Yes, most travellers need a Tanzania visa for a safari, and the easiest way to get one is the official eVisa, applied for online before you fly. For most nationalities a single-entry Tanzania visa costs US$50, while US citizens pay US$100 for a multiple-entry visa (checked October 2026).
Visa rules are the one part of safari planning that can stop a trip at the airport, and the rules changed again in October 2026 with new mandatory travel insurance. This guide explains exactly what you need, what it costs, how to apply step by step and how to handle Kenya and Zanzibar on the same trip, written by our Nairobi-based team who plan cross-border safaris every week.
Quick Facts
- Who needs a visa: Most visitors, including UK, US, EU, Canadian and Australian passport holders
- Cost: US$50 single entry for most nationalities; US$100 multiple entry for US and Irish citizens (checked October 2026)
- Where to apply: The official Tanzania Immigration eVisa portal, before you travel
- Length of stay: Up to 90 days on an ordinary single-entry visa
- Passport: Valid 6 months beyond arrival, with at least one blank page
- New from 1 October 2026: Mandatory US$44 Tanzanian inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors to the mainland
- Yellow fever: Certificate required if you arrive from a risk country, which includes Kenya
Do You Need a Tanzania Visa for a Safari?
Most safari travellers do need a Tanzania visa. British, American, Canadian, Australian and nearly all European passport holders must get one, either online in advance or on arrival. A short list of mainly African nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 90 days.
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The safari itself makes no difference to the type of visa: a game drive in the Serengeti, a climb of Kilimanjaro and a beach week in Zanzibar are all tourism, so an ordinary (tourist) visa covers them. What a tourist visa does not cover is paid or unpaid work, and that includes volunteering, which needs a separate permit. If you plan to combine a safari with a volunteer project, sort that out with the organisation before you book.
Because exemptions are reviewed from time to time, always check your own passport against the official list on the Tanzania Immigration eVisa portal before you assume anything. The UK government also keeps a clear, regularly updated summary on its Tanzania entry requirements page, which was last updated in October 2026 when we checked it.
How Much Does a Tanzania Visa Cost?
A Tanzania visa costs US$50 for most nationalities, for a single-entry ordinary visa valid for a stay of up to 90 days. US citizens pay US$100, but receive a multiple-entry visa valid for 12 months. These fees are set by Tanzania Immigration and were checked in October 2026.
The table below summarises the main visa types and fees published by the Embassy of Tanzania in Washington. Fees are per person, are not refundable if a visa is refused, and can change without much notice, so confirm the figure on the official portal on the day you apply.
| Visa type | Fee (checked October 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary single-entry visa | US$50 for most nationalities | Most safari, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar holidays |
| Multiple-entry visa (US citizens) | US$100, valid 12 months | Americans; covers trips out to Kenya and back |
| Irish citizens | US$100 | Irish passport holders on any tourist trip |
| Multiple-entry visa (other nationalities) | US$100 | Frequent visitors who can show a reason for repeat trips |
| Transit visa | US$30 | Passing through Tanzania without a holiday stop |
| Rush processing | Extra US$20, about 3 working days | Late planners (not a guarantee) |
Is a single-entry Tanzania visa enough for a Kenya and Tanzania safari?
A single-entry Tanzania visa is enough if you enter Tanzania once and then leave, for example Masai Mara first and Serengeti second, flying home from Kilimanjaro. If you go into Tanzania, back out to Kenya and then return, you will need either a multiple-entry visa or a new visa for the second entry. Your Kenya leg also needs its own authorisation, which we explain in our guide to the Kenya eTA for tourists.
How to Apply for the Tanzania eVisa, Step by Step
The Tanzania eVisa is applied for online through the official Tanzania Immigration portal, which is the only government site for it. The process takes about 20 to 30 minutes if your documents are ready, and the approved visa grant is sent back to you electronically.
- Open the official eVisa portal and choose the ordinary (tourist) visa.
- Fill in your passport details exactly as printed, plus your travel dates and first port of entry, such as Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Upload a clear scan of your passport photo page and a recent passport-style photograph.
- Upload your return or onward flight details.
- Pay the fee online by card and note your application reference number.
- Track the status online, then print the approved grant notice and carry it with your passport.
Look-alike websites run by private agents appear at the top of search results and charge well above the official fee. They are not illegal, but you pay extra for a form you can fill in yourself. Check that the web address ends in immigration.go.tz before entering card details.
When should I apply for my Tanzania visa?
Apply for your Tanzania visa about four to six weeks before you travel. There is no published standard processing time, and some applications are approved within days while others are queried. Applying early gives you time to fix a blurred photo or a typo without paying for rush processing or risking a missed flight.
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Can You Get a Tanzania Visa on Arrival?
Yes, you can get a single-entry Tanzania visa on arrival at the main airports and ports of entry, according to UK government travel advice (checked October 2026). Multiple-entry visas are not issued on arrival, so US citizens wanting the multiple-entry option should use the eVisa.
Visa on arrival works, but it is the riskier choice for a tightly timed safari. After a long-haul flight you join a queue to fill in forms, pay and wait for a stamp, and if the officer queries anything there is no time to fix it. Travellers using this route are usually advised to carry the exact fee in clean, recent US dollar notes, as older or torn notes may be refused.
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| eVisa before travel | Approved before you fly; shorter airport process; multiple entry available | Must apply weeks ahead; look-alike sites to avoid |
| Visa on arrival | No advance paperwork; useful for last-minute trips | Queues; single entry only; any problem is found at the border |
Our honest advice: for any safari with a guide waiting at Kilimanjaro or Arusha, or a light aircraft booked into the Serengeti the next morning, apply for the eVisa. It is the same fee and removes the one thing that can derail your first day.
What Else Do You Need to Enter Tanzania?
