Passport
At least six months’ validity and one unused visa page before applying.
Passport rules
A little preparation. A smoother beginning.
Tanzania awaits.
Arrive prepared.
Your guide to Tanzania visa and entry requirements: the passport checks, official applications and inbound cover to arrange before your self-drive journey.
Official guidance checked
The journey starts before take-off.
Tanzania visa & arrival requirements
Eagle Overland · official guidance checked 7 October 2026Start with three checks
Your passport.
Your purpose.
Your first arrival.
This guide focuses on holidays in Tanzania. Your passport determines the visa path; your first entry point determines the designated inbound insurance provider. Check both before finalising your travel paperwork.
For business, study, volunteering or employment, use Immigration’s guidance for the correct permission.
Use the linked official sources again before departure. Immigration decides eligibility and entry; Eagle Overland helps with your safari arrangements.
Visa category
Check the current category for the passport you will present.
Official categoriesFirst entry point
Mainland first: NIC. Zanzibar first: ZIC, where inbound cover applies.
Entry insurance noticeFind your visa path
Check the passport.
Choose the right route.
Use the current Immigration lists rather than another traveler’s experience. Visa exemption, a regular application and referral approval are different paths.
Visa exempt
Check the official exemption list. Other entry requirements still apply.
Check the exemption listRegular visa
Immigration recommends the online route. Arrival visas are available only to eligible travelers at official entry points.
Check regular eligibilityReferral approval
Arrange advance approval. Referral, refugee or stateless cases should not rely on a visa on arrival.
Read referral guidance| Tourist category | Published fee | Use & duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary visa | USD 50 | Eligible tourist visitors; validity up to 90 days. |
| Multiple-entry visa | USD 100 | Required for US passport holders on holiday, even for one entry. Validity up to 12 months; each consecutive stay is limited to 90 days. |
Confirm the current amount and category before applying. Official visa fee table Tourist-use guidance
Use the government portal
Apply with care.
Keep your grant notice.
- 01
Prepare your files
Have the passport bio-page, recent photograph, return ticket and any category-specific documents ready.
- 02
Check before submitting
Match your passport details, dates and first destination. Review the requested attachments before payment and submission.
- 03
Save your application ID
Use the official portal to follow progress. An application or payment receipt is not a grant notice.
- 04
Wait for approval
Keep the grant notice accessible for travel. Immigration retains the final decision at the entry point.
A separate entry preparation
The right cover.
For your first arrival.
The Mainland inbound insurance requirement began on 1 October 2026. Arrange the designated cover before travel where it applies, even if you already hold private travel insurance. Read the official notice
Mainland first
Arrange NIC cover.
For entry through Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or another Mainland airport, port or land border.
- Published premium
- USD 44 equivalent in Tanzanian shillings per visitor
- Coverage period
- Up to 92 days; check the dates on your certificate
Zanzibar first
Arrange ZIC cover.
Use the designated Zanzibar provider when the islands are your first entry into Tanzania.
Check current eligibility, prices and policy terms on the official portal. Keep the certificate and QR code accessible for onward travel.
Official ZIC portalZIC entry clarificationMainland + Zanzibar
A valid, applicable policy can cover the same combined journey without duplicate mandatory purchases. Retain the certificate and QR code. Existing fully paid ZIC policies bought before 1 October 2026 are addressed in the latest notice.
Clarification · 7 October 2026Confirm any exemption
NIC lists an exemption for foreign residents of EAC/SADC Partner States. A Mainland exemption does not automatically apply to Zanzibar.
Mainland eligibilityZanzibar guidanceMatch cover to the journey
Review benefits, limits and exclusions. Check your wider private cover for self-driving, camping, medical help and planned activities.
NIC coverage explanationKeep the essentials within reach
Ready for arrival.
Ready for the road.
Use these reminders for preparation. Your documents and checks depend on your visa category, insurance status and complete flight route.
0 of 6 preparation checks complete.
Checklist ticks are temporary planning reminders. They do not confirm entry eligibility.
The useful details
Before you take off.
For nationality or visa decisions, use the official Immigration guidance linked below.
Do children need their own visa applications?
Where a visa is required, each passport holder needs a separate application, including children. Check the documents for your child’s category on the official Immigration portal.
Do Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar need separate visas?
One Tanzanian visa can cover both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. On the application, select your first destination. Insurance is a separate preparation check.
Can Eagle Overland arrange my visa?
Use Tanzania Immigration’s official portal for applications and eligibility decisions. Our Arusha team can help with the local itinerary, first-stay address and vehicle handover details for a confirmed Eagle Overland journey.
Does private travel insurance replace mandatory inbound cover?
Where the inbound requirement applies, arrange the designated policy as well as private cover suited to your trip. Check the policy terms for self-driving, camping, medical assistance and any activities you plan.
Does a Mainland insurance exemption also apply to Zanzibar?
Not automatically. Check the separate Zanzibar requirements if your itinerary includes the islands, even if your residence qualifies for a Mainland exemption.
Reviewed, with the sources close by
Go straight to
the official guidance.
Checked on 7 October 2026, including the latest Mainland and Zanzibar insurance clarification. Return to these sources before departure.