Tanzania and Zanzibar Entry, Visa and Health Requirements
Entry requirements for Tanzania and Zanzibar depend on your nationality, passport, travel route and recent travel history. Most international travelers need a valid passport and may also need a visa. Zanzibar can have additional arrival requirements, including mandatory inbound travel insurance for international visitors.
Health requirements also vary by traveller. Yellow fever certificate rules depend partly on where you are travelling from or transiting, while vaccination and malaria advice should be discussed with a qualified travel health professional.
Last reviewed: August 2026 by Iris Schoonvelde
Important: Entry, visa, insurance and health requirements can change. Always confirm the latest rules with the Tanzania Immigration Department, the relevant Zanzibar authorities, your airline and a qualified travel health professional before departure.
Do you need a visa for Tanzania?
Many international travelers need a visa for Tanzania, while some nationalities are exempt and others require prior approval. Your nationality determines which rules apply. Tanzania's official electronic visa system covers travel to both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The Tanzania Immigration Department advises travelers to check the visa rules that apply to their passport before starting an application. Some travelers can use the online visa system, while visa on arrival may be available where immigration rules permit it.
Travelers from countries in the referral visa category must obtain approval before travelling and should follow the specific procedure published by Tanzania Immigration.
Check your nationality and current visa requirements through the official Tanzania electronic visa system.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar?
The best time to visit Zanzibar depends on how important dry weather, heat, activities and visitor numbers are to you. The island stays warm throughout the year, but rainfall and humidity change by season.
June to October generally brings a drier and slightly cooler period. January and February are also relatively dry but hotter. The main wetter period generally falls between March and May, while rainfall often increases again later in the year.
Weather is only one part of choosing your travel period. Couples, families and travelers combining Zanzibar with safari may make different choices based on the complete itinerary.
For temperatures, rainfall and detailed monthly climate information, consult the dedicated Zanzibar weather guide.
Does a Tanzania visa also cover Zanzibar?
A Tanzania visa generally covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar because both form part of the United Republic of Tanzania. You do not normally apply for a separate Zanzibar tourist visa when travelling between the mainland and Zanzibar.
Zanzibar can still have additional arrival requirements that are separate from the Tanzania visa. This is particularly important for travel insurance and any arrival procedures introduced by the Zanzibar authorities.
How do you apply for a Tanzania visa?
Eligible travellers can apply online through Tanzania Immigration's official electronic visa system. The process includes completing the application form, uploading the required documents and submitting the application for review.
Commonly requested documents can include:
- Your passport information page
- A passport photograph where requested
- Details of your trip
- Return or onward travel information
- Accommodation or host information
- Payment of the applicable visa fee
Do not assume that an application will be approved within a fixed number of days. Apply with sufficient time before departure and monitor the status of your application through the official system.
Avoid websites that imitate the official visa portal or charge additional intermediary fees without making this clear. Tanzania Immigration specifically directs applicants to its own official services.
Can you get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Visa on arrival is available in some circumstances, but it is not an option for every nationality or traveller. Eligibility depends on Tanzania's current immigration rules, and travellers from referral visa countries need approval before travelling.
Even when visa on arrival is possible, applying online beforehand can reduce uncertainty at the airport. Check your nationality through Tanzania Immigration before deciding which application route to use.
Passport requirements for Tanzania
Tanzania Immigration advises visa applicants to have a passport with at least six months of validity and at least one unused visa page. Your passport should also match the personal details used for your visa application and airline booking.
Before departure, check:
- Your passport expiry date
- Whether there is at least one unused visa page
- Whether your name matches your flight and visa documents
- Whether the passport is damaged
- Whether transit countries have additional passport requirements
Children travelling internationally also require the travel documents applicable to their nationality. Requirements involving birth certificates, consent letters or guardianship documents can depend on the family situation, airline and transit countries.
Confirm current passport requirements through the official Tanzania entry requirements.
Are Zanzibar's entry requirements different?
The Tanzania visa applies to travel to Zanzibar, but Zanzibar can impose additional arrival requirements. International visitors should therefore check both Tanzania's national immigration rules and Zanzibar's current entry procedures before departure.
One important additional requirement is Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance scheme. This is separate from your visa and separate from any private travel insurance you already hold.
