to present on arrival
Processing time: Usually between 3 and 10 working days.
To be on the safe side, you should submit your application at least 2–3 weeks before your trip.
2. Visa on arrival
At the airports listed below, you can also complete the entry formalities upon arrival.
For example:
Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam)
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Abeid Amani Karume Airport (Zanzibar)
Official land borders between Kenya, Uganda and Malawi
The procedure is simple, but may involve waiting times, particularly during the high season.
You will also need to fill in a short form, pay the fee in cash in US dollars and receive your visa stamp immediately.
Entry requirements at the airport or border.
To ensure a smooth entry into Tanzania, please make sure you have the following with you:
A passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival
At least one blank visa page in your passport
Proof of return or onward travel (ticket)
Ideally, a printed copy of your accommodation booking or itinerary
It is also possible to extend your visa.
This can be done at the immigration office in Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Zanzibar.
Extensions are usually granted for up to a further 90 days, depending on the type of visa you hold.
Special notes for visitors to Zanzibar.
Although Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region, the same visa regulations apply there as on the Tanzanian mainland.
If you enter Tanzania via Zanzibar, your visa is valid for both destinations.
Health and vaccination requirements.
Yellow fever: Travellers arriving from or transiting through countries at risk of yellow fever must present proof of vaccination on arrival.
It is advisable to check the current vaccination guidelines before travelling.
Always take out travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, particularly if you are going on a safari or climbing Kilimanjaro.
Useful travel tips.
Apply for your visa well in advance.
Keep your printed e-visa or letter of approval to hand when checking in and on arrival.
Always carry some cash in US dollars for visa fees or emergencies. Preferably new, undamaged banknotes printed after 2009.
If you plan to enter Tanzania multiple times during your trip, you should consider applying for a multiple-entry visa.