The Tanzania visa is one of the easiest parts of the trip to get right - and one of the easiest to get wrong by leaving it to the airport queue. This guide covers the e-visa route, the visa-on-arrival option, fees, validity and the small print that protects your holiday plans.
The E-Visa: Do It Before You Fly
Most nationalities use Tanzania's official e-visa portal to apply before departure. The application asks for your passport details, intended entry point and travel dates, and typically issues within a few days to a couple of weeks. Processing a few weeks out is the stress-free, recommended route.
Use only the official portal
Look for the Tanzania immigration e-visa site (visa.immigration.go.tz) and ignore lookalike agents charging triple. The official fee for a standard single-entry tourist visa is generally USD 50, with a fast-track option slightly higher.
Visa on Arrival, and When It Works
Visa-on-arrival desks exist at the international airports - Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam (Julius Nyerere), Zanzibar and others - and many nationalities qualify. Expect a small queue, payment in dollars, and occasionally a first-hour patch of paperwork. It works; the e-visa simply saves the line.
| Option | Typical fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | USD 50 | Most safari holidays |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Higher fee | Multi-country East Africa loops |
| Transit visa | USD 30 | Short airside connections |
| Visa on arrival | USD 50 (cash) | Qualifying nationalities, last-minute |
Passport Rules That Bite
Keep your passport valid for at least six months beyond your departure from Tanzania, with at least two blank visa pages. Renew early if yours is creeping toward the six-month line - airport staff will not sympathise, they will simply turn you away.
East African Multi-Entry
Travellers hopping across Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda should check the East African Tourist Visa, valid for multiple entries across participating countries within 90 days from a single fee. It suits serious circuit-hoppers; a standard single trip to Tanzania rarely needs more than the single-entry visa.
Kazakhstan-style exceptions
A small number of nationalities (including Southern African Development Community members and some others) have visa-waiver or visa-on-arrival arrangements. Always check with an official source or your operator for the current list that applies to you.
Top Visa Mistakes We See
- Applying for the visa only at the airport in a busy holiday week.
- Expired passport with less than six months remaining.
- Filling the arrival card with details that do not match your visa.
- Assuming the e-visa portal you visited was the official one.
The only visa question that matters is the one asked before you leave home. Everything after that is a routine landing.
— Our guest relations desk
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Tanzania tourist visa cost?
The standard single-entry tourist visa is typically USD 50 for most nationalities, paid by card on the official e-visa portal or in cash at the visa-on-arrival desk at the airport. A small number of nationalities are charged a different published rate, so it always pays to confirm before paying. The multiple-entry East African Tourist Visa costs more and covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda as well, while the transit visa runs around USD 30 for short airside connections. Unofficial agencies frequently charge two or three times the official fee, so always transact through visa.immigration.go.tz directly. Your operator can confirm the exact figure for your nationality before you book anything.
How long does the Tanzania e-visa take?
Processing on the official portal commonly runs from a few days to around two weeks, depending on the season and how complete your application is. The safe habit is to apply two to three weeks before departure, leaving a comfortable margin for corrections or extra checks. Around major holiday peaks applications slow down, so earlier is always better. You can track the status online with your application reference number, and the approval arrives by email as a PDF to print. Never depend on the visa being arranged at the airport when the e-visa is available to your nationality.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Tanzania?
Yes - visa-on-arrival desks operate at the main international airports including Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam (Julius Nyerere) and Zanzibar, and most nationalities still qualify. Expect cash payment in US dollars, a short queue, and a fingerprint and photo capture at the desk. Some nationalities are now required to hold an approved e-visa before flying, so confirm your status rather than assuming. The e-visa remains the smoother route because you clear immigration quickly and can walk straight to your transfer vehicle. Keep your printed approval, accommodation confirmation and return ticket handy either way.
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