Travellers arriving in Zanzibar should keep the required insurance confirmation accessible during their journey. Check the latest procedure shortly before departure, even when you have visited Zanzibar previously.
Do you need mandatory travel insurance for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar currently operates a mandatory inbound travel insurance scheme for international visitors. The official Visit Zanzibar platform directs travelers to purchase the required cover through its inbound insurance system.
This requirement is separate from your own annual or single trip travel insurance. Holding private insurance does not automatically mean that the Zanzibar specific requirement can be ignored.
The official system offers individual, family and group options. Rules and exemptions can change, so check the latest conditions before purchasing or travelling.
Use the official Zanzibar inbound insurance portal to check the current requirement and obtain the required documentation.
Do you need a yellow fever certificate for Tanzania or Zanzibar?
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required from every traveller entering Tanzania. The requirement depends largely on where you have travelled or transited before arrival.
Current international health guidance states that Tanzania can require proof of yellow fever vaccination from travelers aged one year or older arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission. Long airport transits in a yellow fever risk country can also affect the requirement.
A traveller arriving directly from a country without yellow fever transmission risk may therefore face different entry requirements from someone arriving after travel through a risk country.
Because flight routes matter, check your complete itinerary rather than only your departure country. A qualified travel health professional can also help determine whether vaccination is medically appropriate for you.
What other health preparations should you make?
Health preparation should reflect your personal circumstances and itinerary. Safari travel, Zanzibar beach stays, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and longer stays can involve different considerations.
Before departure, consider discussing:
- Your routine vaccination status
- Destination specific vaccinations
- Malaria prevention
- Any prescription medication you take
- Food and water precautions
- Sun and heat exposure
- Existing medical conditions
- Access to healthcare during the trip
Carry enough prescribed medication for your journey and check whether documentation is required when travelling with certain medicines.
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Is malaria present in Tanzania and Zanzibar?
Malaria occurs in Tanzania, and malaria prevention should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional before travel. Your personal recommendation can depend on the places you visit, altitude, length of stay, medical history and other health factors.
Prevention can include protection against mosquito bites and, for some travelers and destinations, prescription malaria medication. The correct medication is a medical decision because different medicines have different suitability, dosing schedules and possible side effects.
Practical mosquito bite precautions include:
- Using an appropriate insect repellent
- Wearing clothing that covers exposed skin when mosquitoes are active
- Using mosquito nets where provided
- Following advice from your accommodation and travel health professional
Beach Safari does not provide medical advice. Discuss malaria prevention with a qualified travel health professional before departure.
What other health preparations should you make?
Health preparation should reflect your personal circumstances and itinerary. Safari travel, Zanzibar beach stays, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and longer stays can involve different considerations.
Before departure, consider discussing:
- Your routine vaccination status
- Destination specific vaccinations
- Malaria prevention
- Any prescription medication you take
- Food and water precautions
- Sun and heat exposure
- Existing medical conditions
- Access to healthcare during the trip
Carry enough prescribed medication for your journey and check whether documentation is required when travelling with certain medicines.
Travel insurance for Tanzania
Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly advisable for a Tanzania trip, even when your itinerary does not include Zanzibar. The policy should match the activities you plan to undertake.
When comparing policies, check cover for:
- Medical treatment abroad
- Emergency evacuation and repatriation
- Trip cancellation or interruption
- Delayed or lost baggage
- Safari activities
- Adventure activities where relevant
- Mount Kilimanjaro if included in your itinerary
Read the policy conditions carefully. Activities involving altitude, trekking or specialist sports may have separate restrictions or limits.
Remember that your personal travel insurance and Zanzibar's mandatory inbound insurance are separate matters.
Travelling to Tanzania with children
Children need the travel documents required for their nationality and itinerary. Passport, visa and health requirements should be checked for every child separately rather than assuming the accompanying adult's documents cover the whole family.
Depending on your circumstances, airline and transit route, additional documents may be requested. These can include:
- The child's own passport
- A visa where required
- Birth certificate documentation
- Parental or guardian consent documents
- Health and vaccination records where relevant
There is no universal parental consent rule that applies identically to every family journey. Check your airline, transit country requirements and the authorities relevant to your nationality.
Health preparation should reflect your personal circumstances and itinerary. Safari travel, Zanzibar beach stays, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and longer stays can involve different considerations.
