Tanzania e-Visa
Everything you need to apply for your Tanzania e-Visa: the requirements, the documents, and the steps from start to approval.
Official Tanzania government portalOverview
The Tanzania e-Visa is the country's online travel authorisation, applied for and issued before you fly through the immigration eServices portal. Most travellers use the single-entry tourist e-Visa, which is valid for up to three months from issue and permits a stay of up to 90 days for a single visit covering tourism, safari and a Zanzibar beach holiday. Tanzania also issues a multiple-entry e-Visa valid for up to 12 months, and US citizens are required to obtain that multiple-entry visa rather than the single-entry ordinary one, a point worth checking before you start.
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the same e-Visa carries you to the mainland and to the islands without a separate permit. The authorisation is for leisure and short business travel; paid employment, study toward a qualification and residence call for the relevant category arranged through the authorities. The e-Visa is linked to the passport you apply with, and that is the passport you must travel on.
National-park entry fees and climbing permits for the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro are arranged separately from the visa and are not part of what you pay here.
Requirements in detail
A Tanzania e-Visa asks for a small, well-prepared set of documents, so gather these before you begin and check each one against your passport. You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival with a blank page for stamping, the same document you will travel on, because the Tanzania visa is linked electronically to that passport rather than stamped in advance. Have its number and its issue and expiry dates in front of you.
A recent passport-style photograph and a scan of the passport bio-page are part of the standard submission, so prepare a clear, well-lit photo against a plain background with nothing covering your face. Tanzania also expects proof of your travel plans: a return or onward flight booking and confirmed accommodation on the mainland or in Zanzibar, since Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and uses the same e-Visa. One health point is distinctive: a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have recently transited, a country where yellow fever is a risk, so confirm whether your route calls for it before you travel.
A working email address receives the decision, and a payment card covers the single all-inclusive price, with the government fee itemised on your receipt. US citizens are required to obtain the multiple-entry e-Visa rather than the single-entry one, a point worth checking before you start. Every traveller, including each child, needs their own e-Visa, so prepare one set of details for each person.
What you'll need
Have these ready before you begin your application. Requirements can vary by nationality and trip purpose.
- Passport with at least six months validity and one blank page
- Recent digital passport photograph
- Confirmed accommodation in Tanzania (mainland or Zanzibar)
- Return or onward flight booking
- Email address for e-Visa delivery
- Payment method (one all-inclusive price)
How to apply
Applying for a Tanzania e-Visa is done entirely online through the immigration eServices portal, and the steps are straightforward when your details are ready. First, confirm which category fits your trip: most travellers use the single-entry tourist e-Visa, valid for up to three months from issue with a stay of up to 90 days for tourism, safari and a Zanzibar beach holiday, while US citizens must use the multiple-entry e-Visa, which is valid for up to 12 months. Second, have your passport, your photo and bio-page scan, and your Tanzania trip details ready.
Third, complete the form, checking the spelling of your name and every digit of your passport number against the passport itself, since one mistyped character is the most common avoidable delay. Fourth, review the single all-inclusive price and pay; your application is checked for completeness before it reaches the Tanzanian authorities. Finally, the approved e-Visa arrives by email and is linked to your passport electronically, so carry it as a clear printout or saved on your phone for check-in and the border.
The Tanzanian government processing window is the longest in our African e-Visa range, so apply well ahead; for trips under two weeks away, Priority or Urgent review prioritises your application before submission.
On arrival
Carry your approved Tanzania e-Visa with you, as a clear printout or saved on your phone, so you can show it at check-in and at the border. Travel on the exact passport you applied with, since the authorisation is tied to that document and the numbers must match. The e-Visa covers both the mainland and Zanzibar, so you can arrive at Julius Nyerere or Kilimanjaro airports, fly on to Zanzibar, or cross a land border with only the standard arrival card to fill in.
Have your return or onward ticket, your accommodation details and, if your route requires it, your yellow-fever certificate ready to show. The e-Visa lets you travel and request entry; the immigration officer at the port of arrival makes the final admission decision and may ask a few questions about your trip, so keep your plans clear and your documents to hand.
Government processing time
What the issuing authority typically takes once the application is submitted.
Government processing: the Tanzanian Immigration Services Department decides in 1 to 10 business days, the longest standard window in our African e-Visa range. VisitPass review: Standard under 24h; Priority under 6h; Urgent under 30 min, on top of the government time. The application is submitted to the authority and the confirmation issued by email.
When to apply: aim for three to four weeks before departure, because the immigration portal sees peak-season backlogs and occasional outages. For trips under two weeks away, choose Priority or Urgent to shorten the window before it reaches the authority.
At a glance
- Validity
- Up to 12 months
- Maximum stay
- 90 days per visit
- Entry type
- Single or multiple
Who can apply
Available to nationals of most countries. Single-entry tourist e-Visas are valid for 90 days per visit; multiple-entry visas allow several visits within 12 months. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and uses the same e-Visa.
The Tanzanian government processing window is the longest in our African e-Visa portfolio.
Is this the official application?
VisitPass is an independent travel-document service, not a government website and not affiliated with the Tanzanian immigration authority. Your application is submitted to the official Tanzania e-Visa system, the government fee is paid in full to the issuing authority and itemised on your receipt; the service fee covers preparing the application, reviewing it for completeness before submission, fitting the correct entry category to your nationality and trip, and email support. You can always apply directly on the official portal yourself; many travellers choose a guided form to complete it in their own language and have it checked before it is sent.
Remember that national-park entry fees and Kilimanjaro climbing permits are arranged separately and are not part of what you pay here. The decision rests solely with the Tanzanian government.
Tanzania help desk
Have questions about your e-Visa? Email the Tanzania desk and we reply within 24 hours.
tanzania@visitpass-online.comVisitPass is an independent visa-application service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government. Government fees go directly to the issuing authority and are listed separately in your receipt.