How to get Passports & Visa For Tanzania

Before heading to Tanzania, you need to make sure your passport and visa are in order. The exact process for a passport and visa will depend on your nationality. Fortunately, Tanzania has made it pretty easy for most people to get visas to come and enjoy this amazing country.

Before getting your visa, you will need to get your passport from your home country. If you currently live in a foreign country, you can renew your passport at your country’s embassy.

Depending on your country, it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to one year to get a passport. This is why we recommend applying for your passport as soon as you plan to travel to Tanzania.

If you already have a passport, check the expiration date. To receive a visa to enter Tanzania, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the day you plan to enter the country. You also need to have a free page in your passport for the visa sticker.

As a tourist, you can either apply online for a visa or get one on arrival. This guide will give you tips on how to do both.

Do I Need a Visa to Enter Tanzania?

It depends on your nationality, but most people will need a visa to enter Tanzania even if you’re only coming for tourist reasons. You can find detailed visa guidelines on Tanzania’s immigration website. You’ll also find a list of the countries that do not need visas to enter Tanzania.

Most of Tanzania’s tourists that come for climbing Kilimanjaro and safaris are from the USA, UK, the EU, Australia, or New Zealand. All these countries need a visa before entering Tanzania.

You can either apply online or you can get a visa on arrival at the airport. All of Tanzania’s international airports offer visas on arrival including Kilimanjaro International and Julius Nyerere International in Dar Es Salaam.

Most tourists apply for an ordinary single-entry visa. Americans are required to get a multi-entry visa. Both visas allow you to enter mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar Island. There are more details about each one below.

Requirements for Tanzania’s Single Entry Tourist Visa

A single-entry Tanzania tourist visa allows you to stay in Tanzania for up to 90 days doing tourist attractions. Work and volunteering are prohibited.

To qualify for the visa, you will need to show your passport and proof of your return ticket. This can either be a ticket back to your home country or to your next destination.

The cost is $50. If you’re paying in cash, you can only use US $50 notes printed in 2004 or after.

Requirements for Tanzania’s Multi-Entry Visa

Americans are only eligible for the multi-entry visa which cost $100. The visa is only valid for 90 days just like the single entry visa. The difference is that you can leave and come back without needing another visa.

For example, you can leave Tanzania and go to Uganda for a few weeks then re-enter Tanzania on the same visa as long as it’s not expired.

The requirements are the same as the single-entry visa. You will need to show your passport and proof of a return ticket.

Non-Americans can also apply for the multi-entry visa, but you might be asked to show more paperwork. For example, you might be asked to show why you need a multi-entry visa. You can show you have a trip booked to another East African country and then show you are coming back to Tanzania.

Tanzania eVisa

Applying online for a visa has many advantages. You do not have to fill out the visa form and wait in the visa-on-arrival line once you reach the airport.

When you apply online, immigration will email you a confirmation paper with a barcode. Make sure to print it and put it in your carry-on!

At the airport, you can take the paper to the immigration window where your visa can be printed and put into your passport. This can help save you time, especially if you’re traveling in the dry season (June through October) when the airport and airlines can get very busy.

To apply for an online visa, make sure to use the official Tanzania immigration website. :https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/

Visas usually get approved very quickly as long you submit all the right paperwork. Your visa is good for 90 days from the date it’s issued, not the day you enter Tanzania. If you’re eligible for the e-visa, apply for it just a few weeks ahead of time. This allows you to avoid it getting issued too early.

Referral Visas

Some countries need a referral visa. You can find a list of these countries here. Make sure you apply for a referral visa at least 2 months before you plan to travel to Tanzania.

Referral visas are not guaranteed. You should avoid booking safaris or other activities until after your visa has been approved.

Extending Your Visa

You have 90 days to enjoy the beauty of Tanzania, but sometimes you might need more time! If you want to extend your visa, you can go to an immigration office in major cities like Dar Es Salaam and Arusha.

They will usually give you an extra 90 days, but you will need to supply some paperwork. They most often ask for a cover letter stating why you want to extend your stay. You might also be required to show a return ticket.

Other Visas For Tanzania

The single-entry visa and the multi-entry visa are the most common visas for people coming to Tanzania solely to do safaris or other tourist activities. If you’re planning to come to Tanzania for work or school, you will need to contact your company or institution to help you secure a visa.

Ready to Travel to Tanzania?

Once you have your passport and visa, you’re ready to arrive in Tanzania. The visa on arrival and the simple eVisa makes it extremely easy for most nationalities to come here!

Whether you apply online for the e-visa or wait until you’re at the airport, the process is quick and straightforward.