Tanzania Visa

Tanzania — Visa Overview

About Tanzania

Tanzania is one of Africa's most extraordinary and iconic destinations — a vast East African nation of breathtaking natural diversity, ancient Swahili heritage, and some of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles. Home to Mount Kilimanjaro — Africa's highest peak and one of the world's most celebrated trekking destinations — and the legendary Serengeti National Park — host of the greatest wildlife migration on earth — Tanzania offers a travel experience of unparalleled grandeur and authenticity.

The Serengeti's endless plains pulse with the drama of over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles moving in an ancient annual cycle that has captivated the world for generations. The Ngorongoro Crater — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — cradles one of Africa's highest concentrations of wildlife within a vast volcanic caldera of extraordinary beauty. Tarangire National Park enchants with its ancient baobab trees and vast elephant herds, while the Selous Game Reserve — one of Africa's largest game reserves — offers a remote and intimate wilderness experience in true African bush. The legendary island of Zanzibar — with its UNESCO-listed Stone Town, pristine coral reefs, and spice plantations — adds a dimension of history, culture, and beach paradise that completes one of the world's most complete travel destinations.

Tanzania is also the gateway to some of the continent's most extraordinary primate encounters — chimpanzee tracking in Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks on the shores of Lake Tanganyika — as well as the dramatic landscapes of Lake Manyara, the forests of Udzungwa, and the beaches of Pemba Island. Safe, welcoming, and extraordinarily rich in wildlife and natural heritage, Tanzania rewards every traveller with memories that last a lifetime.

What is a Tanzania eVisa?

The Tanzania eVisa is a fully digital travel authorisation issued by the Tanzania Immigration Services Department — Ministry of Home Affairs, United Republic of Tanzania. It is applied for entirely online through the official Tanzania Immigration Services portal — visa.immigration.go.tz — the only official government website for Tanzania visa applications. Upon approval, the applicant receives a Visa Grant Notice by email — which must be printed and presented to the immigration officer upon arrival at the Tanzanian port of entry. No physical sticker is placed in the passport at the time of application — however the immigration officer may stamp the passport upon entry.

Important Warning — Official Portal Only:
The official Tanzania eVisa portal is visa.immigration.go.tz — this is the only legitimate website operated by Tanzania Immigration Services. The Tanzania Immigration Services strongly discourages using third-party agents as visas obtained through them may not be recognised in Tanzania. Rayna Tours submits all Tanzania eVisa applications exclusively through the official government portal.

Is There a Sticker Visa for Tanzania?

For most nationalities — No — the Tanzania eVisa system covers the vast majority of nationalities and is fully digital. However certain nationalities classified as Referral Cases require special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration before a visa can be issued — these nationalities cannot apply online independently and must seek prior approval. Rayna Tours will advise on the applicable route based on the applicant's specific passport nationality.

Three Entry Routes — Tanzania

Route 1 — Visa Exemption (No Visa Required)

The following nationalities may enter Tanzania without any visa — confirmed from the official Tanzania Immigration Department — immigration.go.tz:

East African Community (EAC) Member States — Visa-Free:
Burundi · Democratic Republic of Congo · Kenya · Rwanda · South Sudan · Uganda

Other Visa-Free Nationalities:
Hong Kong SAR · Macao SAR · Romania

Commonwealth Countries — Visa-Free (with exceptions):
Most Commonwealth countries are visa-free — excluding Australia · Bangladesh · Canada · India · New Zealand · Nigeria · Pakistan · Sierra Leone · South Africa · United Kingdom — nationals of these countries require a visa.

SADC Member Countries — Visa-Free (with exceptions):
Most SADC member countries are visa-free — excluding Comoros — nationals of Comoros require a visa.

Route 2 — eVisa (Online Application)

The Tanzania eVisa is available to nationals of most countries worldwide — applied for entirely online through the official portal — visa.immigration.go.tz. Two visa types are available:

Ordinary Visa (Single Entry) — Tourist & Business:

• For all nationalities except US nationals — who must apply for Multiple Visa
• Valid for 90 days from the date of issue
• Single entry
• Covers tourism, holiday, visiting friends or relatives, meetings, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions
• Holders of Ordinary Visa who visit any East African country during their Tanzania visit may re-enter Tanzania on the same visa provided it is still valid

Multiple Entry Visa:

• For US nationals travelling for tourism — mandatory (US nationals are not entitled to Ordinary Visa for tourism)
• Also available to Directors of companies registered in Tanzania, persons engaged in bilateral meetings, spouses married to Tanzanian residents, government consultants, and representatives of international NGOs
• Valid for 12 months from the date of issue
• Each stay must not exceed 90 consecutive days

Route 3 — Visa on Arrival

Visa on Arrival is available at official Tanzanian entry points for eligible nationalities — however Tanzania strongly recommends applying for the eVisa online before travel. Certain nationalities classified as Referral Cases — including some African and Asian nationalities — cannot obtain a Visa on Arrival and must apply online in advance. Stateless persons and persons with refugee status cannot obtain a Visa on Arrival and must apply online.

Do You Need a Tanzania Visa? — UAE, India & KSA

UAE Nationals:
The UAE is not on Tanzania's visa-exempt list — UAE nationals require a Tanzania eVisa before travel. Apply online through the official portal — visa.immigration.go.tz — before departure.

UAE Residents of Other Nationalities:
The visa requirement is determined by the passport held. All UAE residents holding passports of non-exempt nationalities must apply for a Tanzania eVisa online before travel. UAE residency status does not grant any exemption or special entry privilege.

KSA Nationals:
Saudi Arabian nationals are not on Tanzania's visa-exempt list — KSA nationals require a Tanzania eVisa before travel.

KSA Residents of Other Nationalities:
The visa requirement is determined by the passport held — KSA residency does not grant any exemption. All KSA residents of non-exempt nationalities must apply for a Tanzania eVisa online.

Indian Nationals:
India is specifically excluded from the Commonwealth visa-free list — Indian nationals require a Tanzania eVisa before travel. Apply online through visa.immigration.go.tz before departure.

Entry Summary — Rayna's Three Markets

Important — Tanzania Mainland & Zanzibar

A single Tanzania visa covers both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar — there is no separate Zanzibar visa. When applying online, select the first destination — the applicant may travel freely between the mainland and Zanzibar without needing a new visa. This is especially convenient for travellers combining a mainland safari with a Zanzibar beach stay.

Permitted Activities

• Tourism, sightseeing, safari, wildlife experiences, and leisure travel
• Visiting family or friends
• Attending meetings, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions
• Business activities — subject to the appropriate visa category

Not Permitted:

• Paid employment or volunteer work — a Class C Residence Permit is required for volunteering
• Any activity inconsistent with the declared purpose of visit

Yellow Fever Certificate — Mandatory for Travellers from Risk Countries

Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory for all travellers arriving from or transiting through countries where Yellow Fever is endemic — including Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, and many other African and South American countries. Travellers from the UAE, KSA, and India directly — without transiting through yellow fever risk countries — are generally not required to present a Yellow Fever certificate. However all travellers are strongly advised to verify current requirements before travel.

Processing Time

eVisa applications are processed within 10 business days from the date of submission. Applicants must wait for the Visa Grant Notice before commencing their journey — do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until the visa is approved. For Referral Cases, processing may take significantly longer.

General Disclaimer

All visa decisions rest solely with the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, United Republic of Tanzania. Rayna Tours acts as a professional visa assistance provider only. Possession of a Visa Grant Notice does not guarantee entry — the immigration officer at the entry point may refuse entry if the holder is unable to fulfil immigration entry requirements.