· Golden Memories Safaris
Entering Tanzania is simple once you know the rules, but the information online is full of unofficial sites that charge extra fees for something you can do yourself. This guide explains in plain language what you need to enter Tanzania as a visitor: the tourist visa and how to apply for it, passport and health requirements, the local laws that surprise travellers, and what changes when you add Zanzibar or a Kilimanjaro climb. Everything here comes from official sources, but rules change, so always confirm the current requirements with the Tanzania Immigration Department or your own government before you travel.
Do you need a visa for Tanzania?
Most nationalities need a visa to enter Tanzania. A small number of countries are exempt, and citizens of the East African Community have their own arrangements, so check the official guidelines for your passport. The Tanzania Immigration Department describes the ordinary visa as granted to foreign nationals for visits, tourism, leisure and holiday, with a validity not exceeding 90 days for a single entry.
You can either apply online for an eVisa before you travel, or obtain a single entry tourist visa on arrival at the main ports of entry. We recommend the eVisa, because it lets you check your documents in advance and avoids queues at the airport.
How much does the Tanzania visa cost?
The fee for an ordinary tourist visa is USD 50 per person. The official guidance adds an important warning: if you are shown an invoice for more than USD 50 for an ordinary visa, you have applied through a visa agent or an unauthorised link. American citizens are an exception in the published guidelines, and are required to apply for a multiple entry visa at USD 100, valid for twelve months.
Payment is made online by Visa or Mastercard, or by bank transfer. There are no other mandatory fees for a standard tourist visa, so avoid any website that adds service charges. The only website you should use is the official Tanzania Immigration portal, visa.immigration.go.tz.
How to apply for the eVisa step by step
- Go to the official portal, visa.immigration.go.tz, and type the address yourself instead of following a link from an advert.
- Fill in the online application form with your personal and passport details, exactly as they appear in your passport.
- Upload the required documents, normally a copy of the biographic page of your passport and a copy of your return flight ticket.
- Complete the declaration form and pay the USD 50 fee by card or bank transfer.
- Wait for approval, then save and print the visa approval letter and keep a digital copy on your phone.
- Present the approval and your passport at immigration on arrival in Tanzania.
Apply a few weeks before you travel, so you have time to correct any mistakes. Spelling errors in names or passport numbers are the most common cause of problems at the border.
Official Tanzania eVisa portal
Passport and ticket requirements
- Passport validity: your passport must have at least six months of validity beyond your arrival date.
- Blank pages: carry at least one or two blank pages for entry stamps.
- Return or onward ticket: the application asks for a copy of your return flight, and immigration officers may ask to see it.
- Accommodation details: have the name of your first hotel or your operator’s details ready.
Health requirements: yellow fever and malaria
To enter Tanzania, you need a certificate proving yellow fever vaccination if you are arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk. This also applies if you transit through such a country, so check your route. The rules are set by the health authorities, and your own government’s travel health service will list them.
Malaria is present in much of Tanzania, including the national parks, and your doctor or a travel clinic can advise on prevention. Book your appointment at least six to eight weeks before you travel, because some vaccinations and medicines need time to take effect. We also recommend that you carry insect repellent and cover up at dusk, when mosquitoes are most active.
Zanzibar and the mainland
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the same visa covers both the mainland and the islands. If you travel between them by air or ferry, you carry your passport and may be asked to show it at the port or airport. If you arrive in Zanzibar first, you pass through immigration there. Keep your visa approval and passport handy for any internal flight.
Local laws and customs visitors should know
Tanzania is a welcoming country, but a few local laws regularly surprise visitors. Official travel advice from governments such as the United Kingdom highlights the following.
The plastic bag ban
Tanzania has a nationwide ban on single use plastic carrier bags. If you arrive by air, you may be asked to hand over any plastic bags, and you can face fines for violating the ban. Small clear reusable zip lock bags for toiletries and airline security are allowed. Pack your things in cloth, paper or hard bags, and do not pack shopping bags.
Drones
You must obtain explicit permission from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority before bringing or flying a drone. The Tanzania National Parks Authority does not allow drones in national parks without a permit, and permits are given only for authorised resource protection, research and training. If you want aerial photography, leave the drone at home.
Dress code
The dress code in public is conservative, especially in Zanzibar, where the population is predominantly Muslim. Covering shoulders and knees in towns and villages is respectful, while swimwear belongs on the beach and at resorts. Travel advice warns that authorities in Zanzibar can fine people for clothing considered inappropriate in public.
Photography
It is illegal to photograph military installations, government buildings, bridges, airports and police officers. Always ask before photographing people, particularly in Maasai villages and in Stone Town, and expect that some will ask for a small payment.
Money, insurance and what to carry
- Cash: bring clean, recent US dollar notes for visa and park related payments, plus a card for hotels and larger purchases.
- Insurance: buy travel and medical insurance that covers evacuation and, if relevant, trekking to 6,000 metres for Kilimanjaro.
