Most visitors to Tanzania need a tourist visa. The easiest way to get one is the official online e-visa, which you apply for before you travel. A Tanzanian visa covers the mainland and Zanzibar.
Who needs a visa
Citizens of most countries in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia need a visa. Citizens of some East African and Commonwealth countries do not. Check the current list on the Tanzania Immigration website before you book.
How to apply for the e-visa
- Go to the official Tanzania Immigration e-visa portal. Avoid third-party sites that charge extra fees.
- Complete the form with your passport details, travel dates and the address of your first night’s hotel.
- Upload a passport photo, a scan of your passport’s information page and your return flight ticket.
- Pay the fee online by card.
- Check your email and the portal for approval, then print the grant notice.
Cost and processing time
| Visa type | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa | $50 for most nationalities |
| Multiple-entry visa (required for US citizens) | $100 |
Processing can take from a few days to several weeks. Apply at least a month before you travel. Fees can change, so check the official portal.
What you need at the border
- A passport valid for at least six months after your arrival date, with at least two blank pages.
- Your printed visa grant notice.
- A return or onward ticket.
- A yellow fever certificate if you arrive from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever risk. Read about vaccinations for Tanzania.
Visa on arrival
Some nationalities can still buy a visa on arrival at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar airports, usually in US dollars cash. Queues can be long, and rules change. We recommend the e-visa.
Zanzibar
No separate visa is needed for Zanzibar, but you will show your passport on arrival. Zanzibar also requires visitors to hold travel insurance through a government scheme. Read is Zanzibar safe.
Once your visa is sorted, read things to know before your first safari.
Frequently asked questions
From a few days to several weeks. Apply at least a month before travel.
Usually $50 for a single-entry visa. US citizens need a $100 multiple-entry visa.
No. A Tanzanian visa covers both the mainland and Zanzibar.
