VISA GUIDELINES
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Applicants of Visa are strongly advised to read carefully the Visa Guideline before making an application;
Visa applicants are advised to make their applications through the Official Tanzania Immigration website (www.immigration.go.tz) ONLY and Not through any other links;
Any applicant of Visa is assumed to have read, understood and agreed to the Terms and Conditions available on the Visa Portal and stipulated in the Disclaimer;
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;
Applicant is expected to apply for a right category of visa. If the applicant is not sure about the type of visa he/she requires, he/she is advised to seek guidance through the e-mail info@immigration.go.tz
Visitors who wish to come for holiday or Tourism are advised to apply for Ordinary Visa. However, holders of American passports who come for holiday or tourism will have to apply for Multiple Entry Visa;
Any visa wrongly applied or which lacks sufficient attachment may be rejected;
No refund will be made in respect of any rejected visa application;
The Visa applications will be processed within ten days, therefore applicants are strongly advised to observe the stipulated time frame while making their applications;
After making payments, applicants are required to wait for approval of their Visa before they start their journey. Approval notification will be sent to their e-mail. Or they can access the Visa Grant Notification by checking the Status of their Visa online;
The Tanzania Immigration Services Department may give or withhold reasons for rejection of Visa to the applicant;
Applicants whose nationals fall under Referral Visa category are not advised to book flight tickets or make payments for any reservations in Tanzania before they get approval for their Visa. Applicants of Referral Visa are advised to apply at least two months before their date of travel;
The list of countries which fall under Referred Visa may change at any time; therefore, applicants are advised to review our website from time to time.
Visa regulations and conditions may be subject to change at any time without prior notification to the applicants.
Note: It should be noted that the possession of Visa is not a final authority to enter the United Republic of Tanzania. The Immigration Officer at the Entry point may refuse a holder of visa to enter, if he is satisfied that the holder is unable to fulfil Immigration entry requirements or if the presence of such person or visitors in the United Republic of Tanzania would be contrary to the National Interests.
TYPES OF VISA
There are six types of visa valid for entry into Tanzania
ORDINARY VISA (SINGLE ENTRY VISA)This visa is granted to foreign national for the purposes of Visit, Tourism, Leisure, Holiday, attending Conference, Humanitarian and charity activities, Family Visit, Health Treatment or any other purpose as may be determined by the issuing authority. Its validity does not exceed 90 days for a single entry.
BUSINESS VISA Business visa may be issued for a period not exceeding 90 days to foreign nationals who wish to enter in the United Republic of Tanzania for one of the following
purposes:
To conduct special assignments such as fixing/repairing machines or to run short term training, etc.
To conduct short time professional roles such as auditing accounts, making feasibility studies, establishing professionals and business contacts, making arrangements for investments during the startup period etc.
To conduct any other short term lawful business-related task recognised by the laws of the country and as may be determined by the issuing authority.
MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA This Visa may be issued to Directors of Companies registered in Tanzania who do not reside in the country, Persons engaged in Bilateral Meetings, Spouses married to Tanzanians/Residents, Government Consultants, Representatives of International NGO’s and any other person as may be determined by the Commissioner General of Immigration or Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar.
Multiple Visa is also issued to American nationals (due to bilateral agreements between the two countries) who wish to come for Holiday or Tourism purposes, as they are not entitled for Ordinary Visa. These may include
The maximum validity of this Visa is 12 months. However, the holder of the Multiple Visa cannot stay in the country for twelve (12) consecutive months. They are required to leave the country at most after every three months.
NB:
Applicants who are not American citizens and who wish to apply for Multiple Visa MUST ensure they possess and upload justifiable documents for respective category of Multiple visa as listed in the Visa Portal;
Applicants whose countries fall under referral Visa are not advised to apply for Multiple Visa;
American nationals who wish to visit Tanzania for tourism or holiday purposes MUST select this type of Visa while applying Online
TRANSIT VISA This Visa may be issued to foreign nationals for the purpose of transiting through to another destination outside the United Republic for a period not exceeding seven days. The applicant of this visa may be required to provide proof of a Visa of the destination country and/or Onward ticket.
