Do i need a Visa to Visit Tanzania? : There are countless good reasons to travel to and visit Tanzania, one of the top safari vacation spots on Africa’s East Coast. Tanzania should be on everyone’s bucket list for a variety of reasons, including wildlife-filled safaris in the renowned Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Arusha, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire national parks; sandy beaches in the beautiful Zanzibar island; and Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.
In the boundless plains of the Serengeti national park, which is home to the great wildebeest migration, one of the most breathtaking global spectacles, in the northern region of the country, you can witness a different wild animal anywhere you turn. You can view up to 30,000 animals on a single line safari during the great migration from June to September as they move from Tanzania’s Serengeti to Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Tanzania, like many other nations, requires visitors from outside the country to have a particular entry permit, such as a passport or visa. A passport must be valid for at least six months after the intended date of travel in order to enter Tanzania. Almost all visitors to Tanzania are required to obtain a tourist visa, which may be obtained for between $50 and $100 and is good for three months.
It is simple to obtain a single-entry, 90-day tourist (or work) visa upon arrival at any of the country’s main entry points, such as the Dar es Salaam’ Julius nyerere international Airport, Zanzibar’s Abeid Aman Karume International Airport and Kilimanjaro international airports, as long as you are able to pay for your visa in cash. This is true even though most embassy and travel websites will advise you to obtain this visa before leaving your home country (especially if you require a multiple entry visa).
Who needs a tourist visa to visit Tanzania?
Most nationalities must apply for a visa before traveling to Tanzania, but for the majority of nationalities, getting one is simple. These include the European Union and UK, Australia and New Zealand, the US and Canada, as well as citizens of many other Latin American and Asian countries (with the exception of Hong Kong and Singapore).
Tourists entering the nation must apply for an “Ordinary Visa,” which allows for a single entry into Tanzania and a stay of up to three months. You should apply for this form of visa if you plan on attending a conference or taking part in charitable and humanitarian activities. The cost of an ordinary visa is $50 USD, but US citizens must apply for a pricier multiple-entry visa.
You should enter before the three-month window since visas are only valid from the date of issuance. You may be required to present proof of a return ticket and money upon arrival, and your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date you enter Tanzania. Tanzania does not require a visa for citizens of Brazil, China, India, or Turkey traveling on diplomatic or other special passports.
South African nationals are among those who are exempt from a visa for visits of up to 90 days, but the majority of European and American nationalities are required to have one to enter Tanzania. You must contact your embassy or travel agency to find out the exact requirements before traveling, because immigration laws and visa requirements are notoriously subject to change.
Multiple entry visas for Tanzania
US residents should obtain a multiple entry visa if they intend to travel to East Africa and enter Tanzania more than once. This category of visa, which costs $100, entitles holders to repeated entries into Tanzania within a 12-month period for stays of up to three months each. If you are not a citizen of the United States, you must explain in your application why you require a multiple-entry visa (for instance, to go overland to Kenya or other nearby countries).
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of entry in order to be eligible for a multiple entry visa. Additionally, you must present a passport photo and evidence of a return ticket to Tanzania. For more information, get in touch with the Tanzanian embassy or consulate in your area. You could also be required to present a security bond and other supporting documents.
Applying for a Tanzania visa
E-visas have been made available in Tanzania, and the application process is simple online. When submitting an online application, you must include your passport information, a scanned copy of your identity pages, a clear photo of yourself in passport-style clothing, and payment documentation. Some Tanzanian embassies and consulates abroad may also accept applications, but not all do.
Visas on arrival in Tanzania
You can get a visa on arrival in Tanzania in addition to applying for one beforehand (no matter what your provenance). Check the Tanzania Immigration Services Department website for the most recent information on entrance requirements before making travel plans to prevent any hassles.
On-arrival visas are offered at the international airports in Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar, as well as at the Tunduma border crossing between Tanzania and Zambia and the Namanga border post between Tanzania and Kenya. If officials tell you to go to the emergency visa checkpoint when you arrive, don’t be afraid; this is where visa on arrival applications are made. There may be lengthy lines and requests for evidence of finances and onward travel.
Yellow fever vaccination requirements
You will need to present a vaccination certificate if you have visited a place where yellow fever is endemic (such as many countries in central Africa) in the 21 days before arriving in Tanzania.
Who needs a Referral Visa for Tanzania?
To enter Tanzania, visitors from 28 Central Asian and African nations must obtain special permission from the Commissioner-General of Immigration. The Immigration Services Department’s e-visa portal has a complete list available.
You must apply for your visa at least two months before the day you intend to travel if you are coming from one of the nations on the list. Reservations for lodging or flights should be postponed until you have received official authorization from Tanzanian authorities, as approval is not assured.
Tanzania Transit Visas
A transit visa may be sufficient if you are only visiting Tanzania for a few days before continuing on to one of its neighbors, such as Kenya or Rwanda. Even though this particular category of visa only costs $30, you are only allowed to stay in the republic for a week. You might be asked to provide documentation such as a visa or a ticket for the nation you are entering.
Business and student visas for Tanzania
Tanzania does not yet have a mechanism in place for remote working visas, despite the fact that many other nations have done so. You must apply for a business visa that is good for 90 days if you are entering the nation on business. You might require supporting documentation from the company that is housing you in Tanzania, and the charge is $250, Do i need a Visa to Visit Tanzania?
A student visa is available for those traveling to Tanzania for academic study, research, internships, or volunteer work. The cost is $50 for stays under three months and increases to $250 for longer stays. It should be noted that language students can only get a three-month visa, and a student visa can only be provided for a maximum of two years. Application fees are not charged to exchange students.
Visa extension for Tanzania
Most tourists are allowed a three-month stay in Tanzania, and if you remain longer than that, you risk being arrested, fined, and expelled. However, at the immigration office in Dar es Salaam, a three-month visa can be extended by an additional three months (and at offices in some other major Tanzanian cities).
