Tanzania and Zanzibar entry requirements 2026: what you actually need

We travelled to Tanzania in October 2026, just two weeks after the entry rules changed. From 1 October, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania have also been required to purchase government-mandated travel insurance, similar to the requirement Zanzibar introduced in 2024.

Add your visa, passport checks and the yellow fever requirements (which depend on where you’re travelling from), and there are quite a few things to get right before you even start your safari.

So, let’s make it simple. Here’s what you need to know, based on our own experience travelling as a family of four, with a few extra notes on what might be different depending on your flight route and travel plans.

Tanzania & Zanzibar entry requirement checklist

• Passport valid for at least six months after you arrive, with a couple of blank pages
• Tanzania eVisa approved and printed (one per person, children included)
• Government inbound insurance certificate with QR code: NIC if you land on the mainland first, ZIC if you land in Zanzibar first
• Your own comprehensive travel insurance (the government one doesn’t replace it)
• Return or onward flight booking
• Name and address of your first hotel or safari company
•  Yellow fever certificate, only if your route goes through a risk country such as Kenya or Ethiopia (see below)
• Recent, undamaged US dollar notes (old or torn notes are often refused)
• No plastic carrier bags in your luggage

If you’re still planning the trip itself, start with our Tanzania safari itinerary and come back here once you’ve booked flights.

Tanzania visa 2026: one visa covers the mainland and Zanzibar

Most visitors need a visa, and the same visa works for both the mainland and Zanzibar. You don’t apply twice.

• Apply on the official portal only: visa.immigration.go.tz. Lots of sites look official and charge double or triple for the same visa. If you’re paying more than the fees above, you’re on an agency site.
• What you upload: a scan of your passport photo page, a passport-style photo, and your return flight. Have your first hotel or safari company to hand for the address field.
• Children need their own visa: Every passport holder needs a separate application, including kids. We did four applications in one evening.
• When to apply: official processing can take up to 10 working days, and it’s slower in peak season. Apply three to four weeks before you fly, then print the approval letter. Airlines and immigration both like paper.
• Visa on arrival still exists at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar airports for most nationalities, paid in cash dollars. It works, but the queue after a long-haul flight is not where you want to spend your first hour, especially with tired kids.

Tanzania mandatory travel insurance 2026: NIC or ZIC?

This is the new bit, and the one most people get wrong. Since 1 October 2026, every foreign visitor entering mainland Tanzania needs a government inbound insurance policy. Zanzibar has had the same rule since October 2024. Without it, you can be refused entry.
You only need one policy, and your first landing decides which. Both government insurers have confirmed that a safari plus Zanzibar trip doesn’t mean paying twice.

We landed in Zanzibar and flew straight on to Arusha for our safari, so we bought the ZIC policy and showed nothing extra on the mainland.

What it costs

The policy lasts up to 92 days and covers multiple entries in that time. You pay online by card, get a certificate with a QR code, and show it at immigration. Screenshot it as well as printing it, as airport Wi-Fi is not something to rely on.

It doesn’t replace your own travel insurance

The government policy is basic emergency medical and repatriation cover inside Tanzania. It won’t pay out if your flight is cancelled, your safari deposit is lost or you need a proper evacuation home. On a trip that costs thousands, you still want real cover.
We use Heymondo Travel Insurance for our family trips because it covers safaris and kids under one policy. Check that whatever you buy includes medical evacuation and, if you’re adding Kilimanjaro, trekking above 5,000 metres.

Passport rules

Your passport needs at least six months’ validity from the day you arrive, plus one or two blank pages for stamps. Check the kids’ passports too. Children’s passports expire faster and are the ones people forget.

Do you need a yellow fever certificate for Tanzania?

Probably not, but it depends on your flights, not your passport. Tanzania itself isn’t a yellow fever risk country, so flying direct from Switzerland, the UK or Europe means no certificate.
You do need one (age 1 and over) if:

• you arrive from a risk country, such as after a Kenya safari
• you have a layover of more than 12 hours in a risk country, such as Nairobi or Addis Ababa

Short connections through Nairobi or Addis are fine. An overnight one isn’t. The certificate is valid for life and only counts from the tenth day after the jab, so sort it early. Malaria tablets are a separate conversation with your doctor or travel clinic, as the safari parks are in a malaria zone.

Don’t pack plastic bags

Tanzania has banned plastic carrier bags since 2019, and that includes Zanzibar. Officials can confiscate them at the airport and fine you. Pack shoes and dirty laundry in fabric bags instead. Some operators even say to leave zip-lock bags at home, so we used a reusable liquids pouch to be safe.

Money: bring dollars

US dollars are still the currency of safari tips, park extras and visa on arrival. Bring recent, undamaged notes in small and medium denominations, as older or torn notes are often turned away. Cards work in most lodges and hotels, usually with a surcharge.

Stay connected

You’ll want data on arrival for your eVisa PDF, insurance QR code and driver’s WhatsApp. We set up an eSIM before leaving Switzerland with Airalo and it worked perfectly. Coverage on safari is patchy anyway, which is honestly part of the joy.

What entry cost our family of four

Two adults and two children aged 3–17 on UK, Swiss or EU passports:

Your own travel insurance comes on top. Budget it in from the start so it doesn’t feel like a surprise tax.

FAQ

Do I need two insurance policies for Tanzania and Zanzibar?

No. Buy one policy from whichever insurer matches your first landing: NIC for the mainland, ZIC for Zanzibar. It covers the rest of the trip.

Is my own travel insurance enough to enter Tanzania?

No. The government policy is compulsory even if you already have cover. Keep your own policy too, as the government one is very basic.

Does the Tanzania eVisa work for Zanzibar?

Yes. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so one visa covers both.

Can I buy the insurance on arrival?

You can, but buy it online before you fly. Some airlines check it at check-in, and you skip a second queue.

Do children need a visa for Tanzania?

Yes, every child needs their own application and fee. Insurance is half price from 3 to 17 and free under 3.

Before you go

Rules here have changed twice in two years, so check the official portals a few weeks before departure. Once the paperwork’s sorted, the fun part starts:

• Our full route: Tanzania safari itinerary
• Where we stayed in Arusha: Adani House B&B
•  The beach part: [LINK: Zanzibar post] and [AFFILIATE: GetYourGuide Zanzibar snorkelling tours]
• Want the same trip? We travelled with Still Waters Safaris, and you get USD 100 off with Our promo Link 

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