NB:
Transit Visa is strictly intended for those travellers whose purpose of entry is to pass through Tanzania, and cannot be used for tourism purposes.
GRATIS VISA This visa may be issued to a holder of diplomatic, services or official passport or Travel Document of recognized International Organization who is on official duty and their Dependents. It can be also issued to a holder of ordinary passport or Travel document as it may be directed by the Commissioner General of Immigration and Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar.
STUDENT VISA Student visa is granted to foreign national who enters the Country for the purpose of Academic conducts such as Research Students, Intern, Volunteering, EAC Students, Exchange students (EAC and Exchange students are free of charge) and Prospective Students admitted in recognized and legally registered Institutions. This Visa may be issued for a period not exceeding two years.
Referral Cases There are some countries which their nationals require special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration (Zanzibar) prior to issuance of the Visa. These countries fall under the Referral Visa Category.
Applicants whose nationals fall under this category are not advised to book flight tickets or make payments for any reservations in Tanzania before they get approval for their Visa. Applicants of Referral Visa are advised to apply at least two months before their date of travel.
Note: Stateless persons and Refugees who hold Vienna Convention documents are also required to obtain referral visa prior to coming to United Republic of Tanzania.
LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS REQUIRE REFERRAL VISA.
• Afghanistan
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Chad
• Djibouti
• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• Equatorial Guinea
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Kazakhstan Republic
• Kyrgyzstan Republic
• Lebanon
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Palestine
• Senegal
• Iraq
• Iran
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• Somali land
• Sierra Leone
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen and
• Stateless persons or persons with refugee status.
LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS DO NOT REQUIRE VISA.
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Anguilla
• Ashmore & Certie Island
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Belize
• Brunei
• British Virgin Island
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Botswana
• Cyprus
• Cayman Island
• Channel Island
• Cocoas Island
• Cook Island
• Christmas Island
• Dominica
• Falkland Island
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guernsey
• Guyana
• Heard Island
• Hong Kong
• Isle of man
• Jamaica
• Jersey
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Montserrat
• Malaysia
• Madagascar
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Macao
• Mozambique
• Nauru
• Niue Island
• Norfolk Island
• Namibia
• Papua new Guinea
• Rwanda
• Romania
• Ross Dependency
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Swaziland
• Solomon Island
• St. Kitts&Navis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vicent
• St. Helana
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Turks & Caicos
• Tokelan
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
REQUIREMENTS FOR VISA
ORDINARY (SINGLE ENTRY) VISA An application of Ordinary Visa should be accompanied with the following;
Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
Return ticket of the flight;
Dully filled in declaration form
MULTIPLE VISA Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
Valid passport or national ID of the person to be visited in Tanzania (host) OR;
A covering letter of the host Institution detailing the reasons and frequency of Visits OR;
Attached Certificate of marriage of a spouse and a passport/national ID, if the applicant comes to visit a spouse OR;
Return ticket of the flight;
BUSINESS VISA Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
Return ticket of the flight;
A work contract or any proof of the work/assignment to be performed within a period not exceeding three months; or
TRANSIT VISA Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
An entry visa or onward ticket to the intended country of destination;
STUDENT VISA Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
Visa fee depending on the category and duration.
Covering letter from the host institution/college where the foreign student will be hosted, the letter must detail the course/field and duration of the programme to be attended
Visa Application for Referral Cases Applicants who fall under Referral Visa category MUST apply their Visa Online; they cannot obtain Visa on arrival. Their Visa process may take longer time than other Visa applicants. They are advised to submit their applications at least two months in advance before their travel date. Further, they are advised to attach an introduction letter and any other document of their host (whether an individual or company) while applying If applicable. If they come for tourism purpose, it is recommended to obtain a covering letter from a registered credible company and it must be uploaded online along with other relevant documents for consideration. The introduction/covering letter may be attached in any attachment field along with other documents as a single PDF file,
After submission of application, applicants are advised Not to start their journey until they get confirmation that their Visa are approved. They are further advised Not to make payments for any booking or reservations made.