TRAVEL ESSENTIALS · ENTRY RULES
Tanzania Visa Requirements: Who Needs One and How to Get It
The visa rules, costs and timelines for entering Tanzania — explained by the travel desk that ticket travellers in and out of the country every day.
Yes — most nationalities need a visa to enter Tanzania, and for the majority of passports it is an ordinary single-entry tourist visa costing US$50. United States citizens are the main exception on price: US passports are issued only the US$100 multiple-entry visa. The simplest route is to apply online via the official immigration eVisa portal before you fly; approvals typically take up to ten working days, so we advise applying at least two weeks out.
Visa on arrival remains available at the major entry points — Julius Nyerere International in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International and Zanzibar — but queues after a long-haul landing can be slow, which is why our desk steers clients to the eVisa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival with blank pages for stamps, and a yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from, or transit through, a yellow-fever-endemic country. One visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Do you need a visa to visit Tanzania?
Most visitors do. Travellers from Europe, the Americas, Australasia and most of Asia need a visa before they can enter Tanzania, whether they arrive by air, sea or land. Citizens of a number of African and Commonwealth countries are exempt, and East African residents benefit from separate, reduced rates — so the first step is always to check your specific nationality on the official immigration eVisa portal rather than assume. Tanzania is not a fringe destination where rules go unenforced: per the Bank of Tanzania's 2024 International Visitors' Exit Survey, the country welcomed 2,141,895 international arrivals in 2024, up 18.5% on 2023, and border formalities at the main gateways are processed accordingly.
The ordinary tourist visa permits leisure travel — safaris, beach holidays, visiting friends and family — and typically allows a stay of up to 90 days. It does not permit paid work. If your plans are a straightforward holiday, the ordinary visa is the right category; once the paperwork is in motion, our guide to the best time to visit Tanzania will help you fix the dates.
How do you apply for a Tanzania eVisa?
Apply via the official immigration eVisa portal — it is the only channel we recommend, and it is the one the Immigration Services Department itself operates. The application asks for a scan of your passport bio-data page, a passport-style photograph, your travel dates and accommodation details, and payment by card. Once submitted, the grant notice arrives by email; print it or keep a digital copy to present alongside your passport at the border.
Processing typically takes up to ten working days, though many applications clear faster. We tell every client the same thing: apply at least two weeks before departure, and earlier in the June–September high season when volumes rise. Beware of copycat websites that charge inflated 'service fees' for the same visa — the official portal charges the government rate and nothing more. If you are unsure whether a site is genuine, message our WhatsApp travel desk on +255 712 345 678 and we will point you to the right place.
Can you get a visa on arrival in Tanzania?
Yes. Visa on arrival is issued at the major entry points — Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha, and Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport — as well as principal land borders. You will need your passport, the fee in US dollars (crisp, recent notes are safest) and patience: the queue forms behind every wide-body arrival, and after an overnight flight it can add a slow hour or more before you reach the baggage hall.
That queue is the reason we recommend the eVisa to almost everyone. Travellers landing at Kilimanjaro International ahead of a Kilimanjaro trek or a Serengeti safari are usually on a schedule — a transfer to Arusha, a briefing, an early start — and a pre-approved visa means you walk from aircraft to arrivals stamp in minutes rather than standing in line with your climbing duffel.
How much does a Tanzania visa cost?
The ordinary single-entry tourist visa is US$50 for most passports. United States citizens pay US$100, because US passports are issued only the multiple-entry visa — there is no US$50 option for Americans, a detail that catches many first-time visitors out. East African residents have separate, lower rates, and other categories (business, multiple-entry for non-US nationals) carry their own fees set by the Immigration Services Department.
In the context of a Tanzanian trip, the visa is one of the smaller lines on the budget: park fees, flights and lodges dominate, as we break down in our guide to what a Tanzania safari costs. Pay the visa fee itself on the official portal or at the border; once you are in the country, day-to-day payments are easy — our own clients settle safaris and hotels by M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa or card.
