Tanzania Visa for Indians 2026: Cost, Documents & How Long It Takes
By Ananya Singh (Ananya Singh writes step-by-step first-international-trip guides for Indians — passport rules, visa cascade timing, immigration walkthroughs, and the unglamorous logistics that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.) · Published · 10 min read
Tanzania — Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar. Indian passport holders need a visa, but the good news is there's now an official e-visa system that handles the whole thing online. No embassy visits, no courier — just a form, a payment, and a PDF in your inbox. Here's the full breakdown.
TL;DR — Tanzania Visa at a Glance
Indian passport holders need a visa for Tanzania, and the easiest route is the official e-visa through visa.immigration.go.tz. A standard single-entry tourist visa costs USD 50 (roughly ₹4,200–₹4,500 at 2026 rates). Processing typically takes 2–5 working days. The visa covers entry to mainland Tanzania; Zanzibar has its own immigration formalities on top. Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from or through a yellow fever risk country. Always confirm current requirements on the official immigration portal before applying — rules have been updated in recent years.
Check our visa tool for a quick overview before diving into the application.
Do Indians Need a Visa for Tanzania?
Yes — Indian citizens need a visa to enter Tanzania. Tanzania phased out its traditional on-arrival visa system in favour of an e-visa-only approach, which means you must apply online before you travel. Attempting to get a visa at Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam) or Kilimanjaro International Airport without a pre-approved e-visa can result in being turned away, which you really do not want after a 10-hour flight.
So: apply online, get the PDF, and carry a printed copy. This is non-negotiable for Tanzania travel in 2026.
Tanzania E-Visa: How to Apply from India
Head to the official portal: visa.immigration.go.tz. The application is entirely online:
- Create an account on the portal and start a new visa application.
- Select 'Tourist' as your visa type and fill in your travel details, including approximate entry and exit dates.
- Upload your passport bio page scan, a recent passport-size photo (white background), and any supporting documents (accommodation proof, return ticket).
- Declare whether you've recently visited or will transit through any yellow fever risk countries — this determines whether your yellow fever card needs to be uploaded.
- Pay the visa fee by international card (Visa/Mastercard). USD 50 is the standard single-entry tourist fee as of early 2026. Your bank will convert this to INR and add transaction fees.
- Standard processing: 2–5 working days. Check your email and the portal for status updates.
- Once approved, download and print the e-visa. Carry it alongside your passport and yellow fever certificate (if applicable).
What Documents Do You Need for the Tanzania E-Visa?
The list is reasonably short:
- Valid Indian passport — minimum 6 months validity from your intended entry date, with at least 2 blank pages
- Recent digital passport photograph — white background, JPEG, clear
- Scanned passport bio page
- International payment card (Visa or Mastercard recommended)
- Proof of accommodation — hotel booking confirmations, lodge reservations, or safari camp bookings
- Return or onward flight itinerary
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate — required if you're arriving from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country. If you're flying direct from India (typically through Addis Ababa, Nairobi, or Dubai), check whether your transit country triggers this requirement. When in doubt, carry the certificate — getting it beforehand is far easier than being vaccinated at the airport.
If you don't have confirmed return flights yet but need to show an itinerary for the application, see our guide on dummy tickets for visa applications.
Tanzania Visa Cost for Indians
The standard single-entry tourist e-visa is USD 50 — roughly ₹4,200–₹4,600 at 2026 exchange rates. Your bank will charge a foreign transaction fee on top (typically 1.5–3.5%), so budget around ₹4,500–₹5,000 all-in.
There are also multiple-entry and transit visa options at different price points. Most Indian tourists visiting for a safari, Kilimanjaro climb, or Zanzibar holiday will need only the standard single-entry tourist visa.
Tanzania's fees are set in USD and have been stable for a few years, but do check the official portal for current figures before you apply.
Zanzibar — Is the Visa Different?
This confuses a lot of people. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania but has its own semi-autonomous government and its own immigration formalities. When you fly from Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar (or arrive directly in Zanzibar by ferry or flight), you go through a separate immigration checkpoint.
