Zanzibar Visa Requirements 2026

Do I Need a Visa for Zanzibar?

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Tanzania (and therefore Zanzibar). The good news is that for citizens of most countries — including the United Kingdom, European Union, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most Commonwealth nations — a tourist visa is available either on arrival at Zanzibar International Airport or in advance via the Tanzanian government’s e-Visa portal.

Citizens of East African Community member states (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan) do not require a visa and can enter Tanzania freely. Citizens of a small number of additional countries have bilateral visa-free arrangements with Tanzania — check with your nearest Tanzanian embassy or consulate for the most current information if you are unsure of your status.

There is no visa available for citizens of certain countries, including Pakistan, Somalia and a small number of others, who must apply through a Tanzanian embassy or high commission before departure. If you are unsure whether your nationality is eligible for visa-on-arrival or e-Visa, contact our team and we will advise.

Visa on Arrival at Zanzibar Airport

The visa-on-arrival process at Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) is generally smooth and straightforward, though queues can be long during busy arrival periods (primarily in the evenings when multiple flights arrive simultaneously). Here is what to expect:

On arrival, follow signs to “Immigration” and join the visa-on-arrival queue if you do not already have a visa. You will be given an arrival card on the plane — complete this in block capitals before landing. At the immigration desk, present your: completed arrival card, valid passport, return ticket (on your phone is fine), hotel booking confirmation, and US Dollar cash for the visa fee (exact change is appreciated but not essential). The officer will issue your visa, stamp your passport and grant you entry for up to 90 days. The whole process typically takes 5–30 minutes depending on queue length.

Important: Bring clean USD bills dated 2006 or later. Torn, heavily worn or pre-2006 dollar bills are widely rejected throughout East Africa. If you are arriving from the US, ensure your bank provides newer-issue bills.

Tanzania e-Visa — Apply Online in Advance

The Tanzania e-Visa system allows eligible nationalities to apply for and pay for their visa online before departure, avoiding queues at the airport entirely. The e-Visa is strongly recommended for travellers who want to minimise immigration waiting time, particularly for large groups or families.

The e-Visa application is made through the official Tanzania Immigration Services portal at immigration.go.tz. You will need to upload: a digital passport photo, a scan of your passport bio-data page, your travel dates and accommodation details, and payment by credit or debit card. Processing typically takes 3–10 business days, so apply at least two weeks before departure. The approved e-Visa is emailed to you as a PDF — print a copy and also save it to your phone.

The e-Visa costs the same as the visa-on-arrival ($50 for most nationalities, $100 for US citizens). There is an additional small processing fee charged by the portal. The e-Visa is valid for a single entry and allows a stay of up to 90 days.

Yellow Fever — When Is a Certificate Required?

A valid International Certificate of Vaccination against yellow fever (the “Yellow Card” or Carte Jaune) is required by Tanzania if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic. The list of endemic countries includes most of sub-Saharan Africa (including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria and many others) and parts of South America (including Brazil, Colombia and Peru).

If you are flying to Zanzibar directly from Europe, the UK, North America, the Middle East, India or Southeast Asia, and have not transited through a yellow fever endemic country, you are not required to present a yellow fever certificate. However, many travel health clinics recommend the vaccination regardless of entry requirements, as it provides lifetime protection and is required for onward travel to many African destinations.

If you are doing a Tanzania safari before Zanzibar — which is a very popular combination — check whether your specific routing through airports like Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Nairobi (NBO) triggers the yellow fever certificate requirement. Our team can advise based on your specific itinerary.

Common Visa Questions — Answered

Can I extend my Tanzanian visa? Yes. Visas can be extended once for a further 90 days at the Tanzania Immigration office in Stone Town. You must apply before your initial visa expires. Extensions cost the same as the original visa fee.

Can I enter Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania without a new visa? Yes. If you have entered Tanzania on a valid visa — whether via Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or any other point of entry — your visa covers movement between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. You do not need a separate visa for Zanzibar. However, you will need to show your passport at internal ferry and domestic flight checkpoints.

Is a single-entry visa sufficient if I am doing both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar? Yes — moving between the mainland and Zanzibar does not count as leaving Tanzania, so a single-entry visa covers both. You only need a multiple-entry visa if you plan to visit another country (e.g., Kenya or Mozambique) and return to Tanzania.

What happens if my passport is lost in Zanzibar? Report the loss immediately to the nearest police station and obtain a police report. Then contact your country’s embassy or consulate (most are located in Dar es Salaam) to arrange emergency travel documentation. Keep a digital photo of your passport bio-data page in your email or cloud storage as a precaution.