Which documents and entry conditions apply when arriving in Tanzania?

Carry a passport valid for at least six months with a blank visa page, the correct visa or pass, a signed arrival declaration card and any required supporting documents. Entry must take place through a designated formal entry point, and officials may request an onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds.

How much do the main visas and Zanzibar travel insurance cost for arrival in Tanzania?

An Ordinary Visa costs USD 50, a Multiple Visa USD 100, a Business Visa USD 250 and a Transit Visa USD 30. Foreign visitors entering Zanzibar also need Zanzibar inbound travel insurance, currently listed at USD 44 for adults, USD 22 for children and USD 22 for Southern African Development Community or East African Community citizens.

When is a Yellow Fever Certificate required for arrival in Tanzania?

Tanzania can require the certificate when a traveller arrives from a designated yellow-fever risk country or transits for more than 12 hours through a risk-country airport. Without proof, authorities may require vaccination and observation for up to 10 days or refuse entry.

What must a traveller do after arrival in Tanzania for a longer stay or work?

Monitor the visa or Visitor Pass expiry date and obtain the appropriate residence and work permissions before engaging in employment or remaining long term. Most residence categories require a Work Permit first, followed by immigration enrolment with fingerprints and a photograph.

Where can someone find essential health services after arrival in Tanzania?

On Mainland Tanzania, the Health Facility Registry lists approved hospitals, health centres, dispensaries, clinics and pharmacies. Emergency numbers are 112 for police, 115 for ambulance, 114 for fire and rescue, 199 for health and 190 in Zanzibar.

Arrival in Tanzania

Arrival in Tanzania combines entry formalities, health requirements, first transport and access to basic services. The process is distributed among immigration offices, health authorities, airports, local government authorities and service providers rather than one central welcome office. Visa type, length of stay, travel to Zanzibar and plans for work or residence determine which documents, costs and follow-up steps apply.

Tip

Treat arrival in Tanzania as a set of separate checks rather than relying on a single welcome service. Choose the visa and health documents for your nationality, travel history, destination and intended stay, then prepare proof, contacts and funds before departure. If you plan to work or stay long term, arrange the required permissions early because a Visitor Pass does not cover those activities.

byAsha&Juma

Use a passport valid for at least six months with at least one blank visa page. Check whether your nationality is visa-free or subject to referral requirements before travelling. Tanzania recommends applying for an eVisa at least 10 days before travel; referral cases can take about two months. A Visa on Arrival is available only at official entry points and is not available to stateless or refugee travellers without special permission. A visa grant notice does not guarantee entry because an immigration officer makes the final admission decision. Officials may ask for a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds. Common visa categories include an Ordinary Visa costing USD 50 for up to 90 days, a Multiple Visa costing USD 100 for up to 12 months with each stay limited to 90 days, a Business Visa costing USD 250 for up to 90 days, and a Transit Visa costing USD 30 for up to seven days. United States nationals travelling for tourism generally need a Multiple Visa. A Business Visa does not authorize regular employment or long-term residence. Visa fees are not refundable. A Visitor Pass can allow a stay of up to 90 days, or up to six months for citizens of East African Community states, but it does not authorize employment, trade, business or professional activity. Carry the passport, visa or Visa on Arrival documents, any residence permit or pass, a completed and signed arrival declaration card, and supporting travel documents. Entry must take place through a designated formal entry point with personal presentation to immigration. Customs may require declarations for valuable goods. Weapons and ammunition, animals and plants may require prior approval. These entry requirements concern border formalities; housing arrangements and tenancy rights are separate matters. Health requirements depend on the countries visited or transited. Tanzania can require a Yellow Fever Certificate when a traveller arrives from a country classified by Tanzania or the World Health Organization as a risk country, including transit of more than 12 hours through a risk-country airport. Without the certificate, authorities may require vaccination and observation for up to 10 days or may refuse entry. The Ministry of Health lists a vaccination charge of USD 50 for foreigners and TZS 30,000 for residents and East African Community citizens. The certificate is valid for life under current World Health Organization rules. An AfyaMsafiri health form may also be required for arrivals from or through Uganda or the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of Mpox or Marburg measures. Check current Ministry of Health instructions shortly before departure. Zanzibar follows additional visitor requirements. The Tanzania eVisa covers both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, but foreign visitors entering Zanzibar need inbound travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation even if they already hold private or travel health insurance. The listed cost is USD 44 for an adult, USD 22 for a child and USD 22 for citizens of Southern African Development Community or East African Community states; prices and coverage can change. Zanzibar also uses separate local health and emergency arrangements. At Julius Nyerere International Airport, licensed airport taxis have white number plates, a green band and a Tanzania Airports Authority or LATRA logo and wait at designated ranks. Public buses stop outside the main gate, about seven minutes on foot from Terminal 2 and about nine minutes from Terminal 3. Flight information and airport information desks can help with arrival status. Keep the first accommodation address, the host or booking contact, passport copies and emergency funds accessible. No nationwide official arrival shelter or welcome centre is established by the available evidence. After entry, monitor the Visitor Pass or visa expiry date and leave or regularize the stay before the permitted period ends. A visa or Visitor Pass does not automatically create a right to work, long-term residence or social assistance. Residence Permit Class A, B and C cover different long-term residence situations; applications are usually made before entry, and Class B or C applications generally need to be made before arrival while Class A has an exception. Most categories require a Work Permit first. After payment, an enrolment notification directs the applicant to an immigration office for fingerprints and a photograph, with portal information indicating issuance in about one week in suitable cases. There is no confirmed nationwide registration requirement equivalent to a general arrival registration for every new arrival. Foreign legal residents aged 18 or older can register with the National Identification Authority, known as NIDA, using a passport and residence or work permit. The Mgeni Mkaazi or NIDA identity document is not the usual registration option for tourists. Hotel or host reporting is not confirmed nationwide by the available primary evidence. For health services on Mainland Tanzania, the Health Facility Registry, or HFR, lists approved public and private hospitals, health centres, dispensaries, clinics and pharmacies. Check Zanzibar health providers through local authorities. Emergency numbers are 112 for police, 115 for ambulance, 114 for fire and rescue, 199 for health and 190 in Zanzibar. Payment or insurance proof may be requested when using health services.