Tanzania travel requirement-The ultimate guide

For one to travel into Tanzania, it requires them to be able to comply with the rules and regulations of the Tanzanian government. Firstly, to travel to Tanzania, one requires a visa, and this can be obtained either on arrival or one can apply for one while still in their country from the Tanzania Diplomatic Consulates.

Tanzania travel requirement: choosing the right visa

The visa type required by a traveler depends on the purpose of your visit such as tourism, study, work, business, among others and it is essential for one to apply for the correct visa type. It is recommended that one applies for this visa 6 weeks before arriving in Tanzania.

The travel requirements to Tanzania however do not stay constant but rather change from time to time therefore ensure to constantly check their website for any updates. Here are a list of requirements needed for one to travel to Tanzania.

Citizens of countries such as Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Swaziland, Namibia, Zambia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are exempted from obtaining Visas when traveling to Tanzania.

Some of the countries that require visa entry to Tanzania

Citizens of the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, mainland European nations and any other not mentioned in the first list are required to possess Visas to enter Tanzania.

Citizens of these countries require a Visa prior to their arrival in Tanzania. Afghanistan, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Senegal, Morocco, Somali, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzten, Lebanon, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Palestine refugees, stateless individuals

In case you have limited time, you can obtain a single-entry tourist or business visa on arrival at one of the entry points though it’s highly recommended that one obtains a visa before departing their home country. For one to obtain a visa upon arrival, he/she should meet all the standard immigration requirements then the visa will be granted to them.

How to apply for Tanzania Visa

On arrival, a single/multiple entry visa for US citizens is 100 USD and nationals of other non-exempted countries pay 50 USD and these costs are paid by cash.

If one plans to work/volunteer in Tanzania, they need a valid work permit which is obtained through your employer or volunteer organization. If one stays in Tanzania for a longer period than the visa permits, they will be arrested, detained then fined before being deported.

Vaccination requirements

As of late, there are no mandatory vaccinations before entrance into Tanzania but if you are coming from a country with ongoing Yellow Fever transmission, or have transited through such a country for more than 12 hours, you will need to show proof of Yellow Fever vaccination, which is possession of a yellow fever card. At the moment, neither COVID-19 vaccination nor testing is required for entry.

How to go to Tanzania?

Tanzania can be accessed by road through its various designated land borders. the country can also be accessed internationally by air using its different airports. you can also go to Tanzania by water using different water bodies like Lake Victoria shared by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya or Lake Tanganyika which they share with Burundi, democratic republic of Congo and Zambia. other people visit Tanzania using railway lines that join the country to Uganda and Kenya. for international travelers, you can also go to Tanzania via Indian ocean that boarder the country and it is mostly used for trade.

Accessing Tanzania by Air

Tanzania has got five international airports situated in different parts of the country . choosing the right airport while booking your flight to Tanzania will save you time and enhance your experience. Here are the popular international airports

Kilimanjaro international airport

situated in northern part of Tanzania, the airport is the designated to serve people who are planning to visit that part of the country. for tourist planning to visit Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro conservation area, this is where you should land to as it is the nearest airport to these famous places.

Julius Nyerere international airport

This airport majorly serve those who are interested in visiting the coastal region of the country. if your plan is to visit Zanzibar and nearby places, then this is your go to airport.

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport

It is formerly known as Zanzibar international airport and was renamed in 2010, this is the main airport for those planning to visit Zanzibar as it is only 5 kilometers away from the city.

Mwanza International Airport

another one in northern Tanzania that serve Mwanza city and nearby areas. it is located near lake Victoria shores making it a perfect airport for those planning Lake Victoria drive.

Musoma International Airport

situated in northern part of Tanzania, the airport is perfect for those interested in the wildebeest river crossing of Mara river

accessing Tanzania by road

Tanzania can also be accessed by road through its various border with the neighboring countries. the customs officers are readily available on all entry boarder points to assist you facilitate your access to Tanzania

Other ways of accessing Tanzania

Tanzania can also be accessed by both water and railway however all the required travel documents must be availed even when you are using these means of transport