Before departure, consider discussing:
- Your routine vaccination status
- Destination specific vaccinations
- Malaria prevention
- Any prescription medication you take
- Food and water precautions
- Sun and heat exposure
- Existing medical conditions
- Access to healthcare during the trip
Carry enough prescribed medication for your journey and check whether documentation is required when travelling with certain medicines.
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What should you check before travelling?
Entry rules should be checked more than once. Visa, insurance and health requirements can change between the day you book and the day you depart.
Several months before departure
Check passport validity, visa requirements and travel health recommendations. Arrange travel insurance and speak to a qualified healthcare professional if you need vaccination or malaria advice.
Several weeks before departure
Complete your visa application where required, confirm any Zanzibar insurance requirement and check that the names on your passport, flights and bookings match.
During the final week
Check the latest entry information again. Download or print important documents and make sure you can access copies without an internet connection.
On your travel day
Keep your passport, visa confirmation, insurance documents, onward travel information and any required health certificates in your hand luggage.
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Official sources to check before travelling
Use official sources for immigration, insurance and health information. Entry rules copied by travel blogs or third party visa agencies may be incomplete or outdated.
- Tanzania Immigration Department
- Official Tanzania electronic visa system
- Official Visit Zanzibar portal
- Official Zanzibar inbound insurance portal
- World Health Organization
- CDC Tanzania traveller health information
You should also check the official travel advice issued by your own country and the requirements published by your airline.
Plan your journey through Tanzania and Zanzibar
Once the practical requirements are clear, you can focus on the journey itself. Beach Safari can help with the travel arrangements that form part of your itinerary in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
If your trip includes domestic travel between safari areas and Zanzibar, read more about flights and transfers in Tanzania. Travelers planning an island stay can also explore Zanzibar Island.
Entry and health requirements remain the traveller's responsibility. Beach Safari can share practical travel information, but official authorities and qualified medical professionals should always be used for final verification.
Frequently asked questions about Tanzania entry requirements
These answers provide general guidance for international travelers. Always check the latest rules for your own nationality, itinerary and health situation before departure.
Do I need a visa to travel to Tanzania?
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Many travelers need a visa to travel to Tanzania, but visa exemptions and application procedures depend on nationality. Some nationalities also require prior immigration approval. Check your passport through the official Tanzania Immigration Department before travelling.
Does a Tanzania visa also cover Zanzibar?
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Yes, a Tanzania visa generally covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar because Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar can still have additional requirements, such as its mandatory inbound travel insurance scheme.
Can I obtain a Tanzania visa on arrival?
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A Tanzania visa on arrival is available to eligible travelers, but it is not available to every nationality. Travelers from referral visa countries require prior approval. Check the current immigration rules for your passport before relying on visa on arrival.
How long must my passport be valid for Tanzania?
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Tanzania Immigration advises visa applicants to have a passport valid for at least six months and containing at least one unused visa page. Check the requirement again before departure because immigration and airline rules can change.
Do I need mandatory travel insurance for Zanzibar?
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Zanzibar currently requires inbound travel insurance for international visitors through its official insurance system. This requirement is separate from private travel insurance you may already hold. Check the official Zanzibar portal for current conditions and exemptions.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate for Tanzania?
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A yellow fever certificate is not required from every traveller. The requirement depends partly on whether you arrive from or have a qualifying transit through a country with yellow fever transmission risk. Check your full route with official health guidance before departure.
Is malaria medication required for Tanzania?
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Malaria prevention recommendations depend on your itinerary and personal health situation. Prescription preventive medication may be recommended for some travelers. Ask a qualified travel health professional which precautions are suitable for your journey.
Which vaccinations are recommended for Tanzania?
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Recommended vaccinations depend on your age, existing vaccination status, destinations, activities and medical history. Review your routine vaccinations and discuss destination specific recommendations with a qualified healthcare professional before travelling.
Which travel documents should I carry?
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Carry your passport, visa documentation where required, flight details, accommodation or itinerary information, insurance documents and any required health certificates. Zanzibar travelers should also keep proof of the required inbound insurance available.
Are Tanzania entry requirements different for children?
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Children have their own passport, visa and health requirements based on nationality and itinerary. Airlines or transit countries may also request birth certificates or consent documentation in certain circumstances, so each child's requirements should be checked separately.