Tanzania e-Visa at Airport: Complete Arrival Guide

Arriving in Tanzania with your e-Visa pre-approved is straightforward. This guide walks through the immigration process at Tanzania's major international airports — Julius Nyerere (DAR), Kilimanjaro (JRO), and Zanzibar (ZNZ) — so you know exactly what to expect when you land.

Tanzania Airports with e-Visa Processing

All three airports have dedicated e-Visa processing lanes, though their setup varies.

Documents to Have Ready at Immigration

Have these accessible — not buried deep in your bag:

1. Printed Tanzania e-Visa (physical copy, A4)
2. Passport (the same passport your e-Visa was issued on)
3. Return or onward flight ticket (on phone or printed)
4. Accommodation details — hotel name and address or safari booking
5. Yellow fever certificate (if arriving from endemic country)
6. Completed arrival card (usually given on the plane)

Step-by-Step: Tanzania Airport Immigration

Step 1: Arrival card

You will receive an arrival card on your flight. Fill it in during the flight:

• Full name
• Passport number
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Planned address in Tanzania (first hotel)
• Purpose of visit
• Length of stay

Step 2: Disembark and follow signs to immigration

Follow "Immigration" or "Passport Control" signs from the aircraft gate.

Step 3: Find the e-Visa lane

Look for the lane labeled "e-Visa" or "Pre-Approved Visa." This is separate from:

• "Visa on Arrival" counter
• "East African Community Nationals" lane
• "Diplomats" lane

The e-Visa lane is generally faster than the visa-on-arrival queue.

Step 4: Present documents to the immigration officer

• Hand over your passport and printed e-Visa
• The officer will scan your e-Visa barcode/QR code to verify authenticity
• Answer questions:
• "What is the purpose of your visit?" — Tourism / Safari / Holiday
• "Where are you staying?" — Name of your hotel
• "How long will you stay?" — Number of days
• "Do you have a return ticket?" — Yes, on my phone / here's the printout

Step 5: Receive your entry stamp

The officer stamps your passport. Note the date of entry stamp — your 90-day permitted stay begins from this date.

Step 6: Proceed to luggage claim

Follow signs to the baggage claim carousel.

Step 7: Customs

Standard customs process. If you have items to declare, use the red channel. Nothing to declare: green channel.

What Questions Do Tanzania Immigration Officers Ask?

Common questions for e-Visa holders:

• What is the purpose of your visit?
• Where are you staying / what hotel?
• How long do you plan to stay?
• Do you have a return ticket?
• Have you visited Tanzania before?
• What is your occupation?
• Are you carrying more than $10,000 USD in cash? (currency declaration)

Answer calmly and consistently with what you entered on your e-Visa application.

Yellow Fever Check at Tanzania Airports

At some Tanzania airports, a health checkpoint may check yellow fever vaccination certificates before you reach immigration. This typically applies to passengers arriving from yellow fever endemic countries in Africa and South America.

If you are arriving from the US, UK, EU, Canada, or Australia with no stop in an endemic country, you are unlikely to be checked. However, carrying your International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP yellow card) is always recommended.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) Arrival Process

• Largest Tanzania airport, busiest immigration hall
• Multiple immigration lanes including dedicated e-Visa section
• Peak hours: arrivals from Europe (late night/early morning) and Nairobi (multiple times daily)
• Baggage claim: typically 20–40 minutes after immigration
• Transport into Dar es Salaam: taxi, rideshare (Bolt is popular), hotel transfer

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Arrival Process

• Serves Arusha and Moshi — gateway for Serengeti and Kilimanjaro
• Smaller immigration hall, generally faster than DAR
• Most safari travelers arrive here
• Peak hours: morning arrivals from Amsterdam, Nairobi, Addis Ababa
• Most safari operators meet clients at arrivals exit

Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) Arrival Process

• Serves Zanzibar City and Stone Town
• Smaller airport with streamlined immigration
• Important: you pass through an internal immigration checkpoint here even if your Tanzania entry was at DAR/JRO earlier in the trip
• Many charter and regional flights plus some international routes (Turkish Airlines, Fly Dubai, flydubai)

Frequently Asked Questions