Usually this is for a safari or perhaps a visit to Zanzibar – or if you’re lucky, both. The first thing to know is that USA passport holders who wish to visit Tanzania for tourism or holiday MUST apply for Multiple Visa even If they plan for single entry. That is currently $100 per visa, which is valid for 1 year, starting from the date you arrive in Tanzania (at least the date you say you will arrive on the application).

While they say they can do it in as little as 10 days, our experience has shown that it’s best to apply for your visa about 90 days prior to arrival date. While they do have a “visa-upon-arrival” I can tell you that the line is long and the process is confusing. Having the e-visa ahead of time is the smart play.

If you’re from the US, you have to get the Multiple Visa, but that is a bonus if your safari includes Kenya, for example. You may be going back and forth across the border, and that Multiple will be truly needed. We’ve also booked trips for clients that want to go to Rwanda for Gorilla Trekking, but then go back to Tanzania to connect for the roundtrip long-haul back home.

From the Tanzania Embassy: A passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond visa issuance and/or date of entry, and at least one blank visa page, is required. Visitors who enter on visas must present a roundtrip ticket and demonstrate they have sufficient funds for their stay.

Always check the Tanzanian guidelines, as visa requirements and regulations are subject to change since the writing of this blog.

Application Steps:

1. Navigate to https://visa.immigration.go.tz/# and select Apply for a New Visa in the New Application box.
2. You will provide an email address and select a security question and type your answer. You will need to remember which security question you selected along with your answer; it will not prompt you later!
3. You will be given an Application ID – which is important, so print it and/or copy & paste it somewhere for later use.
4. In order to access your application later, you will need: (1) your Application ID, and (2) an answer to the Security Question you provided in the previous page.
5. You will enter personal details. Note that your Country is the United States of America, and your Nationality (if born here) is “American”. In other words don’t pick “United States Outlying Islands” if you do not see “United States” then look under the A’s and select “American” (if applicable of course!).
6. When the form asks about your spouse’s nationality you select “United States of America” (NOT American) – then you will enter your passport data. Notes: for PLACE OF ISSUE for most people will put “Department of State USA”, unless you had an unusual situation. The nearest embassy to everyone should be Washington DC.
7. When you select Visa Type, select “Multiple Entry Visa” and then in the next drop down you select “Leisure & Holiday (for USA)”
8. Travel plans: Arrival – generally you will select “Tanzania Mainland”, Port Type “Airport”, Port of Entry “Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)” aka JRO. (but if arriving from Kenya or directly to Zanzibar you will need to spell that out).
9. For Port of Departure, this can depend on your situation as well. For example you may depart from JRO (same as arrival) perhaps your flights depart from Dar Es Salaam “Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)”, or Zanzibar – just complete as applicable.
10. Your arrival date is the day your flight lands in JRO, and you can calculate the total days in Tanzania from the date you depart.
11. Local Host Information & Hotel Address (example):

Please note for this example I am showing Kearsley, the operator for Tauck. However if we have not booked you with Tauck, it could be EXG or another operator – that is who you should put. For the hotel example, we used the Arusha Serena Hotel, but you should put whatever the very first hotel you are staying at in Tanzania.

9. Who is accompanying you?

Are you traveling as part of group/organization: Yes if with a tour operator such as Tauck, an Outlander Society trip, or other group. Put No if it’s just you or your family.
Name of Group or Organization: Tauck Safari (for example)

Are you being accompanied by any minors? No (unless you are)

10. Upload Documents (I’ve used mine for the example):

You will need to upload a passport sized photo jpg/png (as if you were applying for a passport) – 300kb max size
You will need to upload the bio/data page photo jpg/png of the passport you will be traveling with to Tanzania – 300 kb max size

Note: if your pictures/scans are larger than 300 kb it will generate an error.

You will need to upload your itinerary (“return ticket”) that shows your flight departing Tanzania as a pdf – 1mb max size

11. Review your application and fix any incorrect information, read the disclaimer carefully (click the blue “read disclaimer” button), then check the box if you agree with the declaration statement.
12. Payment – I would not recommend to pay by wire transfer, but only click Proceed with Mastercard or Visa at the bottom right.

After that, you should see a screen like this:

select Pay Now, then you will be able to choose your card type by clicking on either the Mastercard or Visa Logo; Enter your card details, and click the Pay button for $100 USD.

Note: if you click on the Pay button and it generates a web error, click the Back arrow, and then select manually pay.

13. Application Finished: you should see a screen like this:

14.  You are done for this one, but remember you need a separate application for each person in your party!

15. You can check on the status of your visa by checking back at https://visa.immigration.go.tz/#.

Redacted Actual Visa

Here is what your final product will look like, the first 3 pages at least (and you can click on each for an expanded view):

After your visa application, you should consider a travel health specialist for recommendations on vaccinations, malaria, etc. We recommend Passport Health, and there is likely one near you.