1. A Visa is an authorization given to a foreigner to enable him to travel and present himself for entry clearance into Tanzania. A Visa Grant Notice is a notification informing the applicant of the authorization to enter Tanzania upon fulfillment of other entry conditions at the point of entry;
2. There are two options available for obtaining Tanzania Visa. The first option is obtaining Visa by applying online through Tanzania Immigration Services official website (www.immigration.go.tz) ; and the second option is obtaining Visa on arrival at official entry point. It is recommended to use online Visa application platform.
3. Applicants are strongly advised to read carefully this Visa Guidelines before starting their Journey to Tanzania or upon making visa application. Every applicant is assumed to have read, understood and agreed to the Terms and Conditions available on our Visa Portal and those stipulated in the Disclaimer;
4. Visa applicants are advised to make their applications through the Official Tanzania Immigration Services website (www.immigration.go.tz) ONLY and Not through any other online links;
5. Visa applicants must ensure that, their passports have a validity of at least six months and at least one unused visa page before submitting their application.
6. Visitors MUST show their Return Ticket upon arrival (at the entry point) in Tanzania;
7. A Visa applicant is expected to select a right Type and Category of Visa during application. If an applicant is not sure about the type or category of Visa; he/she is advised to read Visa Guidelines or seek guidance through immigration e-mail: info@immigration.go.tz or through telephone number available at Immigration website.
8. Visa regulations and conditions may be subject to change at any time without prior notification to the applicants.
9. Any Visa wrongly applied or which lacks sufficient information/attachment(s) will be rejected;
10. Applicants with refugee status, stateless status or whose nationality fall under Referral Visa category are not eligible for on arrival Visa platform unless they have obtained an approval from the office of the Commissioner General of Immigration. If not so, they are advised to apply Online. Applicants in this category are not advised to pay for flight tickets or accommodation or make other reservations until their visa are approved. As such, the applicants in this group while applying online, are allowed to upload their trip itinerary instead of flight ticket. Last but not least, applicants on referral case catalogue, are advised to submit their Visa applications at least two months before the date of travel.
11. Once Visa application is submitted, no further changes may be done and effected to such applications. If for any reasons there will be some mismatch in information on the issued visa or flight changes which affects the arrival or departure date, the applicant will communicate this to the relevant immigration authority for guidance or assistance;
12. All visitors wishing to come for tourism purposes are required to apply for an Ordinary Visa EXCEPT American nationals (USA Passport holders) who are required to apply for Multiple Visa;
13. If an applicant wishes to visit both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, he/she is advised to select his first destination while filling the form. But he will be allowed to visit both places without a need for a new Visa;
14. The nearby Embassy is regarded as the Embassy closest to where the applicant is while applying for Visa, and If required, the applicant may be called to appear physically to that Embassy for interview;
15. Every Passport holder is required to have his/her own Visa application submitted. In this case, even minors who are filled in their parents’ Visa applications must have their own separate Visa applications submitted.

Visa applications will be processed within ten days save for Referral visa category. If for any reason the Visa is not processed within the stipulated time, applicants are advised to make follow up through the email: info@immigration.go.tz or telephone numbers available at the Immigration Website our website.

Visa notifications will be sent to applicants’ e-mails as filled in the online application. Applicants are required to wait for approval notification/visa grant notice before starting their journey.

If for any reason, the applicant does not receive Visa notification within the specified time, he is advised to download the Visa Grant Notice through the following link: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/checkapplicationstatus

It should be noted that receiving a Visa Grant Notice is not a final authority to enter the United Republic of Tanzania. The Immigration Officer at the Entry point may refuse entry, if he is satisfied that the holder of a Visa Grant Notice is unable to fulfil Immigration entry requirements or has a reasonable ground to refuse entry.

After successfully submitting the application, applicants are advised to track its progress by login to the visa application portal using your Application Identification Number. Applicants may be notified progress of their applications through respective emails which they filled while filling their applications online. However, applicants may as well track progress of their applications or even download their Visa Grant Notice through the Visa Portal.

The list of countries under the Referral Visa Category is available on the Immigration Service website (on the Visa Information Section). This list may be reviewed from time to time, therefore applicants are advised to check it periodically. Applicants under Referral Visa category are required to comply with the following conditions;

1. They MUST submit their Visa applications Online and should wait until their applications are approved before starting their journey. Alternatively, they should obtain an approval from the Office of the Commissioner General of Immigration;
2. They are advised to submit their applications at least two months before their travel date;
3. Local Host information including physical address and contacts is vital, and should be filled if available.
4. Invitation letters or Visa application letters should be addressed to the Commissioner General of Immigration, and should be uploaded when applying online.

There are several countries whose nationals are not required to apply for Visa to enter Tanzania. These are EAC Member State countries, SADC member countries except Comoro and Commonwealth countries except United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.

Nationals from the listed countries below are eligible for both Online as well as on arrival Visa facility.

Nationals from the list below cannot obtain Visa upon arrival unless they have obtained a special permission from Commissioner General of Immigration. These are:

Nationals from the list below cannot obtain Visa upon arrival unless they have obtained a special permission from Commissioner General of Immigration. These are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan), Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Yemen. Also stateless persons or persons with refugee status cannot obtain visa upon arrival. They must apply and obtain visa in advance.

1. Visit the Tanzania Immigration Services Website (www.immigration.go.tz)
2. Click “e-services” button;
3. Select and click “e-Visa Application Form”;
4. Login to the visa application portal (use your email)
5. You will receive an e-mail message containing User Identification Number (that may be used to track the application online);
6. Fill application form, upload photo and attach required documents.
7. After completion and uploading required documents you will receive payment notification; finalize payment of a respective visa fee;
8. Upon successful payment, submit your application;
9. You will receive a confirmation message.

• The photograph of each visa applicant must be colored;
• If the applicant regularly wears eye glasses he/she is allowed to take a photo with his glasses on.
• Head coverings are not permitted except for religious reasons, but the facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown.

• The photo must be colored with plain background.
• The image should display unmounted full face. A “full face” photo is one in which the applicant is facing the camera directly, and present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin.
• The photo should display full face (front view) from top of hair to bottom of chin, with eyes open.
• The expression on the face should look natural.
• There should not be any distracting shadows or images on the face or on the background.
• The photo size should not exceed 45mm (length) X 35 mm (Width).
• The image size of the photo should not exceed 500KB for Visa application.
• The file format to be uploaded must be JPG or JPEG.
• Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
• Return ticket;
• Dully filled in application and declaration form available online
• Respective visa fee payment.

NB: Noncompliance to the above guidance may cause to rejection of visa application.