Tanzania Entry and Travel Requirements

Tanzania Entry Requirements set out the rules that must be met to enter Tanzania smoothly. The Tanzania entry rules also specify what type of documentation one must obtain before the planned trip to Tanzania.

Among the most essential documents are a valid passport and a visa. All travelers planning to visit Tanzania should make sure that their passports will remain valid for at least 6 months from the planned arrival date. Depending on the travelers' nationality, intended duration of stay, and their travel purpose, different visa types may be required.

According to the Tanzania visa policy, nationals of more than 40 different countries can visit Tanzania visa-free for short-term stays not exceeding 3 months. All other foreign nationals need to obtain a visa before visiting Tanzania. Some travelers will need to visit the nearest Tanzanian embassy for this purpose, while others may benefit from online visa applications. The list of eVisa eligible countries includes over 150 different nationalities who may submit their visa applications entirely online. Applicants from countries not included on this list will need to make an embassy appointment and apply for a Tanzania visa in a traditional way.

Currently, Tanzania has no visa bans against any foreign country. Iraqi nationals are the only ones who must obtain a visa upon arrival in Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Tanzania and Zanzibar have a common visa policy which means that most travel permits cover both mainland Tanzania and the territory of the Zanzibar islands.

Due to the outbreak of the pandemic, the Tanzanian Government introduced a number of Covid-19 requirements, which may differ depending on the traveler's vaccination status. At the moment, all international arrivals to Tanzania must complete the online Health Surveillance Form before arrival. A separate health form is required for Zanzibar. Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to take pre-departure tests but must present valid vaccination proof with a QR code upon arrival. Non-vaccinated travelers need to submit a negative Covid-19 RT PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. Moreover, Tanzania requires travelers from certain areas to take a rapid antigen test upon arrival.

Read on to familiarize yourself with detailed information on what you need to enter Tanzania issues-free.

Please note! Covid-19 requirements are subject to rapid change amid the constantly evolving pandemic situation around the globe. Before your trip, do remember to confirm up-to-date entry requirements for Tanzania.

Who can enter Tanzania?

Tanzania welcomes all international travelers. Depending on their Covid-19 vaccination status, they may need to meet different entry requirements.

Documents check-list for entering Tanzania

• valid passport
• valid Tanzania visa
• RT-PCR negative test (only if unvaccinated)
• Covid-19 vaccination proof
• Health Surveillance Form
• travel insurance (optional)

Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements

Testing requirements

Fully vaccinated travelers

Fully vaccinated foreign travelers arriving in the Union Republic of Tanzania, including returning Tanzanian residents and transiting passengers, are exempt from any pre-departure and post-arrival testing requirements.

non-vaccinated/non-fully-vaccinated travelers

Non-fully vaccinated or unvaccinated arrivals must provide a negative RT-PCR or NAATs report issued with a QR code. The test needs to be taken within 72 hours before the intended departure.

Moreover, certain nationalities arriving from areas experiencing variants of interest and high numbers of coronavirus cases will be additionally tested upon arrival. The list of such countries can be found on the website of the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, the governmental body responsible for its update.

Those travelers who are subject to on-arrival testing must cover the RAT costs of 10 USD. They are recommended to pay the fee online in advance via an automatically generated number after registering for the Traveler's Health Surveillance Form.

If the persons coming to Tanzania are unvaccinated or non-fully vaccinated and are unable to provide a negative RT-PCR test, they are treated according to the following protocols:

• air transport/international marine vessel: required Covid-19 RT PCR testing at the traveler's own cost of 100USD; self-isolation is necessary until receiving the test result;
• international/regional/inland vessels: required RAT testing at the traveler's own cost of 10 USD; positive cases will need to be confirmed by RT-PCR testing at the cost of 50 USD;
• land crossing: required RAT testing at the traveler's cost of 10 USD; positive cases will be handled in compliance with Bilateral and Joint Border agreements.

