Most foreign nationals need a visa to enter Tanzania. Tourists previously had two options for obtaining a tourist visa: they could either get a visa upon arrival or apply in advance through their country’s Tanzanian consulate. The latter option required sending their passport in the mail and waiting for its return, which was often inconvenient, time-consuming, and somewhat risky if the postal system lost the passport.
Fortunately, the process has become easier, and tourists can now apply for an Electronic Visa to enter Tanzania. Don’t let the visa requirement discourage you; it’s a simple step that most countries around the world ask travelers to complete.
The cost of a Tanzanian tourist visa is $50 USD for most travellers, while American citizens pay $100 USD. Citizens of some countries, particularly several neighbouring African nations, can enter Tanzania without a visa and at no charge.
For your convenience and peace of mind, we recommend applying for a tourist visa in advance through the Tanzania Immigration website. You can visit the official Tanzania Immigration Department website to complete and pay for your application online.
You can find the official online visa guidelines here.
Important Note for U.S. Citizens: When filling out your application, please select “Multiple Entry Visa.” This option is required for U.S. citizens intending to enter Tanzania as tourists. Additionally, choose “Holiday and Leisure” as the purpose of your travel.
Other nationals should consider whether a single-entry tourist visa or a multiple-entry visa is more suitable for their travel plans.
It may take up to 10 days to process your application, so ensure to give yourself sufficient time to complete the application and receive your visa. If you are short on time, or booked a last-minute Tanzania adventure, you should obtain your visa upon arrival at the airport.
Alternatively, the tourist visa should not be completed more than 3 months prior to your scheduled travel dates. Don’t apply for your E-Visa too early!
Print all confirmation pages and keep them in a secure location. When you arrive in Tanzania (usually at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport), you will still get an official sticker in your passport as proof of your tourist visa.
Only complete the e-visa from the official Tanzania Immigration website. Do not share your passport number or other important information with any other site offering visas. The only authentic E-Visa is found here.
The online application form is very simple, and your answers should be clear.
When you return to complete the application, you will select “Continue Application”.
This is generally where clients have the most questions because you should provide a physical address in Tanzania and names of your host.
Citizens of some countries may require a referred visa in order to come to Tanzania, even as a tourist. In these cases, the application form is not as straightforward and cannot be completed upon arrival. Citizens of the following countries must apply in advance for a referred visa:
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan Republic, Kyrgyzstan Republic, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Somali land, Sierra Leone, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen and Stateless persons or persons with refugee status
If you are a citizen of one of these listed countries, you must apply for a referral visa. Please note, processing time for this application can take over 60 days, so it is important to apply well in advance. Tanzania Immigration recommends not booking flights until your referral visa has been approved.
we can help our clients complete their application for a referral visa, and we have experience in helping guests successfully travel to Tanzania as tourists under such a visa. In case you have any difficulties with getting your visa, feel free to contact us – we are happy to assist.
If you find the e-visa process too complicated or are experiencing technical issues, don’t worry! You can still obtain a visa on arrival in Tanzania, provided you are from a country that doesn’t require a referred visa (more details on that below). Nationals from many countries are eligible for a visa on arrival.
The main advantage of having completed the e-visa process is that it will save you time when you arrive in Tanzania. Travelers with e-visas can queue in the “Visa Holder” line at immigration, allowing them to pass through quickly and receive a sticker in their passport without any additional paperwork or payment.
In contrast, opting for a visa on arrival involves a significantly longer process. You will need to complete paperwork and answer questions to confirm that you’re visiting for tourism purposes. After this step, you’ll have to get into another line to obtain an official payment control number, followed by a third line to pay in cash for your visa. If you’re on a very full flight arriving in Tanzania, this line can be long, resulting in a lengthy wait.
If you decide to get a visa upon arrival in Tanzania, please ensure you have $50 USD in cash available (other forms of payment are not accepted). For US citizens, the cost for a tourist visa is $100 USD in cash. It’s also a good idea to have your tour operator’s contact details and the name of the hotel where you will be staying so you can provide that information to immigration.
Our team is always here to help