What passport and health requirements apply?
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your date of arrival in Tanzania and should have blank pages for the entry stamp — two is a safe working minimum, since some airlines check at check-in. If your passport is close to expiry, renew before applying: the visa is tied to the document, and a new passport means a new application.
On health documents, the rule is narrower than many travellers fear: a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only if you arrive from, or transit through, a country where yellow fever is endemic. Flying direct from Europe, North America or the Gulf, you will not normally be asked for one; routing through parts of East or West Africa, you will. Check your itinerary against the endemic-country list before you travel, and carry the original certificate if it applies to you.
Does a Tanzania visa cover Zanzibar too?
Yes. Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania, and one visa covers the mainland and the islands — there is no separate Zanzibar visa. You will pass through passport control again when you fly or ferry into Zanzibar, where officers check the same visa and stamp you in, but you pay nothing further for entry. This makes the classic bush-and-beach combination — a northern-circuit safari followed by a week on the archipelago — administratively painless.
The same applies in reverse: land in Zanzibar first, and your visa carries you onward to Dar es Salaam and the safari circuits without new paperwork. Zanzibar does maintain some entry formalities of its own, so check the current island requirements close to travel — rules evolve, and our desk keeps a live view of what is being enforced at the airport this season.
Can Pin Destinations help with visas?
For travellers coming to Tanzania, we advise rather than apply: the eVisa is a personal application on the official portal, but our WhatsApp travel desk on +255 712 345 678 answers questions daily on categories, timelines and documents, and we build visa lead-time into every itinerary we ticket — including our 7-day Tanzania itinerary, which assumes your approval is in hand before you fly.
For Tanzanian travellers heading abroad, we run a full outbound visa-assistance service: our desk handles Schengen, UK and US applications end to end — document checklists, form completion, appointment booking and interview preparation. Karibu with your travel dates and destination, and we will tell you honestly what the timeline looks like. Flights, hotels and the visa support can all sit in one booking — search live fares and pay by M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa or card.
Questions travellers ask us
Do US citizens need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. United States passport holders must obtain the US$100 multiple-entry visa — it is the only visa type issued to US passports, so there is no US$50 single-entry option. Apply in advance via the official immigration eVisa portal, or obtain it on arrival at major entry points such as Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar airports.
How much is a Tanzania tourist visa?
The ordinary single-entry tourist visa costs US$50 for most nationalities. US citizens pay US$100 for a multiple-entry visa, the only type issued to American passports. East African residents have separate, lower rates. Fees are set by the Tanzania Immigration Services Department and are paid online via the official eVisa portal or in US dollars at the border.
How long does the Tanzania eVisa take to process?
Approvals typically take up to ten working days, though many clear sooner. We recommend applying at least two weeks before departure — and earlier during the June to September high season. The grant notice arrives by email; carry a printed or digital copy to present with your passport at the border.
Can I get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Yes, visa on arrival is available at major entry points including Julius Nyerere International in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro International and Zanzibar airport, paid in US dollars cash. However, queues after long-haul arrivals can be slow, so applying in advance through the official eVisa portal is the more comfortable option.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Tanzania?
Only if you arrive from, or transit through, a country where yellow fever is endemic. Travellers flying direct from Europe, North America or the Gulf are not normally asked for one. If your routing passes through an endemic country, carry your original vaccination certificate, as it can be checked at the border.
Does a Tanzania visa cover Zanzibar?
Yes. Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania, so a single Tanzanian visa covers both the mainland and the islands. Your passport is checked again when you enter Zanzibar, but no separate visa or additional entry fee applies, making combined safari-and-beach itineraries straightforward.
How long can I stay in Tanzania on a tourist visa?
The ordinary single-entry tourist visa typically permits a stay of up to 90 days for leisure travel. It does not allow paid employment. Your passport must remain valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with blank pages available for the entry stamp.