How to Apply for the Official Tanzania eVisa
The Tanzania Immigration Department operates an electronic visa (eVisa) system that allows international visitors to secure their entry authorization prior to boarding their flight.
Beware of Imposter Websites!
When searching "Tanzania visa online", the top Google search results are frequently commercial third-party agencies with names like "tanzaniavisa.org" or "visagov.com". They charge $150 to $220 for a $50 visa. The only legitimate official government website is: visa.immigration.go.tz.
Step-by-Step Application Instructions
- Create an Account: Visit the official portal, click "New Application", and enter your email address to receive a secure application ID.
- Upload Required Documents:
- High-resolution scan of your passport biodata page (JPG/PNG, minimum 300 DPI).
- Recent passport-sized portrait photo (clean background, neutral expression).
- Proof of onward/return international flight ticket.
- Tour Confirmation Letter or Itinerary from your licensed tour operator (Ear Dell'Africa automatically provides this document to all our guests upon booking).
- Pay Securely Online: Pay by Visa, MasterCard, or bank transfer directly through the government gateway.
- Receive & Print Your Grant Notice: Processing usually takes 10 to 14 business days. Once approved, download the PDF "Visa Grant Notice" and print two hard copies to carry in your hand luggage.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is the primary gateway to the Northern Safari Circuit.
Visa Categories, Costs & The US Citizen Clause
One of the most frequent questions we receive from American guests is: "Why is my visa $100 while my European travel companion pays $50?"
Ordinary Visa: $50 USD
Valid for a single entry for tourism, holidays, or visiting relatives, with a maximum stay of up to 90 consecutive days.
Multiple Entry: $100 USD
Due to bilateral reciprocal agreements between the governments of Tanzania and the USA, American citizens cannot purchase the $50 single-entry visa. They must select "Multiple Entry Visa" ($100), which is valid for 12 months with each stay capped at 90 days.
Can You Still Get a Visa on Arrival?
Yes. Major entry ports, including Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (DAR), and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar (ZNZ), still maintain Visa on Arrival desks. However, after a 12-hour intercontinental flight, the queue can stretch to 1.5 to 2 hours as officers manually verify fingerprints and collect payments. Having your approved eVisa in hand allows you to bypass these lines and clear immigration in minutes.
Health Regulations: The Truth About Yellow Fever
Few topics generate more confusion online than Tanzania's Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. Here is the official policy established by the Tanzania Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO):
Direct Flights from Non-Endemic Countries
If you are flying directly from Europe, North America, the Middle East, or non-endemic countries (e.g., flight routings like London → Doha → Kilimanjaro or Amsterdam → Kilimanjaro), you DO NOT need a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate.
Transit > 12 Hours or Arriving from Endemic Areas
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (the "Yellow Card") is strictly mandatory if:
- You originate from or have visited a country with risk of yellow fever transmission (such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, DRC, or South American nations).
- You have had an airport transit or layover of more than 12 hours in any of those countries (e.g., a 14-hour layover at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi or Bole Airport in Addis Ababa).
Tip: If you are medically exempt from the Yellow Fever vaccine (e.g. travelers aged 60+, pregnant, or with specific immune conditions), carry an official medical exemption letter from a certified physician with an international clinic stamp.
Crucial Customs Laws: Plastic Bags & Drones
The Plastic Bag Ban
Since 1 June 2019, Tanzania enforces an environmental protection law prohibiting the manufacture, importation, and use of single-use plastic carrier bags.
What is allowed? Clear, zip-lock transparent bags used specifically for liquid toiletry security checks at airports are permitted, provided they remain with you throughout your journey and leave the country when you do. Do not pack shoes or laundry in grocery bags!
Drone Restrictions
Recreational drone flying without permits is strictly forbidden in Tanzania and carries severe penalties including confiscation and heavy fines.
Flying inside TANAPA National Parks requires dual authorization from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), the Ministry of Defense, and TANAPA headquarters. If you bring an unpermitted drone, it will be impounded by customs upon arrival.
Money & Currency: The 2009 Dollar Rule
While credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at high-end lodges, cash is king in the African bush for tipping your driver-guide, camp staff, and buying souvenirs at roadside craft markets.
The Critical 2009 US Dollar Rule
Under Bank of Tanzania anti-counterfeiting directives, banks, forex bureaus, hotels, and safari operators will NOT accept US Dollar bills printed before 2009. Inspect every bill before departing your home country:
- • Ensure the series date printed on the bill reads 2009, 2013, 2017, or newer.
- • Bills must be crisp, clean, with no tears, ink stamps, or pen marks.
- • Carry a mix of $50/$100 bills (for exchange into Tanzanian Shillings or lodge bills) and small $5/$10/$20 bills (for tipping).
We Meet You The Second You Land
When you book with Ear Dell'Africa, our operations team issues your official visa supporting documentation, monitors your incoming flight, and has a dedicated driver waiting just outside the customs terminal holding your personalized welcome sign.