Visa in short
What most travellers need to know.
What does it cost?
$50 for most nationalities. $100 for US citizens.
Where do I apply?
visa.immigration.go.tz — the only official site.
How long does it take?
Up to 10 working days. Apply three weeks ahead.
Passport validity?
Six months beyond entry, two blank pages.
Zanzibar?
Same visa, but mandatory local insurance (~$44).
Yellow fever?
Only if arriving from or transiting a risk country.
Two ways to get a visa
Most visitors need a visa for Tanzania. The standard tourist visa costs US$50 for most nationalities, is valid for 90 days, and can be obtained either online in advance or on arrival.
e-Visa online — recommended
Apply at visa.immigration.go.tz, upload your documents and pay by card. A decision usually takes up to 10 working days, though it can be longer in busy periods. Start at least three weeks before you travel. You receive a PDF to print and present on arrival.
Visa on arrival
Available at Kilimanjaro (JRO), Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar airports. It works, but it means queueing after a long flight — often for an hour or more at busy times — and paying in cash US dollars. If you have the time to apply online, do.
What you need
Nationalities that pay more
US citizens are issued a multiple-entry visa costing $100 rather than the standard $50 single-entry. A small number of nationalities require referral visas with a longer processing time — if you hold a passport from outside Europe, North America or the Commonwealth, check well in advance.
Zanzibar: same visa, extra insurance
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so you do not need a second visa. There is, however, an additional requirement that catches people out.
Since 2024, all foreign visitors to Zanzibar must hold mandatory travel insurance issued by a Zanzibar-approved provider, costing around US$44 and purchased online before arrival. Your existing European or American travel policy, however comprehensive, does not satisfy this requirement — it is a separate, locally issued product.
This is checked at Zanzibar airport and the ferry terminal. Buy it in advance; we can arrange it with your booking.
Yellow fever certificate
A yellow fever certificate is required only if you are arriving from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk.
Travellers flying directly from Europe, North America or Asia do not need it. Travellers connecting through Nairobi, Addis Ababa or other African hubs may, depending on the length of the layover — this is where people get caught out.
The certificate is checked on arrival, and without one where it is required you will be vaccinated at the airport at your own expense. Check your specific routing before you fly.
Tanzania visa — frequently asked questions
Most nationalities do. The standard tourist visa costs US$50, is valid for 90 days, and can be obtained online in advance or on arrival at the main airports.
US$50 for most nationalities. US citizens pay $100 for a multiple-entry visa. Beware of unofficial websites charging €50–100 in additional service fees for the same thing.
Usually up to 10 working days, sometimes longer in busy periods. Apply at least three weeks before you travel to be safe.
visa.immigration.go.tz — that is the only official portal. Many convincing-looking sites charge substantial fees for a service you can complete yourself in about twenty minutes.
Yes, at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar airports, paying in cash US dollars. It works, but expect to queue — sometimes over an hour after a long flight. Applying online is the calmer option.
No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and the same visa covers it. But since 2024 you do need mandatory travel insurance from a Zanzibar-approved provider, costing around US$44, purchased before arrival.
No. The Zanzibar mandatory insurance is a separate, locally issued product. Your European or American policy, however comprehensive, does not satisfy the requirement and it is checked on arrival.
At least six months beyond your date of entry, with two blank pages. This is checked and enforced.
Only if you are arriving from or have transited more than 12 hours through a yellow fever risk country. Direct flights from Europe do not require it — but a long layover in Nairobi or Addis Ababa may.
The standard tourist visa is valid for 90 days. Extensions are possible through immigration offices in Tanzania but are bureaucratic, so plan your dates properly.
No. Volunteering requires a different permit even when unpaid, and the rules are enforced. If you are planning volunteer work, arrange the correct permit well in advance.
Delays are more common than refusals. If your travel date approaches and no decision has arrived, visa on arrival remains available at the main airports as a fallback — bring cash US dollars.
Yes, every traveller needs their own visa regardless of age, and each child needs their own passport. Children travelling with only one parent may be asked for a consent letter from the other.
No. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda but not Tanzania. If you are combining Tanzania with Kenya, you need separate visas for each.