Tanzania offers a tourist visa (called "Ordinary Visa" for single entry) allowing stays of up to 90 days for holidays, leisure, sightseeing, and family visits — applied for online at visa.immigration.go.tz for $50 (most nationalities) or $100 (US citizens, mandatory multiple entry). Tanzania also permits visa on arrival at major airports for eligible nationalities, but the online Tanzania tourist e-Visa is faster, cheaper in total time cost, and strongly recommended by Tanzania Immigration Services.
Tanzania Tourist Visa Types
Tanzania offers two tourist visa categories:
Ordinary Visa (Single Entry Tourist Visa)
- Purpose: Holidays, leisure, visiting family, health treatment, tourism
- Cost: $50 for most nationalities
- Maximum stay: 90 days per visit
- Entry: Single entry — if you leave Tanzania and wish to return, you need a new visa
- Validity: Usually issued with validity matching your intended travel dates
Multiple Entry Visa
- Purpose: Same as Ordinary, but allows multiple entries
- Cost: $100
- Validity: Up to 12 months from first entry
- Maximum stay per visit: Up to 90 days per continuous stay
- Required for US citizens: All American passport holders must apply for multiple entry visa even for a single tourism visit — bilateral agreement with the US makes single entry unavailable to US citizens
Tanzania Tourist Visa Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Passport validity | At least 6 months beyond planned arrival |
| Blank passport pages | At least 1 blank page |
| Passport photo | Recent, white background, full face |
| Return ticket | Required on application and at arrival |
| Accommodation proof | Hotel booking, safari confirmation, or invitation letter |
| Application fee | $50 (single) or $100 (multiple/US) |
| Processing time | Up to 10 business days |
How to Apply for Tanzania Tourist Visa Online
The Tanzania tourist e-Visa is applied for at the official portal: https://visa.immigration.go.tz
Step-by-step process:
- Visit visa.immigration.go.tz and click "Apply For A New Visa"
- Enter your email, passport number, and passport-issuing country
- Set a security question and answer, then click "Start New Application"
- Save your Application ID (sent to your email for resuming later)
- Fill in personal details: phone, address, employment status
- Enter passport information exactly as it appears on your passport
- Select visa type: "Ordinary Visa" (single entry) or "Multiple Entry Visa"
- Select purpose: "Leisure and Holiday" for tourism
- Select your nearest Tanzania embassy and planned port of entry
- Upload documents: passport scan, photo, return ticket, accommodation proof
- Review all information — changes cannot be made after submission
- Pay the fee by Visa or Mastercard
- Wait for processing (up to 10 business days)
- Receive Visa Grant Notice by email and download PDF
Tanzania Tourist Visa Costs in 2024
| Visa Type | Nationality | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single Entry (Ordinary) | Most nationalities | $50 USD |
| Multiple Entry | Most nationalities | $100 USD |
| Multiple Entry | US citizens (mandatory) | $100 USD |
| Transit Visa | All nationalities | $30 USD |
| Business Visa | All nationalities | $250 USD |
These are government fees only — third-party visa services add their own processing fees on top.
Who Does Not Need a Tanzania Tourist Visa?
Several countries have visa-free access to Tanzania. Citizens of the following broad categories do not need a Tanzania tourist visa:
- EAC Member States: Citizens of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and DRC (EAC members) do not need a visa
- SADC Members (except Comoros): Includes South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Angola, Malawi, and Mauritius
- Commonwealth Countries (except: United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand)
US, UK, EU, Canadian, Australian citizens all require a Tanzania tourist visa.
Tanzania Tourist Visa Validity and Duration Rules
The Tanzania tourist visa/e-Visa validity works as follows:
- Single entry: Valid for entry once within the period shown on the Visa Grant Notice; allows stay up to 90 days from entry
- Multiple entry (12-month US visa): Valid for 12 months from first entry date; each stay must not exceed 90 days; you can leave and return multiple times within the 12-month window
Important: The 12-month multiple entry visa does not allow continuous 12-month residence. Each individual stay is limited to 90 days. If you need to stay longer, you must apply for a visa extension or leave and re-enter (for multiple entry visa holders).
Where to Apply for Tanzania Tourist Visa: Official vs Third-Party
Official portal: visa.immigration.go.tz — pay only the government fee ($50 or $100)
Third-party services: TravelDocs, iVisa, VisaHQ, and others offer Tanzania visa processing but charge additional service fees of $50–$150 above the government fee. They are legitimate but unnecessary unless you need assistance navigating the process.
Warning: Tanzania Immigration specifically warns against unofficial websites. Always confirm you are on visa.immigration.go.tz before entering personal data or making payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related guides: Requirements | Fees | Processing Time