Besides a Tanzania visa, you need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date with a blank page, a return or onward ticket, the new mandatory inbound travel insurance and, if you arrive from a risk country such as Kenya, a yellow fever certificate.
Photo by Mwandwe Chileshe on Unsplash
Mandatory Tanzanian inbound travel insurance
From 1 October 2026, foreign visitors to mainland Tanzania must hold the government-backed inbound travel insurance, under Government Notice No. 256 of 2026. It costs US$44, covers stays of up to 92 days and is sold by the National Insurance Corporation online or on arrival (checked October 2026). UK advice says visitors without it may be refused entry, even if they hold their own policy.
This local policy covers emergencies only. You still need full personal cover for cancellation, gear and evacuation, and many guests add the Flying Doctors evacuation membership too. See our pages on safari travel insurance and Flying Doctors cover.
Yellow fever certificate
Tanzania asks for a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving from countries with a risk of transmission, and Kenya is on that list. That matters for every Kenya and Tanzania combination, including long transits in Nairobi. Our page on yellow fever requirements for Kenya and Tanzania explains who needs the jab and when.
Wildlife souvenirs
Tanzania prohibits taking items such as horns or seashells out of the country without a certified export permit, and visitors are asked not to bring animal skin accessories in. Buy carvings, kitenge fabric and beadwork instead.
Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar on One Trip
Combining Kenya and Tanzania needs two separate entry documents, because the East Africa Tourist Visa covers only Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. You need Kenyan entry authorisation for the Kenya leg and a Tanzania visa for the Tanzania leg, whichever order you travel in.
Photo by Tanzania Wild Sky on Unsplash
A popular route is Nairobi to the Masai Mara, then across to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, the reverse of the migration loop described in our Tanzania northern circuit itinerary. Overland, guests usually cross at the Namanga border between Nairobi and Arusha; by air, many fly Nairobi to Kilimanjaro. Our 12-day Kenya and Tanzania safari is a good example of how the two countries fit together.
Do you need a separate Tanzania visa for Zanzibar?
No, Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the same Tanzania visa covers a beach stay after your safari. Zanzibar has run its own mandatory insurance through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation since October 2024. You only need to buy one policy, for your first port of entry: land on the mainland first and buy the mainland policy. Our Zanzibar beach extension guide covers the island itself.
Photo by Humphrey M on Unsplash
| Trip plan | Documents you need |
|---|---|
| Tanzania safari only | Tanzania visa, inbound insurance, passport |
| Tanzania safari plus Zanzibar | One Tanzania visa, one insurance policy for your first entry point |
| Kenya then Tanzania | Kenya entry authorisation, Tanzania visa, insurance, yellow fever certificate |
| Tanzania, Kenya, back to Tanzania | Multiple-entry Tanzania visa or a second visa, plus Kenya authorisation |
| Kilimanjaro climb plus safari | Ordinary Tanzania visa, insurance; check your mountain cover too |
Planning a climb as well? Our story of conquering Mount Kilimanjaro and our Kilimanjaro climbing packages explain how a climb and a safari share one ordinary visa.
Insider Tips
- Name match: Type your name exactly as it appears in the passport machine-readable zone, including middle names
- Photo: Use a sharp, recent photo on a plain, light background; blurred photos are a common cause of delays
- Paper copies: Print your visa grant, insurance certificate and yellow fever card; phones die and signal drops
- Port of entry: Choose the airport or border you will actually arrive at, such as Kilimanjaro or Namanga
- Cash: Carry some clean, recent US dollar notes for tips and small fees
- Timing: Apply after flights are confirmed but at least four weeks before departure
With your Tanzania visa sorted, the next decisions are when to go and what to pack. Our guides to the best time to visit Tanzania for a safari and the Tanzania safari packing checklist pick up from here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a safari in Tanzania?
Yes, most visitors need a Tanzania visa for a safari, including British, American, Canadian, Australian and most European travellers. A small number of mainly African nationalities are exempt. The simplest route is the official eVisa, applied for online before you fly. Check your own nationality on the Tanzania Immigration website, as exemptions and fees can change.
How much does a Tanzania visa cost?
A Tanzania visa costs US$50 for a single-entry ordinary visa for most nationalities, according to the Tanzania Embassy in Washington (checked October 2026). US citizens pay US$100 for a multiple-entry visa valid for 12 months, and Irish citizens also pay US$100. Confirm the current fee on the official eVisa portal before you apply.
How long does a Tanzania eVisa take to process?
A Tanzania eVisa has no guaranteed standard processing time, so apply at least four to six weeks before you travel. The Tanzania Embassy in Washington lists a US$20 rush option of around three working days (checked October 2026). Never book non-refundable flights on the assumption that a last-minute application will be approved in time.
Can I get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Yes, a single-entry tourist visa on arrival is available at Tanzania’s main ports of entry, according to UK government travel advice (checked October 2026). Multiple-entry visas are not issued on arrival, queues can be long and you may need to show a return ticket. For a smooth safari start, we recommend the eVisa instead.
Does the East Africa Tourist Visa cover Tanzania?
No, the East Africa Tourist Visa covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda only, so Tanzania is not included. If your safari combines the Masai Mara with the Serengeti, you need Kenyan entry authorisation plus a separate Tanzania visa, and you will also need the mandatory Tanzanian inbound travel insurance when you cross into Tanzania.
Final Thoughts
For almost every safari traveller, the answer is simple: apply for the Tanzania visa online four to six weeks ahead, buy the US$44 inbound insurance, check your passport and yellow fever certificate, and you are ready. Rules change, so confirm fees on the official portal before you pay.
Send us your dates and we will build your Tanzania safari, plus Kenya or Zanzibar if you wish, and tell you exactly which documents each leg needs.
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