Vaccination requirements

Covid-19 VACCINATION

Fully vaccinated travelers arriving in Tanzania may use their valid vaccination proof to access the country test-free. They should present valid vaccination proof with a QR code upon arrival.

The Covid-19 vaccines recognized by the Tanzanian Government are those approved by the World Health Organization. Tanzania authorities accept EU Digital COVID Certificate. Its holder is advised to carry the certificate's printed copy.

Yellow fever vaccination

Travelers arriving from the following countries must have yellow fever vaccination proof:

• Angola
• Argentina
• Benin
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Colombia
• Republic of the Congo
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Ecuador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Ethiopia
• French Guiana
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Kenya
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Rwanda
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Togo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uganda
• Venezuela
• Zambia

Important: The requirement to hold a valid yellow fever certificate also applies to any individual arriving from any country from the above list who plans to spend more than 12 hours in transit or leave the airport area.

Quarantine requirements

Tanzania has quarantine requirements in place only for symptomatic positive travelers who are required to take RAT upon arrival in the country. Every positive RAT test is then confirmed by performing an RT-PCR test. A traveler must self-isolate until receiving the test result.

If tested positive, they must be isolated for treatment at a designated health facility in accordance with national Covid-19 treatment guidelines.

Traveling from Tanzania

Before leaving Tanzania, make sure to check the applicable entry requirements to travel to your next destination without any issues. If the country of your next destination requires providing a negative Covid-19 test, you can book a test via the online booking system introduced by the Tanzanian authorities.

Make also sure to obtain all necessary travel documents, including a relevant visa, health declarations, etc.

Traveling to Tanzania

Travelers planning to visit Tanzania must meet some requirements, including getting a Tanzanian visa. Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the authorities of Tanzania implemented some additional requirements that every incoming traveler must follow. One of the most essential documents apart from a valid visa and passport is the Traveler's Surveillance Form.

Depending on your vaccination status, you may be subject to different entry rules. Fully vaccinated travelers are not required to provide a pre-departure test. All travelers are highly recommended to purchase travel insurance with Covid-19 treatment coverage.

Entry Rules for Children

Children aged 5 years and younger do not need to take pre-departure or on-arrival Covid-19 testing.

Children over 5 years old must follow the entry rules applicable to adult travelers. These rules vary depending on the vaccination status.

Any underage traveler needs a separate visa for Tanzania. The application should be submitted by a parent or legal guardian.

Transit through Tanzania

Passengers transiting through Tanzania are exempted from both Covid-19 vaccination and testing requirements unless stated otherwise by the carrier or authorities of the country of their final destination. All travelers departing Tanzania should check for further information regarding covid-related and other entry requirements for hassle-free entry to their desired country.

Citizens of most countries need a visa for transit purposes to Tanzania to reach another destination if they plan to exit the airport zone and stay in Tanzania for up to 7 days. Application for a transit visa requires stating the exact arrival date. Moreover, applicants may be asked to submit an onward flight ticket copy or proof of a valid visa for the country of their next/final destination.

Important! A Transit visa covers only tranist-related purposes and is not valid as a tourist visa.

Visa requirements

Visa-exempt countries

Nationals of around 50 different countries do not need to obtain a visa to travel to Tanzania. They may enter Tanzania and stay there visa-free for up to 3 months (90 days). Among the visa-exempt nations are countries of southern and eastern Africa. These travelers only need to have a valid passport to visit Tanzania.

For stays exceeding 90 days, citizens of all visa-exempt countries will need to obtain a visitor visa or another relevant visa according to their particular travel purpose from the nearest Tanzanian diplomatic mission.

Moreover, holders of service, official, special or diplomatic passports of China, Brazil, Turkey, or India are also exempted from visa requirements for Tanzania.

Additionally, spouses, foreign expatriates involved in governmental projects, students from EAC member states, diplomats, and diplomats' dependent children are eligible for Visa Exemption Certificate issued free of charge. Depending on the applicant's status, different supporting documents may be required, including work permits, cover letters, birth certificates, etc.

