About Tanzania Visa

Please be aware that with immediate effect Kilimanjaro International Airport has introduced the new process of issuing visitors visas on arrival. Persons arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport without a visa will now need to complete the following process:

1. Queue to get a Government Control Number required for any payment made to government.
2. Queue to pay the visa fees for the acquired control number at the bank located within the Airport.
3. Queue for Immigration to check and issue the visa

Approximate time for the above mention process could take as much as 2 hours or more.

We have been reassured by Immigration Department that measures are being put in place to make this process quicker, but until that happens, we highly recommend visitors visas to be applied online.

It is highly recommended for all visitors to Tanzania to acquire their visitors visas before arrival at nearest consulate or embassy. Alternately Visitors Visa can be acquired online (E-Visa) by visiting the link of this website: https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/

The online e-visa system will process and issue the visa approximately within 2 to 3 weeks.

Visa fees remain the same as before and passport holders of certain countries may still require referral visas which cannot be obtained on arrival. A full set of guidelines can be found here: https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/guidelines

Please note, however, not all ports of entry are equipped to accept the online visa. Only the following 5 ports are currently functional:

• Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)
• Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ)
• Namanga (road border between Arusha & Nairobi)
• Tunduma (road border between Tanzania & Zambia)

If travellers are entering via a different port (eg: Tarime Isebania), it is advisable to obtain the visa on arrival. An online visa can still be used and will be accepted, but the process of validating the visa can be time consuming when the port does not have the necessary equipment on hand.

Ground teams are working hard to speed people through the process as best as possible, but we would greatly appreciate you making sure all of your travellers are aware of this change, and encouraging anyone who is able to get an e-visa to do so, to make for an easier start to their safari.

ENTRY REQUIRMENTS

Any foreigner seeking to enter the United Republic of Tanzania is subject to the following entry requirements:

• a passport or Travel Document which is valid for not less than six months;
• a Residence Permit or a Pass or his name is endorsed upon the same;
• A valid Visa (where applicable) from any Tanzania Mission abroad or on arrival at any designated entry points. Visa issuing centres.

Entry authorization

Upon complying with the entry requirements, a visitor is issued with a Visitor’s Pass with validity not exceeding three months (and not exceeding six months for citizens of EAC Member States).

VISA TYPES

ORDINARY VISA (SINGLE ENTRY VISA)

This Visa is issued for a single entry to a visitor for a period not exceeding three months for the purpose of holidays, tourism, visiting, leisure, short time health treatment or any other activity legally recognized by the Law of the United Republic of Tanzania.

MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA

This Visa is issued to persons whose nature of their businesses or circumstances require them to make frequent visits to the United Republic of Tanzania. The maximum validity of this Visa is twelve months. However, the holder of the Multiple Visa cannot stay in the country for 12 consecutive months. They are required to leave the country at least after every three months.

TRANSIT VISA

This visa may be issued to a person for the purpose of transiting to another destination outside the United Republic of Tanzania for a period not exceeding seven days. The applicant of this visa is required to hold a visa of the destination country.

BUSINESS VISA

Business visa will be issued once to foreigners so as to allow them to enter in the United Republic of Tanzania for the following purposes such as to:

• To conduct special assignments such as fixing/repairing machines or to run short term training, etc.
• To conduct professional roles such as auditing accounts etc.
• To conduct lawful business according to the laws of the country.

Referral Cases

There are some countries which their nationals require special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration (Zanzibar) prior to issuance of the Visa. These countries fall under the referral visa category. Applicants whose nationals fall under referral visa category are not advised to book flight tickets or make any reservations before they get their visa.

Note: Possession of a Visa for United Republic of Tanzania does not provide automatic right of entry for the holder into the Country. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry may refuse entry to any person, if he is satisfied that such a person is unable to fulfil the immigration requirements or that such person’s presence in the United Republic of Tanzania would be contrary to national interests or security.