Good news: your Tanzania e-visa covers Zanzibar as well — you don't need a separate visa. However, you will fill in an immigration card at the Zanzibar checkpoint and your passport will be stamped separately. This is normal and expected; don't be surprised by the extra processing.
If you're arriving directly in Zanzibar (from Nairobi or a Gulf hub) without first entering mainland Tanzania, your Tanzania e-visa still applies at Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Confirm this on the official portal if your itinerary is Zanzibar-only, as entry rules can occasionally differ from what's written online.
Yellow Fever Vaccination — the Detail Most People Miss
Tanzania requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from or transiting through a country on the yellow fever risk list. This includes many African countries, parts of South America, and some transit hubs.
India itself is not a yellow fever country, so if you fly direct from an Indian city to Tanzania without transiting through a risk country, you technically may not need the certificate. However — and this matters — if your routing goes through Nairobi, Addis Ababa, or another African transit point that is on Tanzania's list, you'll need the certificate.
Practically speaking: just get the yellow fever vaccine. It's a one-time vaccine, it lasts a lifetime (as per 2016 WHO guidance), it costs around ₹3,000–₹5,000 at authorised travel clinics in India, and you get an internationally recognised yellow card. Many other African destinations require it too. If you're planning any East or West Africa travel now or in the future, get it done once and never worry about it again.
The vaccine is available at designated international vaccination centres in major Indian cities — check the Ministry of Health India website for authorised centres in your city.
Flights from India to Tanzania and Practical Tips
There are no direct flights from India to Tanzania as of 2026. Common routings go through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Nairobi (Kenya Airways), or Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines). Total journey time is typically 10–16 hours including the layover.
A few practical things worth knowing before you land:
- The Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) is the local currency. USD is widely accepted in tourist areas but bring small denominations for tips and minor purchases.
- Safari bookings in Tanzania often need to be locked in months ahead for peak season (June–October, the dry season when wildlife viewing is best). Start planning before you even think about the visa.
- Mobile data: a local Tanzanian SIM (Vodacom or Airtel Tanzania) is cheap and easy to get at the airport. Alternatively, an international eSIM sorted before travel avoids the airport queue — our guide on eSIM vs roaming covers the options.
For visa-related research before booking, use the FlightGPT visa tool to check entry requirements. And if you're comparing African destinations, our visa-free countries guide lists which African nations Indians can visit without a pre-arranged visa.
Tanzania's immigration rules and yellow fever requirements are subject to change. Always verify on visa.immigration.go.tz and the MEA India website before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Can Indians get a Tanzania visa on arrival?
Tanzania moved to an e-visa-only system, and visa on arrival is generally no longer available for Indian passport holders. You must apply online through visa.immigration.go.tz before travel. Processing takes 2–5 working days, so apply at least 1–2 weeks before departure.
How much does a Tanzania visa cost for Indians?
The standard single-entry tourist e-visa costs USD 50 — roughly ₹4,200–₹4,600 at 2026 exchange rates. Add your bank's foreign transaction fee (1.5–3.5%), making total cash outlay around ₹4,500–₹5,000. Confirm current fees on the official portal before applying.
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
No separate visa is needed. Your Tanzania e-visa covers Zanzibar. However, you will go through a separate immigration checkpoint when entering Zanzibar from the mainland or arriving directly from abroad. This is normal — have your passport, e-visa printout, and yellow fever certificate ready.
Is a yellow fever vaccine compulsory for Tanzania from India?
It depends on your routing. If you're flying directly from India without transiting through a yellow fever risk country, Tanzania technically doesn't require it. But if you transit through parts of Africa (Nairobi, Addis Ababa, etc.), you'll need the certificate. Practically speaking, just get the vaccine — it's once-in-a-lifetime, costs roughly ₹3,000–₹5,000 at authorised clinics in India, and is required for most East and West Africa travel.
How long can Indians stay in Tanzania on a tourist e-visa?
The standard single-entry tourist e-visa allows a stay of up to 90 days, though you'll declare your intended stay period at the time of application. Most safari and beach holidays are 7–21 days. Confirm the allowed duration on the official portal when you apply, as this can vary by visa type.