Tanzania Visa Requirements & Application: A Complete Guide

All travellers to Tanzania wishing to climb Kilimanjaro must have and present a passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival into the country. Your passport needs to include at least one blank page for official stamps.

Check your passport thoroughly before you fly in case you need to renew it.

Most travellers from outside the country will be needed to get a visa to enter Tanzania; however, there are exceptions. They can be issued at the port of entry, so there’s no need to get the visa before arriving.

Generally, people from outside the Commonwealth need a visa to enter Tanzania, unless your nation has an agreement with Tanzania that waives this requirement.

Visitors from various Commonwealth countries do not need a visa to enter, although nationals of the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, United States, Canada and most EU countries are not exempt.

Some travellers prefer to get their visas in advance of arrival and can do so by calling the Tanzanian embassy in your home country. They usually ask you to submit in your passport, an application form and passport images for processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you Get a Tanzania visa on Arrival?

You can avoid the risk of losing your passport or the difficulties in getting your visa by simply buying a visa on arrival. Depending on the time of year, the lines for issue of visas might be rather long, but often it is swift and trouble-free.

So how do you get a Tanzania visa?

Visas can be obtained at the following entry points to the United Republic of Tanzania:

  • Dar Es Salaam International Airport
  • Zanzibar International Airport
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
  • Namanga Entry Point (Tanzania-Kenya boarder point)
  • Tunduma
  • Sirari
  • Horohoro
  • Kigoma port

At the time of writing, the current Tanzania visa fees (purchased upon arrival) are:

  • US Citizens: $100 (Multiple entry) for one year
  • Non-US Citizens: $50 (Single entry) for six months
  • Non-US Citizens: $100 (Double entry) for six months

These fees will need to be paid in cash, and you’ll need a clean page in your passport for the stamp.

Can you apply for Tanzania visa online?

You can now apply for an Online Visa to visit the United Republic of Tanzania (both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar). You are required to fill in the online form, make payment, and submit your application online. Your form will be internally reviewed and processed.

Applicants will be notified through their e-mails whether their applications have been accepted or rejected. They may also TRACK their application statuses through the online system. Applicants may as well be required to visit the nearest Tanzanian Embassies or Consular Offices for interviews. Follow this link for online visa application. https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa

Keynote before you start your online visa Process.

Please consider the following information beforehand.

  • Types of Visa
  • Required documents
  • Countries whose citizens do not require visa on entry
  • Countries whose citizens require approval by the Tanzania Commissioner General of Immigration.

What are the Tanzania Entry Requirements?

Yellow Fever Vaccination Card

If you are coming from a place where yellow fever is a danger (even if you have had a layover) you will need to show your Yellow Fever Vaccination card.

Evidence of onwards travel or return
As a guest you will likely be asked for verification of your onwards or return ticket out of Tanzania so have that information readily available (a printout is best) when you land.

Proof of Sufficient Funds

You must have sufficient means to support yourself during your stay in Tanzania and be able to show proof if requested. An immigration officer doesn’t commonly ask for this, but it can happen.

We strongly urge you check your visa requirements well in advance of travel to avoid avoidable delays.

Also ensure you check the visa requirements for any other countries you’ll be visiting or transiting through.

Additional Resources:

For Americans

You can obtain a tourist visa to Tanzania upon arrival, however, the US government encourages you to apply one in advance by post. For information, see www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org.

For British

You can obtain a tourist visa to Tanzania upon arrival, however, the UK government encourages you to apply one before your travel. You can apply in person or by a representative at Tanzania High Commission in London. You can also submit your application by post. For more information, see tzhc.uk/visa-application.

Validity

Single-entry (business and tourist) visa is valid for three months from the date of issue. A multiple-entry visa is valid for either six or 12 months from the date of issue.

Transit

Transit visas costing US$30 are available for those traveling through Tanzania to other destinations within a 14-day period. An onward ticket or tour itinerary/confirmation and sufficient funds for transit are required.

Please note that you can only obtain a transit visa to Tanzania at the point of entry.

Temporary residence

Residence permits are granted to foreign nationals if they are employed by a Tanzanian company, or working long-term as missionaries or volunteers. You must apply for these through the Immigration Services Department (www.immigration.go.tz).

Working days

Allow three working days (applications in person) or 10 days (postal applications) for visa processing if applying in advance. You can pay an additional fee for a 24-hour or same-day service.

Who Doesn’t Require a Visa? A list of Countries

As of August 2018, citizens from 66 countries can enter Tanzania without a visa. These countries are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Ashmore & Certie Island, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, Botswana, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Island, Brunei, Cayman Island, Channel Island, Christmas Island, Cocoas Island, Cook Island, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Island, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Heard Island, Hong Kong, Isle of man, Jamaica, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Naue Island, Nauru, Papua new Guinea, Romania, Ross Dependency, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South African Republic, Solomon Island, Swaziland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

This visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing,

We strongly recommend that you verify critical information unique to your trip with the relevant embassy before travel.

Embassies and tourist offices

Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in the USA

Telephone: (202) 884 1080.
Website: https://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/
Address: 1232 22nd St NW, Washington, 20037,
Opening times: Mon-Fri 0900-1300.

High Commission for the United Republic of Tanzania in the UK

Telephone: (020) 7569 1470.
Website: http://tanzaniahighcommission.co.uk
Address: Tanzania House, 3 Stratford Place, London, WC1 1AS,
Opening times: Mon-Fri 1000-1230 (visa applications) and 1400-1530 (visa collection only).

British High Commission in Tanzania

Telephone: (022) 229 0000.
Website: http://www.ukintanzania.fco.gov.uk
Address: Kivukoni, Umoja House, Garden Ave, Tanzania