Tanzania visa is $50, available on arrival or online via the e-visa portal. Here's exactly what to do, what to bring, what trips up first-timers, and how to handle Zanzibar specifics.
Quick answer
Most travellers need a Tanzania tourist visa. Cost: $50 for single entry (most nationalities) or $100 for US passport holders (multiple entry, valid 1 year). Apply online at the official e-visa portal at least 10 days before travel, or apply on arrival at JRO/DAR/ZNZ airports if you don't mind queues. You also need a yellow fever certificate if arriving from a yellow-fever-endemic country (most African countries plus parts of South America). Zanzibar requires a separate tourism levy ($44) plus mandatory travel insurance from January 2024 onward. Don't lose your departure card.
Who needs a visa
Almost all foreign visitors. Citizens of fellow East African Community countries (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan) don't need a tourist visa. Everyone else does.
How to apply: e-visa (recommended)
Use the official portal: eservices.immigration.go.tz.
- Create an account.
- Upload: passport bio page, passport photo (digital), flight booking confirmation, hotel/safari booking confirmation.
- Pay $50 (or $100 for US) by credit card.
- Wait 7-14 days for approval. You'll get a PDF email.
- Print the PDF. Bring on travel.
The e-visa is the smoothest path. Apply at least 14 days before travel — sometimes processing is fast (3 days), sometimes slow (10 days).
How to apply: visa on arrival
Available at JRO (Kilimanjaro), DAR (Dar es Salaam), and Zanzibar airports. Bring:
- Passport with 6+ months remaining validity and 2+ blank pages
- $50 cash, USD, in clean post-2006 bills
- Yellow fever certificate (if from endemic country)
- Onward flight booking
Queues at JRO peak season can take 60-90 minutes. The e-visa skips this — you go through the regular immigration line, which is much faster.
Yellow fever rules
Required if arriving from a yellow fever endemic country. Note: if you have a layover (more than 12 hours) in an endemic country (e.g., Nairobi, Addis Ababa), you may be asked for the certificate even though you didn't originate there. Get the vaccine and certificate in your home country before travel — it costs $40-$150 depending on country and is valid for life. Don't try to wing this; immigration officers do check.
Zanzibar specifics
From January 2024, Zanzibar requires:
- Mandatory tourism levy: $44 per adult, $22 per child. Pay at the airport or pre-pay online.
- Mandatory travel insurance: covers Zanzibar healthcare. You can buy at the airport ($44) if you don't already have international travel insurance with sufficient cover. Most US/EU travel insurance qualifies.
- If you fly Arusha → Zanzibar (domestic), bring your passport. They check.
Common mistakes
- Passport expires within 6 months of travel: You'll be denied entry. Renew before travel.
- Forgetting yellow fever certificate: If from an endemic country, you'll be denied entry. No exceptions.
- Wrong visa type: "Business visa" and "transit visa" are different. Tourist visa is what you want for safari.
- Carrying ripped or pre-2006 USD bills: Tanzania immigration sometimes refuses old or damaged USD. Bring clean, post-2006 series notes.
- Losing the departure card: The white form you fill on arrival. Don't lose it. You need it on departure.
How long can you stay?
Tourist visa is valid for 90 days from entry. Multi-entry US visa is valid for 1 year, with 90 days per visit.
Extending a visa
You can extend at any immigration office in Tanzania. $50 fee per month extension. Most safaris don't need this — 7-14 days is well within the 90-day visa.
What we do for our guests
We don't process your visa for you (immigration rules don't allow third-party submissions for tourist visas), but we send a checklist 60 days before your trip and answer any questions. We also provide the booking confirmation document you'll need for the visa application. Contact us if you have specific questions.
Useful internal resources
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Yes, at JRO, DAR, and Zanzibar airports. $50 USD cash. Allow 60-90 minutes in the queue at peak.
How long does e-visa take?
Officially 7-10 days. We've seen 3-day approvals and 14-day approvals. Apply 2-3 weeks before travel to be safe.
Is yellow fever required?
Only if you're arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic, or have transited (more than 12 hours) one. Direct flights from US, UK, EU, Australia don't trigger the rule.
Can I extend my Tanzania visa?
Yes, up to a total stay of 90 days. Extensions are $50 per month at any immigration office.
Do I need a separate Zanzibar visa?
No, your Tanzania tourist visa covers Zanzibar. But you do need to pay the $44 tourism levy and have travel insurance.
