Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Tanzania? Yes. Both need a tourist visa, but the type differs: US passport holders must apply for a multiple-entry visa (US$100, valid one year, stays of up to 90 days each time), while UK citizens can use the ordinary single-entry visa (US$50, valid up to 90 days). Apply on the official eVisa portal (processed within ten days) or get a single-entry visa on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after arrival, and visitors must also have the mandatory Tanzanian government travel insurance. Combining Tanzania with a Kenya safari adds a Kenyan eTA.
This guide uses the Tanzania Immigration Services eVisa guidelines (visa.immigration.go.tz, checked 12 November 2026), the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated September 3, 2026), the UK FCDO for Tanzania (GOV.UK, updated 30 October 2026) and for Kenya (GOV.UK, updated 16 October 2026), and the U.S. Department of State for Kenya (last updated July 30, 2026).
Safety: the U.S. Department of State advisory for Tanzania is Level 2, « Exercise Increased Caution », citing crime, terrorism, health, unrest, arbitrary enforcement of laws and the targeting of gay and lesbian individuals (State Department advisory feed, checked 12 November 2026). Read the FCDO advice for regional warnings.
Tanzania entry at a glance
- Tanzania tourist visa required. UK citizens: ordinary visa, US$50, up to 90 days. US citizens: multiple-entry visa, US$100, valid one year, 90 days per stay (immigration portal).
- Zanzibar Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the Tanzanian visa applies; the insurance rules below cover both mainland and Zanzibar.
- Official site only visa.immigration.go.tz, run by Tanzania Immigration Services.
- Online processing within ten days (immigration portal); apply well before travel.
- Visa on arrival single-entry tourist visa at main ports of entry (FCDO); the State Department says US citizens can also obtain a tourist visa on arrival.
- Passport valid at least six months after arrival, with at least one blank page (FCDO, State Department); return or onward ticket and proof of funds.
- Mandatory insurance government-provided inbound travel insurance for most visitors (FCDO).
- Kenya combination a Kenyan electronic travel authorisation is required before you travel (FCDO, State Department).
Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Tanzania?
US citizens
According to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated September 3, 2026), tourists must obtain a one-year multiple-entry visa for US$100. You can apply and pay online for an e-visa in advance; if approved you receive a grant notice by email to show the immigration officer on arrival. US citizens can also obtain a tourist visa on arrival. You need a passport with at least one blank page and six months of validity, a round-trip ticket, and proof of sufficient funds. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries where the disease is endemic, including airport transits and layovers of 12 hours or more. Volunteer work is prohibited on a tourist visa; volunteers must obtain a Class C residence permit.
UK citizens
According to the FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 30 October 2026), British citizens must have a tourist or business visa. Apply for an e-visa before you travel: it is no longer possible to get a visa from the Tanzanian High Commission in London. You can also get a single-entry tourist or business visa on arrival at the main ports of entry, subject to meeting all immigration requirements, and you may be asked for proof of your return journey. A multiple-entry visa is not available on arrival. Your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after the date you arrive and at least one blank page. You must be ready to show a return or onward ticket. If you plan to work or volunteer, you need a work permit arranged before you travel.
US and UK rules differ: the State Department and the immigration portal give US passport holders the US$100 multiple-entry visa, while the FCDO describes the single-entry visa for British citizens. The FCDO adds that a multiple-entry visa cannot be obtained on arrival, whereas the State Department says US citizens can obtain a tourist visa on arrival, so check the visa type and fee with the Tanzanian embassy or the portal before you travel.
How to apply for the Tanzania e-visa
Apply on the official Tanzania eVisa portal. According to the portal, you fill in the online form, pay and submit your application online; you are notified by email of acceptance or rejection and can track your application status. Some applicants may be asked to visit a Tanzanian embassy or consular office for an interview. The guidelines say online applications are processed within ten days and that every passport holder, including minors, needs a separate application.
| Visa | Fee | Validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary (tourism), UK citizens | US$50 | Up to 90 days | Single entry; not for US passport holders |
| Multiple entry, US citizens (tourism) | US$100 | 1 year | Each stay limited to 90 days |
| Business | US$250 | Up to 90 days | |
| Transit | US$30 | Up to 7 days |
Documents and photo
- Passport valid at least six months after arrival, with at least one blank page (FCDO, State Department).
- A copy of the biographic page of your passport.
- A return or onward ticket, which you must also show at border control.
- The online application and declaration form, and payment of the visa fee.
- One application per passport holder, including children.
