Tanzania e-Visa Guide: How to Apply Online Step by Step
- Ineke Smeulders
- Sep 16
- 8 min read
Planning your trip to Tanzania? One of the first things to take care of is your visa. Here’s a friendly, step-by-step guide to help you get your visa without stress.
Check if you need a Visa
Most travelers heading to Tanzania will need a visa, though some nationalities are exempt. A few nationalities also require a special permission from the Commissioner General of Immigration before applying — you can check the full list on the official Tanzania Immigration website (https://visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines).
It’s worth doing this check first so you know exactly what paperwork is needed and avoid unnecessary fees or delays.
Gather your documents before applying online
Before opening the application page, make sure you have:
A passport valid for at least six months after your departure date, and one blank page.
A digital passport photo with the following requirements:
Headshot on a plain background
Natural expression
In color
“The facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face must be clearly shown”
The size should not exceed 45mm (lenght) x 34mm (width) and 300KB
File format: JPEG or PNG
Travel details: your arrival airport, dates, accommodations and the details of your tour operator
A pdf of your return ticket with a size limit of 1MB.
A credit/debit card for the visa fee.
Having everything ready makes the application smooth and quick.
Use the official e-Visa website
Tanzania’s Immigration Department handles all online visas. Make sure you’re on the official site (avoid third-party services that charge extra fees).
This is the correct site: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/
Apply online for a Tanzania e-Visa
The form will ask for your personal details, passport information, travel plans, and emergency contact. Take your time and double-check everything — typos or errors can delay approval.
Let’s go through it step by step.
Step 1: Start a new Visa Application
On the homepage of the official eVisa Portal, you’ll find the options to apply for a visa (‘New Application’), to resume an ongoing application if you hadn’t filled out all the details yet (‘Continue Application’) and to check the status of your visa if you already submitted and paid your application.
Click “Apply for a new visa” under “New Application” to get started.
Step 2: Fill out your basic information
Email: This is where all your visa-related communication will be sent. Make sure it’s an email you check regularly, as you’ll receive your visa approval and any important updates here.
Passport Number: Enter the exact number as it appears on your passport bio page. This uniquely identifies your travel document, so double-check for accuracy — one wrong letter or number can cause delays.
Passport Issue Country: This refers to the country that issued your passport. For example, if you have a Belgian passport, you would select “Belgium.” This ensures the immigration authorities know which nation issued your travel document.
Security Question and Answer: This is like a backup for your account. If you ever forget your login details or need to recover your application, the answer to this question will help verify your identity.
Tick the box that you’re not a robot and click on “Start New Application” to proceed.
Step 3: Your Application ID
Once you’ve filled out your basic information, you’ll get an Application ID. This, along with your security question, is what you’ll use to check the status of your visa. Be sure to copy it or write it down somewhere safe — you’ll thank yourself later!
Click “Proceed to next step”.
Step 4: Your personal information
When filling out your visa application, it’s really important to enter all information exactly as it appears on your passport. That means your full name (including middle name if you have one or more), gender, date and place of birth, and nationality should match your passport perfectly.
For residence status, you’ll need to indicate where you currently live. For example, if you’re a Belgian citizen living in Belgium, you are a Belgian citizen. But when you’re a Belgian citizen living in France, your nationality is Belgian, but your residence is France and thus you need to indicate that you’re a resident. This helps Tanzanian immigration understand that while your passport is Belgian, you are legally residing in another country.
Click “Save and continue” to proceed with your application.
Step 5: Your contact, address, and employment
Here, you’ll fill out your contact details, address and current employment.
Under contact information, make sure you provide the email address where you want to receive visa updates.
To proceed, click “Save and continue”.
Step 6: Passport information
In this step, you’ll provide your passport details and spouse information. Make sure the details match what’s on your passport.
Click “Save and continue” to proceed.
Step 7: Travel information
In step 7, you need to fill out all the information about your trip.
Tanzania Embassy:
Country From Where You Are Applying: The country where you currently live.
Nearby Embassy: List the Tanzanian embassy in your country, or if you don’t have one in your country, list the closest one. For Belgium, that would be Brussels.
Visit Details:
Type of Visa Requested: Choose the visa that matches your purpose. Find more information on the different visa types here (https://visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines). If you’re going on a safari, choose “ordinary visa” (except if you are a USA passport holder, then you’re required to apply for “Multiple Visa”).
Purpose of Visit: Select from the drop down menu why you’re visiting. Select ‘Tourism’ if you’re coming on safari.
First-Time Visitor: Select “Yes” if it’s your first time in Tanzania; otherwise, “No.”
Previous Visits: If you’ve been before, list dates or number of visits.
Travel Plans:
Destination: Choose Tanzania Mainland if you’re coming on safari and Zanzibar if you’re going on a beach holiday. Are you visiting both places? Then choose the one you’ll be visiting first.
