Travel guide
Visas, entry and health
What you need to enter Tanzania, where to apply, and the health questions worth raising with your doctor before you fly.
Last updated 15 August 2026
Check the official portal before you rely on anything here. Tanzanian entry rules have changed more than once in recent years, and published guidance elsewhere is often out of date. The authority is the Tanzania Immigration Department at visa.immigration.go.tz. Apply only through that site. Several convincing-looking commercial sites charge a large markup for the same thing.
The essentials
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa | Most visitors, including UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders, need one. Apply online in advance through the official portal. |
| Passport validity | At least six months beyond your departure date, with blank pages for stamps. |
| US citizens | Are normally issued a different visa class from most other nationalities, at a higher fee. Check the portal for the current category and cost. |
| Yellow fever | A certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a country with yellow fever risk. Carry the original WHO card, not a copy. |
| Zanzibar | Part of Tanzania, and your Tanzanian visa covers it, but it runs its own immigration desk. Expect a short form and a passport check on arrival even when flying from the mainland. |
| Onward travel | You may be asked for a return or onward ticket and for accommodation details. |
Apply at least two to three weeks before you travel. Processing is usually quicker than that, but it is not instant, and applications occasionally come back with queries.
Health, in plain terms
We are a travel company, not doctors. What follows is the general picture, and the decisions belong to you and a travel health professional four to six weeks before you fly.
- Malaria is present in Tanzania, including the safari parks and Zanzibar. Preventative medication is normally recommended, and repellent, long sleeves at dusk and a mosquito net all help.
- Yellow fever vaccination is a legal entry requirement only if you are arriving from a risk country, but is often recommended anyway.
- Routine vaccinations and typically hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised for Tanzania.
- Altitude matters if you are climbing Kilimanjaro. See our route guide.
- Travel insurance covering medical evacuation is strongly advisable for safari and essential for Kilimanjaro.
Arriving
Most safari visitors fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is roughly an hour from Arusha and convenient for both the northern circuit and the mountain. Julius Nyerere International (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and Abeid Amani Karume International (ZNZ) in Zanzibar serve the coast and the southern parks.
Tanzania's currency is the shilling. US dollars are widely accepted for park fees and tourism services, but notes must be recent, and worn or older bills are often refused. Cards work in Arusha, Moshi and Stone Town, less reliably inside the parks.
If Clerisa is arranging your trip we meet you at the airport, so you do not need to work out transfers on arrival.
Common questions
Where do I apply for a Tanzanian visa?
Only through the official Tanzania Immigration Department portal at visa.immigration.go.tz. Third-party sites charge substantially more for the same application.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No. Zanzibar is part of the United Republic of Tanzania and your Tanzanian visa covers it. It does operate its own immigration desk, so expect a passport check and a short form on arrival.
Is a yellow fever certificate required?
It is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country with yellow fever risk. If you are flying directly from Europe or North America it is generally not required for entry, though it may still be recommended to you on health grounds.
How far ahead should I apply?
Two to three weeks at minimum. Processing is usually faster, but applications can be queried and you do not want that happening in the last few days.
Where this comes from
General Tanzania travel information on this page draws on the sources below. Anything specific to a Clerisa journey comes from us. Rules and timings change, so check official sources close to your travel date.
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