Photo (portal guidelines): in colour, plain background, full face with eyes open, JPG or JPEG, no larger than 500 KB and 45 mm by 35 mm. Glasses are allowed; head coverings are generally not permitted except for religious reasons.
Avoid unofficial websites
The immigration portal tells applicants to apply only through the official Tanzania Immigration Services website and to use no other online links. Check the web address before entering your passport and card details.
Mandatory travel insurance
According to the FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 30 October 2026), all visitors to mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, except residents, must have mandatory Tanzanian government-provided inbound travel insurance, even if they already have a personal policy. It is valid for the length of your stay (up to 92 days) and you only need to buy it for your first port of entry. If you arrive first in Zanzibar, you buy it from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC); if you arrive first on the mainland, from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). You can buy online beforehand or on arrival, and you may be refused entry without it. The FCDO also advises having your own travel insurance that covers your individual needs. We have not found the insurance price in an official source we could read, so check the price with ZIC or NIC.
Health screening and customs
- Yellow fever: a certificate is required if you arrive from a country listed as a transmission risk (FCDO); the State Department notes this includes 12-hour-plus transits (see our travel vaccines guide).
- Health screening: the FCDO says travellers must fill in the Travellers Health Surveillance Form before departing or on arrival, and pass body-temperature checks at all points of entry. It also reports heightened screening for travellers from high-risk regions.
- Wildlife products: do not bring animal skin accessories into Tanzania. Foreigners have been arrested for trying to take wildlife items such as horns and seashells out of the country without a certified export permit (FCDO).
- Overstaying: you can be arrested, detained and fined before being deported (FCDO).
Combining Tanzania with Kenya
For a Kenya and Tanzania safari, the FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 16 October 2026) says you must apply online for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before travel and recommends applying at least two weeks before departure. The U.S. Department of State (last updated July 30, 2026) also says all visitors need an eTA, plus a passport with two blank pages and six months of validity. The FCDO adds that from 5 October 2026 most travellers visiting Kenya for less than 12 months must have Kenyan government-provided travel health insurance, bought as part of the eTA application, and that foreign policies are not accepted instead. Apply only on the official Kenyan eTA portal (etakenya.go.ke). For the fee and processing time, check the portal.
See our guides to Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Kenya, our African safari page, and when to go to Tanzania or Kenya. Undecided? Read Kenya or Tanzania. All our entry guides: entry requirements.
Common mistakes
- Applying for the wrong visa type: US passport holders need the multiple-entry visa, not the ordinary one.
- Arriving without the mandatory insurance, or without a return or onward ticket.
- Forgetting the Kenyan eTA on a combined safari.
- Volunteering on a tourist visa, which is prohibited (State Department).
- Using an unofficial intermediary website instead of visa.immigration.go.tz.
- Submitting an incomplete application or a non-compliant photo.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Tanzania visa?
According to the immigration portal, the ordinary tourist visa is US$50 (up to 90 days) and US passport holders must apply for the multiple-entry visa at US$100, valid one year with a 90-day limit per stay.
Can I get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
The FCDO says British citizens can get a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the main ports of entry but recommends applying for an e-visa before travel. The State Department says US citizens can also obtain a tourist visa on arrival.
Do I need a visa for Zanzibar?
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the Tanzanian visa applies. The FCDO also says visitors need the mandatory inbound travel insurance, bought from ZIC if Zanzibar is your first port of entry.
Is a yellow fever vaccine required for Tanzania?
A certificate is required if you arrive from a country listed as a transmission risk (FCDO). The State Department says this includes airport transits and layovers of 12 hours or more.
Do I need a visa for a Kenya and Tanzania trip?
Yes: a Kenyan eTA, applied for online before you travel, and a Tanzanian visa.
How long must my passport be valid for Tanzania?
At least six months after the date you arrive, with at least one blank page.
How long does the Tanzania e-visa take?
According to the immigration portal, online applications are processed within ten days. Apply well before you travel.
What photo is needed for the Tanzania visa?
A colour photo on a plain background, full face with eyes open, JPG or JPEG, no larger than 500 KB and 45 mm by 35 mm.
Do children need a Tanzania visa?
Yes. Every passport holder needs a separate application, including minors.
Our sources
- Tanzania Immigration Services, eVisa guidelines, checked 12 November 2026.
- UK FCDO, Tanzania travel advice: entry requirements (GOV.UK, updated 30 October 2026), checked 12 November 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, Tanzania: International Travel Country Information (last updated September 3, 2026), checked 12 November 2026.
- UK FCDO, Kenya travel advice: entry requirements (GOV.UK, updated 16 October 2026) and U.S. Department of State, Kenya (last updated July 30, 2026), checked 26 October 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.