Trip checklist: Tanzania

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

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Visa requirement

South Africans don't need a visa for Tanzania.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 90 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

• Purpose of visit

  Tourism and visits. Business activity and work require the appropriate pass or permit; Tanzania's business visa is a separate category.

• Passport validity

  At least 6 months' validity and at least one blank page.

• How to apply

  No visa needed for SA passports. Official e-visa portal, for nationalities that need one: visa.immigration.go.tz. Immigration warns: 'Apply ONLY through www.immigration.go.tz and NOT through any other online links.' Tanzania is NOT part of the East Africa Tourist Visa (Kenya-Rwanda-Uganda).

• Travel insurance

  TWO separate state-run mandatory inbound travel insurance schemes, USD 44 per adult, valid 92 days. (1) Zanzibar (Unguja and Pemba), in force since 1 Oct 2024: bought from Zanzibar Insurance Corporation at inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz / visitzanzibar.go.tz. Applies to all non-resident visitors, with no SADC exemption found. Children 3-17 USD 22; under 3 free. (2) Mainland Tanzania, from 1 Oct 2026 (Government Notice No. 256 of 2026): bought from National Insurance Corporation at inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz. The NIC FAQ says the cover 'excludes all foreigners who are residents of the East African Community (EAC) Partner States or Southern African Development Community (SADC) Partner States', so South Africans living in SA appear exempt on the mainland. Only one policy is needed per trip, for whichever region you enter first. A traveller exempt from NIC who goes on to Zanzibar should expect to need the ZIC policy. Your own travel insurance does not replace either scheme.

• Return or onward ticket

  Visitors must show a return ticket on arrival.

• Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

  Tanzania: yellow fever certificate required if arriving from a transmission-risk country, including after transit of more than 12 hours at a risk-country airport such as Nairobi or Addis Ababa. South Africa's rule: Tanzania is classed by WHO as low potential for exposure and is NOT on SA's list, so no certificate is needed to return to SA from Tanzania.

• Arrival forms

  Zanzibar insurance certificate (or NIC certificate when entering via the mainland, if not exempt) is checked on arrival. No other pre-arrival form published.

• Transit

  Visa-free status covers transit. A transit visa (USD 30, up to 7 days) exists for nationalities that need visas.

• Travelling with children

  Not published by Tanzania. Child insurance pricing: ZIC USD 22 (3-17), NIC 50% (3-17), under-2/3 free.

• Confirm with the embassy

  Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

• Tanzania Immigration Services Department (e-visa guidelines) https://visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines

Research sources

1. 1. Tanzania High Commission (Kuala Lumpur), Ministry of Foreign Affairs network (Official, my.tzembassy.go.tz) https://www.my.tzembassy.go.tz/services/list-of-countries-which-do-not-require-visa
2. 2. Tanzania Immigration Services Department (e-visa guidelines) (Official, visa.immigration.go.tz) https://visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines
3. 3. Embassy of Tanzania, Rome (public notice) (Official, it.tzembassy.go.tz) https://www.it.tzembassy.go.tz/resources/view/implementation-of-inbound-travel-insurance-for-foreign-visitors-entering-mainland-tanzania
4. 4. National Insurance Corporation of Tanzania (state insurer, official portal) (Official, inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz) https://inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz/faqs
5. 5. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tanzania/entry-requirements
6. 6. DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
7. 7. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
8. 8. Altezza Travel (operator) (News and guides, altezzatravel.com) https://altezzatravel.com/articles/zanzibar-mandatory-insurance
9. 9. HelloSafe (News and guides, hellosafe.com) https://hellosafe.com/travel-insurance/zanzibar-mandatory-travel-insurance

From doineedavisa.co.za/tanzania. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.