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Tanzania Visa Requirements: eVisa Process, Costs & Entry Rules
If you’re starting to plan your Tanzania trip, whether that’s a Zanzibar beach holiday, a Kilimanjaro climb, or a Tanzania safari, sorting your visa is one of the first practical things to tick off. The good news is that the process is genuinely straightforward once you know which route to take. Here’s everything you need to know about Tanzania visa requirements, based on the latest official guidance.
Do I Need a Visa to Visit Tanzania?
Most travellers do. Citizens of the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, India, China, and most other countries need a visa to enter Tanzania, whether you’re travelling to the mainland or flying directly into Zanzibar. There’s no separate Zanzibar visa, a Tanzania visa covers both the mainland and Zanzibar since Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania.
A small number of nationalities, mostly other East African Community member states and a handful of others, have visa-free or visa-on-arrival-only access. If you’re unsure where your nationality stands, it’s worth checking the visa-free country list on the official immigration website before applying.
Tanzania eVisa: The Recommended Option
For most travellers, the Tanzania eVisa is the simplest and most reliable way to sort your visa before you fly. It’s applied for entirely online through the official Tanzania Immigration Services portal, and it means you arrive with your visa already approved rather than dealing with anything at the airport.
How Much Does a Tanzania eVisa Cost?
The standard fees for a Tanzania eVisa are:
Ordinary (single entry) tourist visa: $50 USD, valid for up to 90 days
Multiple entry visa: $100 USD, valid for up to 12 months
Transit visa: around $30-50 USD for short stays under 7 days
Business visa: around $250 USD
Most leisure travellers, whether going on safari, climbing Kilimanjaro, or heading to Zanzibar, will apply for the ordinary single entry tourist visa. Note that US citizens are required to apply for the multiple-entry visa ($100) regardless of trip length or purpose. Learn our article which explain well Why US Citizens Pay $100 for Tanzania Visa (Not $50): The Multiple Entry.
| Visa Type | Cost (USD) | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary (Single Entry) Tourist Visa | $50 | Up to 90 days |
| Multiple Entry Visa | $100 | Up to 12 months |
| Transit Visa | $30–$50 | Up to 7 days |
| Business Visa | $250 | Up to 90 days |
How to Apply for a Tanzania eVisa
Applying online is fairly simple
Go to the official Tanzania Immigration Services portal at https://visa.immigration.go.tz/Â , this is the only site you should use, since there are unofficial third-party sites that charge extra fees for the same service.
Select “Apply for a New Visa” and choose your visa type (tourist, business, or transit).
Fill in your personal details, passport information, and travel plans, including your flight itinerary and accommodation details.
Upload a scanned copy of your passport bio page and a recent passport-style photo.
Pay the visa fee online by credit or debit card.
Wait for your approval email, then print the visa grant notice to bring with you, don’t rely on having it only on your phone.
How Long Does the Tanzania eVisa Take?
Processing typically takes around 5 to 10 business days, though it can occasionally take longer during busy periods like peak safari season. Travelers from “referral” countries, whose applications need extra review, may need to allow 2-6 weeks. It’s worth applying at least 2-3 weeks before you travel to give yourself a comfortable buffer.
What About Visa on Arrival?
This is where things get a little less clear-cut, and it’s worth being upfront about that. Tanzania’s visa on arrival has historically been available at major entry points, including Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar.
However, Tanzania’s rules around visa on arrival have been tightening, and guidance over the past year or so has been inconsistent, some official communications suggest it’s being phased out in favour of the eVisa system, while others confirm it remains available at certain entry points.
Given this uncertainty, our advice is simple: don’t rely on getting a visa on arrival. Apply for your eVisa before you travel. It’s not significantly more effort, it’s the same cost in most cases, and it means you won’t be caught out by a policy change between booking your trip and boarding your flight. If you want to double-check the current position before you travel, the official immigration website (visa.immigration.go.tz) is the only source worth trusting, since visa rules can change without much notice.
Documents You'll Need
Whichever route you take, have these ready:
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, with at least one blank page, A recent passport-style photo, Your flight itinerary, including return or onward travel details, Proof of accommodation or your tour booking details, and your printed visa approval notice (for eVisa applicants).
Some travellers may also be asked for a yellow fever vaccination certificate, depending on which countries you’ve travelled through recently. If you’ve been in or transited through a country with yellow fever risk, it’s worth checking this in advance. For more on health prep, see our Tanzania safari packing list, which also covers what to bring for your trip more broadly.
A Few Extra Advice
If you’re visiting both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar on the same trip, you only need one visa, select your first destination when applying, and you’ll be able to travel between the mainland and Zanzibar without needing a new visa. This is especially useful if you’re planning a safari and Zanzibar beach combination.
If you encounter payment issues on the official portal, some travellers have found switching between Mastercard and Visa resolves it.
Double-check that all your details match your passport exactly, small mismatches are one of the most common reasons for delays.
Keep both a digital and printed copy of your visa approval. Airlines and immigration officers may ask to see it before you board or on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for most nationalities. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the same visa requirements apply, and your Tanzania visa covers travel to Zanzibar as well as the mainland.
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The standard single-entry tourist eVisa costs $50 USD, while a multiple-entry visa costs $100 USD. US citizens must apply for the $100 multiple-entry visa regardless of trip length.
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Processing usually takes 5 to 10 business days, so it’s best to apply at least 2-3 weeks before your trip.
Visa on arrival has historically been available at major airports, but rules around this have been changing. To avoid any uncertainty, we recommend applying for your eVisa online before you travel.
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No. Your Tanzania visa, whether eVisa or otherwise, covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
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Planning Your Tanzania Safari?
Once your visa is sorted, the fun part begins. Check out our guides to climbing Kilimanjaro via the Machame or Marangu routes, or browse our Zanzibar beach holiday packages. If you’d like help putting together your full itinerary, get in touch with our team and we’ll help you plan a trip that fits your time, budget, and travel style.
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