Last updated 10 August 2026 · 11 min read
This page is maintained by our operations team in Arusha and reflects the rules as we see them applied at Kilimanjaro International Airport every week. Immigration policy does change, so always confirm against the official portal before you travel.
Do you need a visa?
Most visitors do, including citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and the EU and Schengen countries. A small number of nationalities, mostly within East Africa and parts of the Commonwealth, are exempt.
| Visa type | Cost | Validity | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary tourist visa | USD 50 | 90 days, single entry | Most nationalities |
| Multiple entry visa | USD 100 | 12 months | Frequent visitors, some business travel |
| US citizens (multiple entry) | USD 100 | 12 months | Mandatory category for US passports |
| Transit visa | USD 30 | 7 days | Passing through only |
US passport holders cannot buy the USD 50 single-entry tourist visa. The USD 100 multiple-entry visa is the correct category, and this catches people out every year.
The e-visa, step by step
- Go to the official Tanzania immigration e-visa portal. The address ends in go.tz. Nothing else is official.
- Create an account and select Ordinary Visa (or Multiple Entry for US citizens).
- Upload a passport bio-page scan and a passport-style photo on a plain background. Photos of a photo are rejected.
- Enter your arrival date, flight number and your first night of accommodation. If you do not have it yet, use the lodge we have quoted; we send this on your confirmation.
- Pay by card. Applications are usually approved in 3 to 10 working days.
- Print the approved visa PDF and keep a copy on your phone. Immigration will ask for it.
Apply at least three weeks before travel. Approval is not instant, and the portal does occasionally ask for a supporting document.
Visa on arrival
Visa on arrival is still available at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. It works, and we meet guests who do it every week. The trade-off is a queue that can run 45 to 90 minutes after a full flight lands, and payment is card or cash US dollars. If you value your first afternoon, get the e-visa.
Passport rules
- Valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. - At least two blank pages for stamps. - Damaged or heavily worn passports are refused. Replace before you travel.
Vaccination and health
Yellow fever: a certificate is only required if you are arriving from, or have transited more than 12 hours through, a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Flying direct from Europe, North America, the Gulf or Asia? You do not need it. Transiting through Nairobi, Addis Ababa or another African hub for more than 12 hours? Carry the certificate.
Malaria: Tanzania is a malaria area, including the safari parks and Zanzibar. Speak to a travel clinic about prophylaxis, and pack repellent with DEET and long sleeves for dusk.
Routine: hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus are commonly recommended. This is general information, not medical advice.
Travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance covering medical evacuation is a condition of booking with us. On the Northern Circuit, evacuation means a Flying Doctors air lift to Nairobi or Arusha, and that is not something you want to pay for out of pocket.
Zanzibar: since late 2024 all foreign visitors to Zanzibar must buy the mandatory inbound travel insurance policy through the official Zanzibar Insurance Corporation portal, currently around USD 44 for up to 92 days. This is separate from and in addition to your own travel insurance. We flag it on every Zanzibar booking.
Arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport
The sequence is: health desk, immigration, baggage, customs, arrivals hall. Our driver waits in the arrivals hall with a Serengeti Wakanda board and your name. The whole process usually takes 30 to 60 minutes with an e-visa.
Bring USD in cash for tips and small purchases. Notes must be series 2013 or newer, or exchange bureaus will refuse them. ATMs in Arusha and Moshi dispense Tanzanian shillings and work reliably with Visa.
Small things that cause big problems
- Single-use plastic bags are banned. Leave them at home; airport staff do confiscate them. - Drone use requires advance permits and is effectively not allowed in the national parks. - If you are travelling with a child under 18 without both parents, carry the birth certificate and a signed consent letter from the absent parent.
“Ninety percent of the visa problems I fix are the same problem. Someone applied on a lookalike website and paid three times the price for nothing. There is one official site. If it does not end in go.tz, close the tab.”
Ready to turn this into a trip?
FAQ
How much is a Tanzania tourist visa?+
USD 50 for the standard single-entry tourist visa valid for 90 days. US passport holders must instead take the USD 100 multiple-entry visa valid for 12 months.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Tanzania?+
Yes, at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar airports, paying by card or US dollars in cash. Expect a queue of 45 to 90 minutes. The online e-visa is faster on arrival day.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Tanzania?+
Only if you are arriving from, or have spent more than 12 hours in transit in, a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Direct arrivals from Europe, North America, the Gulf and Asia do not need one.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Zanzibar?+
Yes. All foreign visitors must purchase the mandatory Zanzibar inbound travel insurance, currently around USD 44 for stays up to 92 days, through the official government portal. It does not replace your own comprehensive policy.
