Swedish citizens hold one of the world's most powerful passports (ranked top 10 globally, visa-free to 190+ countries), yet Tanzania requires a visa for Swedish nationals. The Tanzania e-Visa costs USD 50 for single entry, is applied for entirely online at eservices.immigration.go.tz, and takes 3-10 business days to process. EU and Schengen membership provide no exemption — the e-Visa is mandatory.
Do Swedish Citizens Need a Visa for Tanzania?
Yes, Swedish citizens require a visa for Tanzania. This surprises many Swedish travellers given their passport strength, but Tanzania maintains a visa requirement for all but a small group of African nations. Swedish nationals cannot enter Tanzania visa-free.
The Tanzania e-Visa eliminates the need to visit an embassy. Swedish applicants apply online, upload documents, pay by card, and receive approval by email. A visa on arrival option also exists at Tanzania's three main international airports, but this involves queuing on arrival — not ideal after a long-haul flight.
The Tanzania Embassy in Stockholm (Tanzanias ambassad i Stockholm) handles consular matters but is not required for e-Visa applications.
Tanzania e-Visa Requirements for Swedish Citizens
- Valid Swedish passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond your planned departure from Tanzania, at least 2 blank pages)
- Recent digital passport photo (white background, JPEG format, taken within 6 months)
- Return or onward flight ticket from Tanzania
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, safari lodge confirmation, or host letter)
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statement, kontoutdrag, showing minimum USD 500)
- Complete travel itinerary
- Valid email address for visa delivery
Tanzania e-Visa Cost for Swedish Citizens
| Visa Type | Fee (USD) | SEK Approximate |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Single Entry | USD 50 | ~SEK 545 |
| Tourist Multiple Entry | USD 100 | ~SEK 1,090 |
| Business Single Entry | USD 50 | ~SEK 545 |
| Transit Visa | USD 30 | ~SEK 327 |
SEK amounts are indicative based on typical USD/SEK exchange rates and will vary at time of payment. Payment is made directly on the Tanzania Immigration portal in USD.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
- Official portal only — Visit eservices.immigration.go.tz. Avoid third-party sites charging extra service fees
- Register an account — Email address and password
- Select visa type — "Tourist e-Visa" and Sweden as nationality
- Enter passport details — Full name, personnummer is not required; passport number, date of birth, expiry date
- Upload documents — Passport scan, photo, flight confirmation, accommodation proof
- Review everything — Names must exactly match your Swedish passport
- Pay USD 50 — Card payment accepted
- Await approval — 3-10 business days; check spam folder
- Print the e-Visa — Bring the printed approval alongside your Swedish passport
Processing Time
Standard processing: 3-10 business days. Urgent cases sometimes processed faster but this is not guaranteed. Apply at minimum 2 weeks before travel. The e-Visa is valid for 3 months from the issue date; the single entry allows a stay of up to 90 days.
Tanzania e-Visa vs Visa on Arrival for Swedish Citizens
| Feature | e-Visa (Pre-applied) | Visa on Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | Apply from home | Only at airport |
| Queue on arrival | No (fast lane) | Yes (20-60 min wait) |
| Cost | USD 50 | USD 50 |
| Risk | Lower | Higher (system issues) |
| Best for | All travellers | Emergency only |
Sweden-Specific Travel Notes
Flights from Sweden to Tanzania:
No direct non-stop flights operate between Sweden and Tanzania. Swedish travellers connect through:
- Amsterdam (AMS) with KLM from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) — KLM operates to Kilimanjaro (JRO) and Dar es Salaam (DAR); total travel ~14-16 hours
- Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) with Lufthansa — then connecting to Nairobi or DAR
- Doha (DOH) with Qatar Airways — from ARN, then onward to DAR, JRO, or ZNZ; ~16-18 hours total
- Dubai (DXB) with Emirates — from ARN via DXB to ZNZ (Zanzibar) or DAR; popular for Zanzibar holidays
- Nairobi (NBO) with Kenya Airways — via a European or Middle Eastern hub
Flight time: Approximately 13-16 hours of flying time, plus layover, for total journeys of 16-22 hours from Stockholm.
Currency: Tanzania uses TZS (Tanzanian Shilling). Swedish Krona (SEK) is not accepted in Tanzania. USD is the de facto tourist currency for safaris and upmarket hotels. Convert some funds to USD before departure or use a card with low foreign transaction fees (Revolut and similar fintech cards are popular among Swedish travellers).
Swedish travellers and Tanzania: Sweden has a long-standing NGO and development cooperation presence in Tanzania, and Swedish citizens are familiar visitors. Naturum naturguider (nature guides) and Swedish adventure travellers are well represented in the Kilimanjaro climbing community. Tanzania is also popular for Swedish families seeking a combined wildlife-beach holiday.
Can Swedish citizens get a visa on arrival? Yes — Swedish passport holders can get visa on arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), and Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ). However, this is an option of last resort; e-Visa in advance is far more reliable.