Tanzania Mandatory Travel Insurance: The 2026 Rules
Since 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania are required to hold a compulsory inbound travel insurance policy issued by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). The reported price is about USD 44 per person, and the policy is valid for up to 92 days from arrival. Zanzibar has had its own compulsory scheme since October 2024.
Since 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania are required to hold a compulsory inbound travel insurance policy issued by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). The reported price is about USD 44 per person, and the policy is valid for up to 92 days from arrival. Zanzibar has had its own compulsory scheme since October 2024.
Because the rule is new, many travellers, and even some travel companies, are still unsure who must buy it, where to buy it and whether it replaces their own travel insurance. This guide explains the rule in plain words, with a checklist for the busy December 2026 holiday season. The rules were checked on 9 October 2026 and may change, so always confirm on the official NIC portal before you fly.
What the rule says
The requirement comes from the Inbound Travel Insurance Regulations, published as Government Notice No. 256 of 2026. It applies to foreign visitors who enter mainland Tanzania by air, sea or land. The policy is sold by NIC, certifies basic emergency cover, and is checked at the point of entry.
Reports differ in some details, such as whether the price is quoted in US dollars or in shillings and how child fares work, so use the official NIC portal for the final price and conditions on the day you buy.
- Who: foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania, with some exemptions
- Price: about USD 44 per adult, payable by card online or in cash at the airport desk
- Validity: up to 92 consecutive days from arrival, with multiple entries during that period
- Insurer: the National Insurance Corporation of Tanzania (NIC)
- Proof: the certificate with its QR code, on your phone and printed
Who needs to buy it, and who is exempt
Most tourists, business visitors and safari and Kilimanjaro travellers need the policy. Exemptions reported by NIC and by the press include residents of East African Community and SADC partner states (the test is residence, not only nationality), residents of Tanzania, diplomats and foreign nationals who hold valid work or residence permits in Tanzania. For travellers who only change planes in Tanzania, the reports are not clear on the conditions, so confirm with NIC before you rely on a transit exemption.
The same reports differ on the price for children. Some say children under two are free and children aged 3 to 17 pay half, while NIC’s own page has been quoted as listing one price per person. Check the portal before you buy for a family.
How to buy the Tanzania travel insurance
Step 1: buy online before you fly
Use the official NIC inbound portal, inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz, with a debit or credit card. Cover starts when the payment is confirmed. Buying online avoids queues on arrival.
Step 2: keep the certificate
Save the certificate with its QR code on your phone, keep it offline, and print a copy. Keep it with your passport and your visa.
Step 3: show it on arrival
Show the certificate at the NIC or NMB desk at the airport and to immigration. You can also buy the policy at entry points, but it is paid in cash, can be slow at busy times and travellers without a policy risk being refused entry.
Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar
The insurer depends on where you enter. If you arrive first on the mainland (Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Arusha or a land border), the NIC policy applies. If you arrive first in Zanzibar by air or sea, the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) policy applies. Press reports say you do not need two policies just because your itinerary includes both, and that the NIC emergency assistance works anywhere in Tanzania. The EAC and SADC exemption reported for the mainland is said not to apply in Zanzibar.
If you have already bought a Zanzibar policy for a trip that starts on the mainland, ask NIC or ZIC before you buy another one.
What the policy covers and what it does not
The NIC policy is basic entry cover. Reported benefits include emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation, and lost baggage, with limits shown on your certificate. It is not full travel insurance.
- It does not cover trip cancellation, delays or missed flights
- It does not replace your own travel insurance, and your own insurance does not replace it
- Check whether it covers trekking at altitude if you plan to climb Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru
- Check that your own policy covers safari activities, balloon flights, and evacuation from remote areas
Kilimanjaro climbers and safari travellers
Our Kilimanjaro packages already require climbers to carry insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and evacuation up to 6,000 metres, and the NIC certificate does not change that. For safaris, a comprehensive policy that covers cancellation, medical care and baggage is still the best protection for the cost of your trip. Buy the NIC certificate for entry and a full policy for your trip.
December 2026 holiday travel: your checklist
The December and January holidays are the busiest weeks for Tanzania’s airports. A few steps will keep your arrival smooth.
- Buy the NIC policy online at least a week before you fly, and screenshot the QR code
- Print the certificate, your eVisa approval, your passport page and your return ticket
- Check whether a yellow fever certificate is needed for your route
- Carry your own comprehensive travel insurance details as well
- Book your safari camps and flights early: December to March is a peak season, especially the Ndutu calving season in February
- Allow extra time at the airport on arrival, because the holiday weeks are busy
- Tell your driver-guide your arrival time so he can wait if the queue is long
Popular safaris to book from October to June
The insurance rule applies to every trip, so it is easiest to handle it together with the safari you are planning. From October 2026 to June 2027 northern Tanzania moves through three very different seasons: the late dry season, the festive and calving season, and the green season that follows, with the dry months returning in June.
