Tanzania Visa Guide

Most visitors to Tanzania require a visa. The good news: the application process is straightforward, the fees are modest, and the online system works well.

Citizens of East African Community member states — Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan — may enter Tanzania without a visa. A small number of other nationalities also qualify for visa-free entry, including citizens of the Comoros and the Seychelles. Everyone else requires either an e-visa (recommended), a visa on arrival, or a visa obtained in advance from a Tanzanian embassy or consulate.

Zanzibar is an autonomous region of Tanzania, but your standard Tanzania visa covers the islands — you do not need a separate permit. When travelling between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, you will pass through a domestic immigration checkpoint. Keep your passport and visa documentation accessible at all times during the transfer.

The e-visa is the simplest, most reliable way to enter Tanzania. Apply online before you travel, arrive with your approval on your phone, and walk straight to the immigration desk.

Apply at immigration.go.tz — the official Tanzanian government portal. Processing typically takes 3–10 business days, though most applications are approved within 48–72 hours. We recommend applying at least two weeks before your travel date to allow time for any queries or resubmissions.

The standard single-entry tourist e-visa costs $50 USD. A multiple-entry visa ($100 USD) is worth considering if your itinerary includes a side trip to Kenya (for the Masai Mara) or Uganda (for gorilla trekking) — you'll need it to re-enter Tanzania. The application form is straightforward and takes around 20 minutes to complete online.

Tanzania still offers visa on arrival at its three main international airports. It works — but the e-visa is faster, safer, and costs the same. Use visa on arrival as a backup, not a first choice.

Visa on arrival is available at Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam), Kilimanjaro International Airport (Arusha), and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar). The process has improved in recent years — dedicated counters are now in place and card payment is accepted at most airports — but queues of 30–60 minutes are common during peak arrival windows, particularly on morning flights from Europe.

Not all nationalities are eligible for visa on arrival. Some countries — particularly those with diplomatic tensions with Tanzania — are required to apply in advance at an embassy. Check your eligibility carefully before deciding to skip the e-visa. Arriving without the right documentation will result in delays, and in some cases, denied entry.

Your visa gets you into Tanzania. Your health preparation keeps you safe once you're there. See your travel health clinic at least 6–8 weeks before departure — several vaccinations need time to take effect.

Yellow Fever: If you are arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever-endemic country, proof of vaccination is compulsory at the Tanzanian border. The list of endemic countries is long and includes many common African and South American transit hubs. Carry your International Certificate of Vaccination (the yellow Carte Jaune) in your hand luggage — it may be checked at the departure gate, not just on arrival.

Malaria: Tanzania is a malaria zone. Prophylaxis is strongly advised for all travelers. Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) is the most commonly prescribed option for short trips to East Africa; Doxycycline is effective and more budget-friendly for longer stays. Consult your travel health clinic — not just a general practitioner — for current recommendations. Zanzibar has lower transmission rates than the mainland but the risk remains real, particularly during and after the rains.