How to Apply for a Tanzania eVisa Online
The Tanzania eVisa application is completed through the official online visa system. The portal guides applicants through the form, document upload, payment and submission stages. Screen order or labels may change, so always follow the instructions shown during your application.
- Access the official Tanzania eVisa application system. Use the official immigration eVisa portal rather than an unofficial lookalike website.
- Start a new application. The initial form may ask for your email address, passport number, passport issuing country, a security question and a security answer.
- Save the Application ID. Keep this number, your email address and security details securely. They are needed to continue an unfinished application and to check its progress later.
- Enter your personal and passport details. Copy names, dates and passport information exactly as they appear in the passport you will use for travel.
- Provide travel information. This can include your purpose of visit, intended dates, accommodation or host details where requested, and your first point of arrival.
- Select the appropriate visa category. Choose the category that matches the purpose and conditions of your trip. Selecting the wrong type can lead to rejection.
- Upload the required photo and supporting documents. Make sure each file is readable, complete and consistent with the information in the form.
- Review the information, pay the applicable fees and submit the application. Check every field before final submission. Payment confirms that the payment stage was completed; it is not a visa approval.
- Keep the confirmation and track the application. Watch for notifications at the email address used in the form, and use the official tracking function if needed.
Accuracy matters. Tanzanian immigration guidance states that changes cannot be freely made once an online application has been submitted. If a travel date, passport detail or other key item is wrong, seek instructions from the relevant immigration authority rather than immediately submitting several new applications.
What Documents Do You Need for a Tanzania eVisa?
For a tourism-related Ordinary Visa application, the official guidance generally requires a valid passport, a copy of its biographical data page, a recent digital photo, a return ticket and payment of the applicable fee. Exact requirements can vary by visa type, passport and travel purpose.
Documents to upload
- A clear copy of the valid passport biographical page.
- A compliant digital passport photo.
- A return or onward travel ticket, where required under the applicable visa guidance.
- Any category-specific supporting documents requested for your purpose of travel.
Information to enter in the form
- Personal details and contact details.
- Passport information and nationality details.
- Purpose of travel, intended dates and first point of arrival.
- Travel, host or accommodation information when requested by the form.
- Details needed to make payment using a method accepted by the official portal.
Do not assume that one document list applies to every traveller. Business, student, transit, multiple-entry and referral cases can require additional evidence.
How Long Must Your Passport Be Valid?
The official eVisa guidance says applicants should hold a passport valid for at least six months and with at least one unused visa page before submitting the application. Make sure your passport meets the official validity requirements both when submitting your application and when entering Tanzania. If your passport is close to expiry, check the current immigration rules and your airline's document requirements before travelling.
What Are the Tanzania eVisa Photo Requirements?
The official guidance specifies a colour photo on a plain background, with the face clearly visible and facing the camera. The image must be in JPG or JPEG format and must not exceed 500 KB. The published specifications also refer to physical dimensions of no more than 45 mm by 35 mm; do not treat that measurement as a mandatory pixel size.
The photo should show a natural expression, open eyes and no distracting shadows. Religious head coverings are permitted where applicable, provided the face remains clearly visible. Follow the instructions displayed on the portal when applying, as they take precedence for the upload stage.
How to Complete the Tanzania eVisa Application Form Correctly
The eVisa application form collects the information immigration authorities need to assess the request. Typical sections cover personal details, passport information, nationality, contact details, purpose of travel, travel dates, first point of arrival, visa category and supporting documents.
- Match your name spelling, date of birth and passport details exactly to the passport biographical page.
- Double-check the passport number, including letters, zeros and number order.
- Verify intended arrival and departure dates before submitting.
- Choose the visa category that matches your real purpose of travel.
- Make sure the form agrees with the ticket, passport copy and other documents you upload.
- Review every section before final submission, because post-submission changes are not freely available.
A practical example: if your passport uses a middle name, abbreviated name or different surname order, reproduce the passport format in the fields that request passport identity information. Do not rely on a preferred spelling used in airline profiles or hotel bookings.
How Much Does a Tanzania eVisa Cost?
According to Tanzania's official visa guidelines, the government fee for an Ordinary Visa is USD 50. This is the relevant tourism category for many eligible travellers, but it is not a universal Tanzania eVisa fee: fees differ by visa type and may depend on the traveller's nationality and circumstances.
For example, US passport holders travelling for tourism normally need to apply for a Multiple Entry Visa rather than an Ordinary Visa. The official guidance sets separate conditions and a USD 100 fee for that category. Check the category selected in your application before paying.
Government visa fees are paid through the application process. The official terms include situations in which a fee is non-refundable, so applicants should not assume a payment will be refunded if an application is refused, delayed or duplicated. Any optional private-assistance charge is separate from the government visa fee.