Here is what we recommend to guests for each part of the season, with the page to read for each trip. Whichever safari you choose, buy the inbound policy online before you fly and keep a comprehensive insurance policy for the trip itself.
- 6 day calving safari Tanzania 2027 (February at Ndutu)
- Great Migration safari Tanzania, month by month
- 5 day safari Tanzania: Serengeti and Ngorongoro
- 7 day safari Tanzania: the classic northern circuit
- Serengeti safari tours from Arusha
- Ngorongoro Crater safari and day trips
- Tarangire National Park safari
- Kilimanjaro climbing tours and packages
- Best time to climb Kilimanjaro
- Safari from Zanzibar: fly-in safari packages
- Family safari Tanzania for the holidays
- Honeymoon safari Tanzania with a Zanzibar beach
- Budget safari Tanzania in the green season
- All Tanzania safari packages 2026 to 2027
October and November 2026
The end of the dry season, with the herds in the northern Serengeti in October and quiet lodges in November. Good for a 5 day safari in Tanzania, Tarangire elephants and a Ngorongoro Crater safari before the short rains.
December 2026
Warm, green and festive. The herds return to the southern plains, which makes it a good month for a family safari in Tanzania, a honeymoon safari in Tanzania and a Zanzibar beach finish. Book camps early for the holidays.
January and February 2027
The calving season: the 6 day calving safari to Ndutu is built for this window, with Serengeti safari tours and a 7 day safari in Tanzania as longer options. These are also dry months for the Kilimanjaro climbing tours.
March to May 2027
The green season, with lower prices and fewer visitors. A budget safari in Tanzania or a luxury safari at green-season rates is good value, and calves are still on the plains in March.
June 2027
The dry season returns. Tarangire National Park, the Great Migration safari in the western Serengeti and the best time to climb Kilimanjaro all begin again, so book early for July.
Sources and official information
These are the official portal and the reports we used. The rules are new and details can change, so the NIC portal always takes precedence.
- Our checklist for safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar travellers
- NIC inbound travel insurance portal (official)
- TanzaniaInvest: mainland mandatory travel insurance
- Savannah Explorers: Tanzania mandatory travel insurance
- VisasNews: requirement takes effect
Popular safaris from October 2026 to June 2027
Planning to travel now that the insurance rule is in force? These are the packages for the season, from the February calving season to the dry months for Kilimanjaro.
- 6 Day Tanzania Wildebeest Calving Safari, Ndutu, Serengeti & Ngorongoro (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,250 per person) A 6 Day private safari combining Tarangire elephants, two nights in the Ndutu calving grounds, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Eyasi Hadzabe cultural encounters, US
- 4 Day Ndutu Calving Season Safari Great Migration & Ngorongoro Crater (4 Days / 3 Nights, from USD 1,800 per person) Experience the Serengeti calving season in Ndutu and Southern Serengeti combined with a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, USD 1,800 per person.
- 5 Day Migration Safari (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 2,000 per person) A 5 Day midrange Great Migration safari: Tarangire, Central and Northern Serengeti river crossings, and Ngorongoro Crater, USD 2,000 per person.
- 5 Day Mid-Range Safari: Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater 2026–2027 (5 Days / 4 Nights, from USD 2,050 per person) A 5 Day midrange safari through Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, from USD 2,050 per person.
- 7 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) The classic Northern Circuit in 7 days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in mid range lodges and tented c
- 7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Adventure via Lemosho Route (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 2,787 per person) The scenic western route traversing pristine wilderness and Shira Plateau with high summit success.
Frequently asked questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for Tanzania?
Yes, for most foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania since 1 October 2026. They must hold the NIC inbound travel insurance certificate, reported at about USD 44. Zanzibar has its own compulsory policy.
Is my own travel insurance enough?
No. Reports say a private policy is not accepted in place of the NIC certificate. You should still keep your own insurance for cancellation, medical care and baggage.
Where do I buy it?
Online at the official NIC portal, inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz, before you fly. You can also pay in cash at the airport desk, but queues can be long.
How long is it valid?
Up to 92 days from the date of arrival, with multiple entries during that time, according to reports on the regulations.
Do I need a separate policy for Zanzibar?
The insurer depends on your first point of entry: NIC for the mainland, ZIC for Zanzibar. Reports say one policy is enough for a trip that includes both, but check with NIC or ZIC.
Do children need it?
Children are included in the rule. Some reports say infants under two are free and children from 3 to 17 pay half, but this is not confirmed on every official page, so check the portal when you buy.
What happens if I arrive without it?
You can buy it at the airport in cash, but reports say travellers who cannot or do not buy it may be refused entry. Buying online before you travel is safer.
Does Golden Memories Safaris sell the policy?
The policy is issued by NIC and bought directly from NIC or its official portal. We tell our guests which policy applies to their arrival point and what to carry, and we are happy to answer your questions.