Onward Country: Where you’re traveling after leaving Tanzania.
Port of Entry and Departure: The airport or border you will use to enter and leave Tanzania (e.g., Kilimanjaro Airport, Dar es Salaam Airport).
Date of Arrival: When you plan to land or cross into Tanzania.
Stay Duration: How many days you will be in Tanzania.
Local Host:
Host: Choose Company/Organization if you’re coming on safari.
If you’re coming with us on safari, fill out the following details:
Full name: ReWild Away
Mobile No: +32 474 10 89 73
Email: info@rewildaway.com
Relationship: Tour Operator
Physical Address: Arusha, Tanzania
Accommodation:
Where are you going to stay: Choose a hotel if you’re going on safari or a private residence if you’re staying with friends or family.
Physical Address: Include the physical address of your first accommodation, which you can find in your booking confirmation where the accommodations are listed with their addresses.
Click “Save and continue” to proceed.
Step 8: Upload the necessary documents
Upload your passport photo, a screenshot from your passport bio page and a pdf including the information from your return ticket. Make sure all documents meet the required guidelines.
Applicant passport size photo:
The photo needs to be a headshot on a plain background with a natural expression and in color. Make sure all facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of the face are clearly visible. The size should not exceed 45mm (lenght) x 34mm (width) and 300KB and the only formats supported are JPEG or PNG.
Applicant passport bio data page:
Take a screenshot or scanned copy of your passport bio page, in JPEG or PNG format, not exceeding 300KB.
Supporting documents - return ticket:
Upload a pdf containing your return flight information. Make sure the document is not larger than 1MB. In case your airline does not provide a pdf with this information, take a screenshot from your confirmation mail making sure your name, booking number and the dates, time and flight number from your return flight are visible, paste it into a word document and export it as a pdf.
When you’ve uploaded all the necessary documents, click “Save and continue” to proceed.
Step 9: Declaration
Before submitting your application, you’ll see a summary of all the information you’ve entered. Take a moment to double-check that everything is correct and matches exactly what’s on your passport and flight confirmation — small errors here can cause delays.
Then scroll down to read the terms and conditions and tick the box “Please indicate that you’ve read and understood the information above”.
Step 10: Payments
Now that you’ve double checked everything, you can pay your visa through the portal using a Visa or MasterCard. Keep a screenshot or receipt — it’s always good to have a backup!
Once the payment is completed, you’ll be redirected to a message like the following. “Payment have been APPROVED, with Authorization ID … Your application has been received, and is pending approval.” Screenshot this and write down your Authorization ID to be sure.
You should also receive a confirmation email, though this can take a while.
Wait for approval
The processing period for visa applications is generally ten to fifteen business days. Should an application take longer than the stated timeframe, applicants are encouraged to reach out by emailing info@immigration.go.tz.
You can check the status of your application by logging into the visa application portal with your Application ID.
If for any reason, you don’t receive your Visa notification within the specified time, you can download the Visa Grant Notice through the following link: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/checkapplicationstatus
Please note that a Visa Grant Notice is not a guaranteed permission to enter the United Republic of Tanzania. When you arrive, an Immigration Officer at the entry point will make the final decision. Entry may be declined if the officer finds that you don’t meet the entry requirements or if there are valid reasons to refuse admission. Therefore, make sure you apply for a visa in time and contact info@immigration.go.tz if you haven’t received your visa after 10-15 business days.
Print and carry your e-Visa
Print a copy to bring with you to Tanzania. While the border staff can pull it up digitally, having a paper version makes everything easier and faster when you arrive.
Arrival in Tanzania
At the airport, present your passport and printed e-Visa. Sometimes, they’ll ask a few standard questions about your stay — just answer honestly. After that, you’re free to enjoy your adventure!
Tips for a smooth e-Visa experience
Apply well in advance (preferably more than 4 weeks) — last-minute applications can cause stress.
Make sure your passport is valid and has a blank page.
Double-check your airline and accommodation info.
Keep a digital and printed copy of your visa.
Applying for a Tanzania visa online might feel intimidating at first, but once you follow these steps, it’s really straightforward. A little preparation upfront goes a long way, and then all that’s left is to focus on the adventure that awaits!
Travel to Tanzania with ease
Thinking about heading to Tanzania but feeling overwhelmed by all the planning? From figuring out transfers to choosing where to stay and which parks to visit or how to get the park fees done, it can quickly get complicated. That’s where we come in.
At ReWild Away, we help you design a safari tailor-made to who you are and how you like to travel — taking the stress out of the logistics and letting you focus on the adventure itself. Whether it’s navigating the best routes, finding the right accommodations, or helping you plan the rhythm of your days in the bush, we make your journey easy, seamless, and unforgettable.