How Long Does Tanzania eVisa Processing Take?
Tanzania Immigration Services states that online visa applications are processed within 10 days, except for referral visa cases. This is an official reference timeframe, not a guaranteed approval deadline or a promise that every application will be decided within 10 calendar days.
Incomplete information, unreadable files, an incorrect category, further review or a case requiring special procedures can take longer. The official terms advise applicants to lodge an application at least 10 days before travel. Applicants in the Referral Visa category are advised to apply at least two months before their intended travel date.
Submitting an application is not the same as receiving approval. Wait for the Visa Grant Notice before relying on the eVisa for travel.
How to Check Your Tanzania eVisa Application Status
Use the official eVisa tracking function to follow an application after it has been started or submitted. The system uses the Application ID together with the email address, security question and security answer created at the beginning of the process.
- Application started but not completed: use the official continuation function and the details saved at the start of the application.
- Application submitted: retain the confirmation and check the tracking function as well as your email inbox.
- Application under review: allow for the official processing timeframe and any additional assessment that may be required.
- Decision or notification received: read the message carefully and retrieve the Visa Grant Notice through the official system if it is available.
If no message arrives, check spam and junk folders, verify the email address entered in the form, and use the tracking function before making another payment or application.
How to Receive and Present Your Approved Tanzania eVisa
Applicants are notified through the email address used in the online form when the application has been accepted or rejected. If an approval notification is not received, the official system allows applicants to track the application and download the Visa Grant Notice.
Keep a copy of the Visa Grant Notice accessible during travel and check that its personal information matches your passport. A Visa Grant Notice does not guarantee admission: the immigration officer at the point of entry makes the final decision on entry after assessing the traveller's compliance with applicable entry conditions.
Tanzania eVisa Rejected, Delayed or Not Received: What Should You Do?
Problems should be handled through the official application record, not by guessing what happened. Keep your Application ID, confirmation details and copies of the files submitted.
- No confirmation email: check spam folders, confirm the email address used and check the official application status.
- Application still pending: allow for the official reference processing period, then contact the relevant immigration authority if the stated timeframe has passed.
- Incorrect passport details: request instructions from immigration authorities. Submitted applications cannot be freely modified.
- Photo or document problem: review whether the file is readable, complete and consistent with the official requirements and any message received.
- Payment problem: keep proof of the transaction and avoid duplicate payments until the status is clarified.
- Rejected application or approaching departure: do not assume that an eVisa still under review can be replaced automatically by another entry option. Seek official guidance for your situation.
Tanzanian immigration authorities may give or withhold reasons for a rejection under the published terms. Neither a new application nor a payment automatically resolves a refusal or delay.
Can You Apply for a Tanzania eVisa for Children or Family Members?
Yes, but each passport holder needs an individual visa application. According to Tanzania's official eVisa guidance, each traveller, including children, must have an individual visa application. Parents or guardians should prepare the required information and supporting documents for each child separately.
Each child's application should use that child's passport and supporting information. Depending on the visa category and family situation, additional documents may be requested, so check the requirements shown for the individual application rather than assuming one family submission covers the whole group.
Is the Tanzania eVisa Valid for Zanzibar?
The official Tanzania eVisa system covers travel to both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. If your itinerary includes both, select your first destination when completing the application; the official guidance says a new visa is not needed solely to visit the other part during the same trip, subject to the visa's conditions.
Entry formalities can still depend on your passport, visa category and travel circumstances. Mandatory travel insurance, where applicable, is a separate requirement from the visa process.
Official Tanzania eVisa Website or Private Assistance: Which Should You Choose?
Travellers can apply directly through Tanzania's official immigration eVisa portal, complete the form themselves and pay the applicable government fee.
Alternatively, travellers may choose optional private assistance to help prepare an application and review information, depending on the services offered. This service may involve additional fees separate from the official visa fee. A private provider does not issue Tanzania visas, does not decide applications and cannot guarantee faster processing, approval or entry.
Tanzania eVisa Application Checklist
- Valid passport with the required validity and an unused visa page.
- Correct visa category for the real purpose of travel.
- Accurate passport details copied from the passport.
- Compliant digital photo.
- Readable supporting documents.
- Correct intended travel dates.
- Correct first point of arrival.
- Accessible email address.
- Applicable government fee checked before payment.
- Application reviewed before submission.
- Application ID and security information saved securely.
Check Your Tanzania Entry Requirements Before Applying
Before starting an eVisa application, confirm that the visa category and procedure fit your actual trip. Tanzania visa requirements can depend on the passport used, purpose of travel, intended duration and itinerary. Go2entry can help you check the entry formalities that may apply to your travel plans before you begin an application.