Below, you will find the full list of countries eligible for visa-free entry to Tanzania:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Brunei Darussalam
• Dominica
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Macau
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of Cyprus
• Romania
• Rwanda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Swaziland
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Tanzania eVisa

In 2018, the Tanzanian Government introduced the electronic visa system allowing travelers from a number of countries to obtain a visa for Tanzania entirely online.

Nationals of more than 150 countries may currently apply for a Tanzania eVisa. The electronic visa allows visiting both Tanzania and Zanzibar for all kinds of tourism and leisure-related purposes. As a single-entry permit, it may be used only for one entry to the country. The single stay may last up to 30 days, while Tanzania eVisa remains valid for 3 months from the date of the traveler's arrival.

Moreover, Tanzania offers a multiple-entry visa only for US nationals who may stay in Tanzania for up to 90 days within every 6-month period. The Tanzania eVisa for US citizens remains valid for 365 days from the date of the first arrival.

For more information on Tanzania eVisa and eligible countries, check here.

Embassy or Consular Visa for Tanzania

An embassy visa for Tanzania (also called a referral visa) is required for nationals of over 40 different countries who need to obtain it regardless of their travel purpose or planned duration of stay before the trip. The list includes the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Anguilla
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Bermuda
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Chad
• Christmas Island
• Cocos Islands
• Cook Islands
• Djibouti
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Falkland Islands
• Gibraltar
• Guernsey
• Iran
• Isle of Man
• Jersey
• Kazakhstan
• Lebanon
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Montserrat
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Norfolk Island
• Pakistan
• Palestinian Territory
• Saint Helena
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sri Lanka
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Tajikistan
• Tokelau
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen

Moreover, all stateless people or refugees being in possession of Vienna Convention documents must obtain a referral visa prior to traveling to Tanzania. Application for an embassy or consular visa for Tanzania will require, in most cases, providing a number of supporting documents, e.g., an invitation/cover letter.

Applicants should apply for a referral visa at least 2 months before the planned journey to obtain a visa on time.

Moreover, nationals of visa-exempt or eVisa eligible countries who plan to travel to Tanzania for a purpose or duration other than those allowed with their visa type are also required to apply for an embassy visa for Tanzania. Depending on their travel purpose, they may need to provide some supporting documents.

Visa on Arrival

At the moment, the Tanzania visa policy requires only nationals of Iraq to obtain a visa on arrival at a border entry point in Tanzania or Zanzibar. Obtaining a VoA may mean spending more time at the border to complete the visa application procedures.

Please note: The fee charged for the issuance of a visa on arrival in Tanzania/Zanzibar can be covered only in cash. Moreover, the only cash currency accepted is USD. The length of allowed stay with a VoA is determined individually and may vary depending on the given entry point.

Travelers eligible for electronic visa applications can also be granted a visa on arrival. Nevertheless, in order to ensure quick and smooth entry to the country, they are advised to apply for an e-Visa online in advance of their travel.

Tanzania's Health Surveillance Form

Tanzania has introduced an additional entry document called the Traveler Health Surveillance Form in order to control the spread of coronavirus. All travelers arriving in Tanzania are required to complete the form 24 hours prior to their intended travel.

The purpose of the Tanzania Traveler Health Surveillance is to identify infected travelers and stop the spread of the virus. The Tanzania Traveler Health Surveillance requires travelers to answer questions about their current health, recent travel history, and contact information. Tanzania's authorities will use this information to monitor the health of all travelers and take appropriate protective measures, including imposing quarantine.

Travel Insurance

There is no travel insurance requirement in place for travelers going to Tanzania, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't insure your journey. A good travel insurance policy can help you if you need to cancel your trip due to an illness or other emergency, and it can provide financial assistance if you get sick or injured while traveling. The proper travel insurance can also cover the cost of any medical evacuations that may be necessary.

With the outbreak of Covid-19, travel insurance has become even more important. If you're planning a trip to Tanzania, make sure to have an insurance policy to protect yourself in case of any unforeseen circumstances.