Visa for Tanzania: Complete guide to the procedures and practical advice

You have planned everything for your ascent of Kilimanjaro: plane tickets, itinerary, backpack… But one question still bothers you: how do you get your visa without risking an administrative error?

Many travellers find themselves faced with unclear procedures, missing documents or unforeseen delays that can jeopardise their departure. Imagine yourself at the airport, ready to board… and you are refused entry because you do not have a valid visa. Stressful, isn’t it?

Good news: this article will guide you step by step through the process of obtaining your visa for Tanzania, without stress and without any unpleasant surprises. Whether you opt for an e-Visa online or a visa on arrival, you will know exactly what to do, when and how.

Read on for a stress-free trip and a simplified administrative process!

What are the different types of visas for Tanzania?

Tourist visa

The tourist visa is the most commonly requested for Tanzania.

With an initial validity of 90 days, it allows for leisure activities such as safaris, climbing Kilimanjaro or discovering the beaches of Zanzibar. This visa is a single-entry visa, which means that it does not allow you to leave and then return to Tanzania during the period of validity.

For travellers planning to visit several East African countries, there is also an East Africa Tourist Visa, valid for Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

Business visa

The business visa is intended for people travelling to Tanzania for professional reasons: business meetings, commercial prospecting, or participation in conferences.

It is valid for a longer period than the tourist visa and can be a multiple-entry visa.

Tanzania also offers specific visas for different situations: student visas to attend courses in a Tanzanian institution, transit visas for stopovers of more than 24 hours, or volunteer visas for humanitarian missions. Each category has its own conditions and periods of validity.

How do I get a visa for Tanzania?

Online application (e-Visa)

Although the e-Visa system is available, experience shows that it is preferable to avoid this option.

The Tanzanian authorities are very attached to physical documents and often require paper printouts, even for visas obtained online. If you still opt for this solution, it is imperative to print all documents received by email, including confirmation and acknowledgment of receipt.

This precaution may seem excessive, but it will avoid many inconveniences on arrival.

Personal anecdote: Kenya no longer provides Visa on Arrival, and I was almost refused by the airline. But I insisted and in the end I was allowed on the flight. Planning ahead for Tanzania, I applied for an e-Visa, but I hadn’t printed the documents. I was stuck at the border for 4 hours because I refused to pay $10 for them to print a single A4 page. They ended up printing it for me for free. In short, learn from my mistakes, print out your documents. Better still, get the Visa on Arrival, which we got in 10 mins. Having tried to plan ahead, I ended up taking longer than those who didn’t.

Application to the embassy

Applying for a visa at the embassy is still the safest and most reliable method. It allows direct contact with the consular services and the possibility of immediately clarifying any complex points in your file. The process is more traditional but offers a better guarantee of success.

However, between the time it takes to go to the embassy and the waiting time for the visa to be issued, I don’t recommend it either.

Application on arrival at the airport

Visas on arrival are available at the main Tanzanian airports, including Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam. This option may seem convenient but has several disadvantages: risk of missing documents, and unnecessary stress after a long journey.

Nevertheless, it remains a viable solution which, with experience, is almost always the one I choose.

What documents and conditions are required to obtain a visa?

What supporting documents are required?

Obtaining a visa for Tanzania requires several essential documents.

The passport must be valid for at least six months after the planned return date and have at least two blank pages.

Vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory, and the international vaccination certificate must be presented.

You will also need to provide recent passport photos that meet international standards, a hotel reservation or invitation letter, and your return flight ticket.

💡My tips as a seasoned traveller and pirate:

• If necessary, you can create a real fake plane ticket (only if you see that they ask other people in front of you) via : https://onwardticket.com/ +https://onwardticket.com/affiliate
• For the hotel, go to Booking.com, choose the hotel of your choice and just show the hotel address, no one will check if you have a real reservation at the hotel. If necessary, book for just one night
• ID photos, get into the habit of always having 2-3 with you, even if it’s rare that you are actually asked for them

How long does it take to get a visa?

The time it takes to obtain one varies according to the method chosen.

At the embassy, you will get it between 5 and 10 working days.

The online procedure (e-Visa) generally takes 3 to 5 working days to process. From our experience, you will get it in 24/48 hours.

The Visa on Arrival is instant. You pay and they give it to you. On arrival at the airport, the visa is issued immediately, but the queues can be long, particularly in the high tourist season.

How much does the visa for Tanzania cost?

Prices according to the type of visa

The visa fees vary according to the type and duration. The standard tourist visa costs 50 US dollars for a single entry. The business visa is more expensive, around 250 dollars for multiple entries.

HWhat methods of payment are accepted for the visa?

For payment, the Tanzanian authorities mainly accept US dollars, and it is advisable to have the exact amount as change is not always given.

You will probably be able to pay by card, but it will depend on your point of arrival and whether you arrive by land (from Kenya, for example) or by air.

💡Tip: Always have USD on you on any of your trips. Almost all countries accept USD and, in any case, you can exchange it for local currency at less unfavourable rates than other currencies.

FAQs and practical advice

What should I do if my visa is refused?

If your visa is refused, you can appeal the decision by providing additional documents or correcting errors in the initial application. It is advisable to explicitly request the reasons for the refusal to increase your chances when you reapply.

However, these cases are extremely rare in tourist visa cases.

Does a minor child need a visa to enter Tanzania?

Yes, minor children must have their own visa. In addition, they must travel with parental authorisation if they are not accompanied by both parents, even if they are travelling with one of them.

Is a visa for Zanzibar different from a visa for Tanzania?

No, as Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, the same visa allows access to the entire territory, including the islands. However, additional identity checks may be carried out on arrival in Zanzibar.

Are there any health restrictions for obtaining a visa?

In addition to the compulsory yellow fever vaccination, Tanzania may impose additional health restrictions depending on the global context. It is advisable to check the requirements in force a few weeks before departure.

Conclusion

Obtaining a visa for Tanzania is an administrative step that requires preparation but which remains perfectly accessible with good organisation.

Although the Tanzanian authorities offer several options for obtaining a visa, from the most traditional to the most modern, experience shows that it is preferable to favour the classic method via the embassy or on arrival.

The key to a successful visa application is to plan ahead. It is essential to start well in advance in order to gather all the necessary documents, including the yellow fever vaccination certificate and travel documents.

This approach avoids the stress of a last-minute application and allows time to correct any errors or provide additional documents if necessary.

Don’t forget that the Tanzanian bureaucracy is still very much attached to physical documents, and it is always preferable to have hard copies of all important documents, even for an electronic application.

Finally, remember that the visa is only one part of the administrative formalities required to travel to Tanzania. It must be part of a broader preparation including health aspects, travel planning and booking activities on site.

A good understanding of the different options and conditions for obtaining a visa will allow you to approach this stage with peace of mind and focus on what is essential: preparing for your Tanzanian adventure.