Do you need a visa for Tanzania? If you are a foreigner with plans to visit the East African nation any time soon, this is one question that may likely pop up in your head. To know whether you need a visa or not, you must understand the country’s visa policy and how your nationality affects your options. Keep reading to know more.
Traveling To Tanzania Visa Free or With Visa?
Whether you travel to Tanzania with a visa or visa-free will depend on the country’s visa policy. As with other countries, Tanzania’s visa policy determines who enters the country, how they enter, and for how long? Whether a visa is required and the conditions that must be met for a visa to be issued.
Do You Need A Visa For Tanzania?
Currently, there are 60 nationalities whose citizens don’t need visas to enter the Republic of Tanzania.
These visitors enjoy visa-free status for short trips and can stay for 30-90 days per visit. If your country is on the list, you don’t need a visa for Tanzania unless you plan to stay much longer.
If you don’t qualify for visa-free entry, you have multiple entry visa options to enter the country.
Tanzania E Visa
The e-visa is a short-term visa specially issued to tourists and holidaymakers. This visa is available online and issued electronically. This means you don’t have to visit the embassy in your country to get it. You can apply for it from the comfort of your home. However, you can only enter the country through selected points such as
Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport, Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.
Land: Namanga Border, Tuduma Border
These are the approved routes for e-visa holders. Attempting to enter the country with this visa using a different route will lead to deportation.
How To Apply For e Visa?
You can apply for a Tanzanian e-visa online visa VisaHQ by doing the following
Visit VisaHQ
Select Tanzania as your destination
Select your country of citizenship
Choose e visa
Complete the online visa application form
Scan and attach the required documents
Pay the visa application fee with your card
Submit for approval
The visa will be forwarded to your verified email address once it is ready.
Visa on Arrival
A Tanzania visa on arrival is a type of travel document that must be obtained upon arrival at a border entry checkpoint in either Tanzania or Zanzibar. Currently, the Tanzanian government only issues this visa to citizens of Iraq and no one else. Should that change, a few other nationalities may be added to the visa on arrival eligible.
Iraqis may arrive at the Tanzania airport and get the visa on the spot after filling out the application form and paying the application fee. The fee cannot be paid with a credit or debit card but USD to the local currency equivalent.
They should also note that the visa validity is dependent on the decision of the immigration officers, as applications are determined on a case-by-case basis.
Those who don’t want to stand in long queues should apply for an e visa instead.
Consular Visas
Another option, a consular visa, is of different types. Consular visas are for visitors who are not eligible for e visa or visa on arrival. Currently, persons from more than 40 countries are eligible for consular visas with different validity. To avail of this visa, the applicant must submit their application to the Tanzanian embassy or consulate in their home country and go through the entire process, which may include interviews.
A visa is required because it is the only document the Commissioner General for Immigration and the Commissioner for Immigration for Zanzibar will accept for entry.
Types of Consular Visas
Residency Visa: This visa is for persons who wish to stay in Tanzania for a long time. It is best suited for retirees, persons with settled families, and workers. It may be used as a temporary or permanent resident permit.
Work Visa: Foreigners who are employees of companies in Tanzania working as permanent staff or paid contractors can apply for a work visa, or their employers can apply for it on their behalf. Work visas make it legal for them to work in the country.
Student Visa: International students admitted into academic institutions in Tanzania may apply for a student visa to enable them to live and study in the country.
Volunteer Visa: A volunteer Visa is for aid workers who are representatives of one of many international NGOs and humanitarian NGOs offering relief support to the vulnerable in the country.
So do you need a visa for Tanzania? That depends on your nationality and how long you wish to stay in the country.