13 August 2021
With your dream safari in Tanzania or your beach break on Zanzibar booked, only one key task stands between you and your African adventure: arranging your visa! Happily, the process is simple, and we’ll help you every step of the way.
Two ways in… both work just fine
You can get your Tanzania visa in one of two ways: by applying online ahead of your trip (eVisa) or by obtaining it at the airport when you land. What differs is the timing, not the result. An eVisa is approved before you leave home, while a visa on arrival is handled at the airport itself. Once you land, eVisa holders and visa-on-arrival applicants join separate queues, so you will wait either way – simply in a different line.
A member of our travel team often flies between Germany and Tanzania and has tried both visa routes many times. Her conclusion is straightforward: no single option suits everyone. With the eVisa, you can relax because approval is arranged before you depart, although it takes 3 to 10 working days on average. The visa on arrival needs less preparation before your flight, but you then deal with the whole procedure after touching down. Ultimately, it is a matter of taste…get ready ahead of time, or stay flexible until you land.
Why we recommend applying online
Applying online lets you travel without worries. When you reach Tanzania, you’ll already have your Visa Grant Notice with you, so all that remains is the stamp in your passport before your adventure begins. This is particularly useful when you travel with children or as a group.
The biggest benefit is knowing that everything is arranged before you get on the plane. What’s more, when children travel with just one parent, written permission from the other parent is needed – in English. You would not want to discover this only when you land at the Tanzanian airport!
Book with Your Tanzania Trip and we will guide you through the whole procedure. In a separate email you’ll get a detailed eVisa guide that explains each step.
The essentials you need to know
- Get the timing right: Submit your application 3-4 weeks ahead of your departure. That way your visa is processed in time and you have some leeway if there are delays or problems.
- What it costs: You pay 50 USD or 50 EUR, regardless of whether you apply online or at the airport. You can pay in cash or by credit card, although card payments are occasionally delayed. The ordinary visa allows a single entry and is valid for a maximum of 90 days.
- A note for US citizens: Instead of the standard 50 USD single-entry visa, you’ll have to apply for a multiple-entry visa at 100 USD. This rule stems from a bilateral agreement between the US and Tanzania, so holders of a US passport cannot get the 50 USD single-entry visa, even if they visit only once. The visa remains valid for one year, but any one stay may not be longer than 90 days.
- Stick to the official website: This really matters. Submit your application exclusively via the official immigration website of Tanzania. Plenty of other sites will either defraud you or add steep service charges for a task you can easily complete yourself at no extra cost.
- How long your passport must be valid: On your return from Tanzania, your passport needs at least six months of remaining validity.
- A single visa is enough: You need just one visa for Tanzania, whether you’re visiting the mainland, Zanzibar or both.
- Children on the trip: When children travel with just one parent, written permission from the other parent must be provided.
A word about the application process
As you apply for your Tanzania visa, bear in mind that the system might not behave the way you expect. The site can be offline for brief spells, uploads sometimes fail, and a payment may not succeed at the first attempt.
Keep your cool and remember “TIA” – This Is Africa. In most cases the problem is solved by trying again a little later or using another browser (Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome work best). One client of ours needed three attempts to upload documents because of timeouts, yet after a brief wait it all went through smoothly.
Ready to go?
The eVisa and the visa on arrival both do the job. Applying online asks for a little more time and extra details, but it puts you in control and lets you travel relaxed – ideal if you prefer everything arranged beforehand. The visa on arrival is more straightforward, as you only need your passport (and occasionally a return ticket). It suits you well if you would rather avoid online forms or have no credit card. Whichever option you pick, check every requirement, in particular passport validity and any paperwork needed for children.
Arrange your visa, and get ready for the adventure to start!