- Copies: keep digital and paper copies of your passport, visa, insurance and flight details.
- Vaccination records: carry your yellow fever certificate if required.
- Contact details: have your operator’s emergency number saved on your phone.
Visa for Kilimanjaro and safari visitors
The same visa applies whether you climb Kilimanjaro, go on safari or relax on the coast. Climbers should check that their visa covers the whole length of the trip, because a Kilimanjaro climb often follows days in Arusha and a safari. For long combined trips, apply for the length you need, up to the maximum of 90 days.
What to expect at the airport on arrival
Most visitors arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha, at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, or at Zanzibar. The process is straightforward. You complete any arrival forms, queue at immigration, present your passport and your eVisa approval or pay for a visa on arrival, and have your fingerprints and photograph taken. You then collect your luggage and go through customs. If you booked a safari with us, your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign.
Allow plenty of time for connections. If you are flying on to the Serengeti or Zanzibar the same day, leave a comfortable gap between your international and domestic flights, because delays at immigration and baggage reclaim are common when several flights arrive together.
A checklist before you fly
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months and has blank pages.
- Apply for your eVisa on the official portal and save a copy of the approval.
- Print or save your return ticket and your accommodation details.
- Speak to a travel clinic about yellow fever, malaria and routine vaccinations.
- Buy travel and medical insurance, including evacuation and, if needed, high altitude cover.
- Pack in soft bags without plastic carrier bags, and leave your drone at home unless you hold permission.
- Carry some US dollars in cash and a bank card, and tell your bank you are travelling.
- Save your operator’s emergency number on your phone.
Special situations: families, groups and multiple countries
Each traveller needs an individual application, including children, so a family of four submits four applications with four payments. Keep every approval together and print them, because it is easier to show a clean set of papers at immigration than to search through a phone. For large groups, one person can help gather the passport copies and flight details, but each person still completes their own form.
If you plan to visit more than one East African country, the visa rules are separate for each. Kenya, for example, uses its own electronic travel authorisation, with a standard fee of USD 30 from January 2025, and other countries have their own systems. Some regional tourist products exist, but they have different costs and conditions, so check each country’s official site before you pay. A simple approach is to apply for each country separately and to keep the approvals in one folder.
What your operator can and cannot do
A good local operator will tell you which documents you need, remind you of deadlines and meet you at the airport, but they cannot apply for the visa on your behalf or guarantee that immigration will admit you. Being clear on this helps avoid disappointment. Responsibility for a valid passport, correct visa and vaccination certificate always rests with the traveller.
Staying longer or leaving early
The ordinary visa is valid for up to 90 days, which is more than enough for most trips. If you want to stay longer, speak to the immigration department about extensions well before your visa expires, because overstaying can bring fines. If your plans change and you leave early, there is no refund for unused days, so apply for the length you really need.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using an unofficial visa website that charges more than USD 50.
- Entering a name or passport number that does not match the passport exactly.
- Travelling with a passport that expires within six months.
- Forgetting the yellow fever certificate when arriving from, or transiting through, an at risk country.
- Packing plastic carrier bags or a drone without permission.
- Waiting until the last week to apply, leaving no time to fix errors.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Yes. A single entry tourist visa is available at the main ports of entry. Applying for the eVisa in advance is faster and less stressful.
How long does the eVisa take?
Processing times vary, so apply at least two to three weeks before you travel and check the official portal for current timing.
How long can I stay in Tanzania on a tourist visa?
The ordinary visa is valid for a stay of up to 90 days on a single entry.
Do children need a visa?
Yes, children travelling on their own passport need a visa. Check the portal for the requirements and any differences in fees for minors.
Does the Tanzania visa cover Zanzibar?
Yes. The visa is valid for both the mainland and Zanzibar.
Is a visa needed for transit?
Rules depend on your route and airline. Check with your airline and the official guidelines, especially if your transit includes a long stopover outside the airport.
Let us help you plan the details
We handle the logistics of your safari, from airport pickup to park permits, so the only paperwork you need is your own visa. If you have a question about entry or timing, ask us when you book.
Keep planning your Tanzania trip
These guides cover the next questions most travellers ask.
Best time to visit Tanzania, month by month
More guides and pages for this trip
Tanzania $44 travel insurance rule: checklist
Tanzania mandatory travel insurance
Sources and further reading
Facts and figures in this guide come from the sources below. Fees, schedules and entry rules change, so confirm current details before you book.
- Tanzania Immigration Department, eVisa guidelines, visa.immigration.go.tz.
- Tanzania Immigration Department, Visa guidelines, immigration.go.tz.
- GOV.UK, Tanzania travel advice: entry requirements and local laws and customs, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tanzania.
- US Department of State, Tanzania travel information, travel.state.gov.
- TANAPA, Use of drones in national parks, tanzaniaparks.go.tz.
- Golden Memories Safaris package prices, per person for two travellers sharing, October 2026.