Does a Visa Grant Notice guarantee entry?

No. A Visa Grant Notice is important travel evidence, but final entry authority belongs to the immigration officer at the point of entry.

Home / Tanzania Entry Requirements

Tanzania Entry Requirements

Prepare for entry to Tanzania Mainland or Zanzibar with clear guidance on passport validity, visa or eVisa, return ticket, arrival checks, health reminders, supporting documents and status tracking before you travel.

Start Tanzania Visa Application Check Visa Status

Overview

What travelers need to enter Tanzania

Tanzania entry requirements depend on the traveler’s nationality, passport, visa category, travel purpose and arrival circumstances. Most visitors should be ready to show a valid passport, appropriate visa or visa exemption, return or onward ticket, accommodation or host information and documents supporting the purpose of travel.

The official eVisa system supports online visa applications for the United Republic of Tanzania, including Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. Applicants complete the form, make payment and submit the application online for internal review.

Final entry decision

Approval does not replace arrival inspection

A Visa Grant Notice or visa approval is important travel evidence, but it is not the final authority to enter Tanzania. The immigration officer at the entry point makes the final entry decision after reviewing the traveler and their documents.

Carry both digital and printed copies of key documents. Do not rely only on phone access, email access or cloud storage during arrival checks.

Step-by-step preparation

How to prepare for Tanzania entry requirements

Check passport validity

Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and has at least one unused visa page before applying or traveling.

Confirm your visa route

Check whether your nationality is visa-free, requires eVisa, may use visa on arrival, or requires referral approval before travel.

Prepare return travel evidence

Visitors must be ready to show a return ticket upon arrival at the entry point in Tanzania.

Apply online if needed

If a visa is required, complete the Tanzania eVisa form, pay online and submit the application before travel.

Track application status

Use Application ID, email, security question and security answer to continue an application or check the status online.

Carry documents on arrival

Carry passport, visa approval, return ticket, accommodation details, purpose documents and health-related documents where required.

Core requirements

Tanzania entry requirements checklist

Documents and conditions travelers should prepare before arrival
Requirement	What to prepare	Why it matters
Passport validity	Passport valid for at least six months before visa application submission.	Official eVisa guidance requires minimum passport validity for applicants.
Unused visa page	At least one unused visa page in the passport.	Needed for immigration formalities and travel-document checks.
Visa or exemption	Valid eVisa, Visa Grant Notice, visa-free eligibility or correct entry permission.	Entry permission depends on nationality and visa category.
Return ticket	Return or onward travel ticket.	Official guidance states visitors must show their return ticket upon arrival.
Accommodation or host	Hotel booking, lodge, safari operator, host address or local contact.	Helps confirm itinerary and stay arrangements.
Travel purpose documents	Invitation, conference registration, tour booking, business letter, study letter or itinerary.	Supports the stated reason for entry.
Health requirements	Check current Ministry of Health guidance before departure.	Tanzania Immigration notes travelers must observe health guidelines issued from time to time.
Application records	Application ID, email, security question, security answer and payment confirmation.	Needed for status checks, continuing an application and support requests.

Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar

Do the requirements cover Zanzibar?

The Tanzania eVisa system supports online visa applications to visit the United Republic of Tanzania, including Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. Travelers who visit both areas should make sure the first destination, arrival point and itinerary details are consistent in the application.

Zanzibar may also have local arrival procedures, tourism or health checks. Travelers should carry the same core documents when moving between mainland and island destinations.

Referral visa caution

Some travelers need earlier approval

Some nationalities or statuses may fall under a referral visa category. Referral applicants should apply earlier, avoid risky non-refundable travel bookings before approval and wait for immigration clearance before departure.

If the traveler is not sure which category applies, the safer approach is to verify before submitting the application or making fixed travel commitments.

Arrival inspection

What may be checked when you arrive in Tanzania?

Identity and passport

Officers may verify that the passport is valid, belongs to the traveler and matches the visa or application documents.

Visa or approval

Travelers may need to show visa approval, Visa Grant Notice, visa-free eligibility or other entry permission.

Return ticket

Visitors should be ready to show return or onward travel evidence at the point of entry.

Purpose of visit

Tourism, business, transit, study, volunteer or other travel purposes should match the visa category and documents.

Accommodation

Hotel booking, safari operator, host address or local contact information can support the arrival interview.

Health and safety

Travelers should monitor health guidance from Tanzania’s Ministry of Health before departure and carry required evidence if applicable.

Visa status

Check status before traveling

Applicants who already received an Application ID can continue an unfinished application online. Submitted applications can also be tracked through the online status system using the Application ID, email, security question and security answer.

Checking status before departure helps avoid duplicate applications, missed emails, payment confusion and travel without a clear visa decision.

Mistakes to avoid

Common entry-preparation problems

Passport has less than six months validity.
No unused visa page is available.
Wrong visa type or category was selected.
Return ticket is missing or inconsistent with itinerary.
Accommodation details are incomplete.
Traveler relies only on digital files without printed backup.
Referral visa traveler books travel before approval.

Need to prepare your Tanzania entry documents?

Check passport validity, visa requirement, return ticket, accommodation details and travel-purpose documents before starting the application.

Start Visa Application

FAQ

Tanzania Entry Requirements FAQs

What are the main Tanzania entry requirements?

Travelers should prepare a valid passport, required visa or visa exemption evidence, return or onward ticket, accommodation or host information, travel-purpose documents and any health documents required by current guidance.

How long must my passport be valid for Tanzania?

Official Tanzania eVisa guidance says visa applicants must have a passport with at least six months validity and at least one unused visa page before submitting an application.

Do I need a return ticket to enter Tanzania?

Yes. Official Tanzania guidance states that visitors must show their return ticket upon arrival at the entry point in Tanzania.

Does the Tanzania eVisa cover Zanzibar?

Yes. The official Tanzania eVisa system supports online visa applications to visit the United Republic of Tanzania, including Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

Can I enter Tanzania if I have a Visa Grant Notice?

A Visa Grant Notice is important, but final entry authority belongs to the immigration officer at the point of entry. Travelers must still satisfy entry requirements on arrival.

Should I check health requirements before travel?

Yes. Tanzania Immigration notes that travelers must observe health guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health from time to time, so travelers should check current health guidance before departure.