Planning a vacation to Tanzania can be both exciting and daunting. You have the opportunity to venture into a new country where you will experience different cultures and landscapes, which is exciting. However, there are also formalities that need to be completed before embarking on such a trip.
If Tanzania is your next overseas travel destination, this article is here to guide you through the important steps that must be completed to ensure success in obtaining your visa.
Whether it’s understanding the visa process and requirements, gathering the necessary documents, or understanding the regulations, we’ve put together comprehensive information here to help you go on your adventure with peace of mind!
Note that we do not sell or issue visas! The purpose of this article is only to inform our customers. We hope to be of help.
Visa application
Below we will introduce you to two methods of obtaining a visa to travel to Tanzania and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each method. It is then up to you to make the decision and choose which one interests you the most.
Apply for a visa upon arrival in Tanzania
What if you want to apply for your visa once you have arrived in the country? When you arrive at one of Tanzania’s airports, you can go to a specific counter and apply for your visa, if you have not done so online before your trip. Applying is quite easy. The time it takes to get it depends entirely on the number of people at the airport. Even if you are one of the first passengers off the plane and into the airport, you may have to wait in line for 20 minutes, depending on the crowds.
Sometimes it can take an hour, even outside of peak season. You should keep this in mind, especially if you are traveling in high season, because waiting several hours to get a visa after such a long flight can be quite annoying.
If you buy your visa in Tanzania, it will cost you 50 dollars or 50 euros (which is quite surprising, because 50 euros is worth more than 50 dollars).
Applying online
You can also apply for your e-visa on the official Tanzanian website. The Tanzania Immigration Commission introduced the online visa system in 2018, easing the traditional complicated and time-consuming process that all foreign visitors had to go through to obtain the mandatory entry clearance to Tanzania.
Today, all applicants can submit their application using any electronic device connected to the internet. The application form can be filled out in minutes from anywhere in the world at any time! Although the visa application process is simple and straightforward, iVisa will guide you and assist you in processing an approved Tanzanian visa online:
Type of electronic visas
There are two types of electronic visas for Tanzania that determine the purpose of their use. Eligible citizens can choose from the following available options:
- Tourist e-visa: issued for all kinds of tourist travel such as exploring Tanzania; it also allows family visits.
- Transit e-visa: issued for transit travel; travelers to another country can stop in Tanzania for up to 7 days; this type of e-visa cannot be used for tourism purposes.
Process to obtain a Tanzania online e-Visa
Before gathering the mandatory documents, make sure you meet the following basic requirements to successfully submit the Tanzania eVisa application: an active email address, access to an online payment method; a passport valid for at least 6 months.
In addition, before you start filling out the application form, you should check if your nationality is on the list of eligible countries for Tanzania e-visa. If not, you will probably have to go to the nearest embassy to obtain a traditional visa.
Required documents
- a copy of page 2 of the passport
- a copy of a recent passport photo, in color, in photo booth format and quality,
- a copy of the return air ticket to Tanzania
Questions to answer when you order your Tanzania e-Visa online
- Detailed occupation
- Name of employer
- Have you ever visited Tanzania?
Information about your stay in tanzania
- Place of stay
- Arrival in Tanzania from ( border post, airport)
- Leaving Tanzania from (border post, airport)
- Name of the host establishment in Tanzania (hotel, tour operator, apartment, …)
- Address of the host establishment in Tanzania (at least one)
- Telephone number of the accommodation in Tanzania
- E-mail address of the accommodation in Tanzania
- Tanzania Visa Application Form Guide
After gathering the required documents, answering to the questions and giving information about your stay, you can begin submitting your Tanzania eVisa application form. The entire process should take you no more than 15 minutes. There are only three steps to follow:
- Step 1: Provide in the e-visa application your personal details such as your full name, date of birth, email address, contact number, nationality, type of e-visa, and expected date of travel to Tanzania. Attach all the documents mentioned above and double check that you have provided the correct data.
- Step 2: Choose one of the secure online payment methods and pay the eVisa fee (99 Euros for all eligible citizens, except for US citizens who have to pay 149 Euros for a multiple entry visa).
- Step 3: Check your email. It should contain your application confirmation number. You will need it to check the progress of your eVisa processing. It may take a few days for your eVisa to arrive in your inbox.
Important Note! To maximize your chances of receiving a positive response, check the entire online form before submitting it. Any errors, typos or misspellings may cause your application to be extended.
If you have any doubts or questions regarding the application, please do not hesitate to contact our help desk and read more on the iVisa website:
Our advice
Naturally, most people want to organize themselves in such a way that they don’t lose time upon arrival. We agree. Especially since most people travel in high season and you never know how many visas will be requested the same day at the airport, so, better to be cautious and not take any risks (especially when traveling with children).
WARNING: if only one parent is traveling with their child, the other parent must have signed a document stating, in English, that they give permission for the child to travel.