Zanzibar visa

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To help prepare visitors for their trip to Zanzibar, we’ve detailed the key elements for Zanzibar visa, if a visa is required, how to apply and how much it costs.

Zanzibar visa and other requirements

A popular honeymoon destination forming part of Tanzania, Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region with its own immigration procedures and visitors may be asked to show their passport on entry and exit.

However, Zanzibar shares the same visa policy as the rest of Tanzania. Travelers of certain nationalities can enter the country without a visa, while others will either have to apply for a Tanzania paper visa or eVisa.

Most tourist visitors to Zanzibar have to obtain a visa including citizens of the U.S, U.K, EU and Canada.

Visitors can obtain visas upon arrival at a cost of $50 – $100 for a single entry or transit visa and a passport valid for at least 6 months and a return flight ticket are also required.

Visitors can also obtain an electronic Visa (eVisa) prior to their journey from the Tanzania Immigration Services.

The Visa applications will be processed within ten days, therefore applicants are strongly advised to observe the stipulated time frame while making their applications to ensure their dream Zanzibar beach holiday and Tanzania safari combination to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are seamless.

Visitors are also advised to consult with their immigration office to be aware of any new entry or Covid-19 requirements, which may require a negative PCR test.

Welcome to Zanzibar. Paradise awaits post border entry checks – Source: Flavijus Piliponis – Adobe Stock ©

U.S. visitors visa and passport

Visas are required for American citizens traveling to Zanzibar. A tourist visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airport in Zanzibar or mainland Tanzania. The cost is $100 USD and be prepared to pay in cash.

Carrying a small amount of Zanzibar currency, the Tanzania Shilling (TZS) is also advised when credit card facilities are unavailable.

Foreign nationals may apply for a visa online in advance of international travel. Applicants may complete the e-visa application form and make payment online with a debit card, credit card or bank transfer at the Tanzania Immigration & Visa Services.

If the e-visa is approved, the applicant will receive a “grant notice” via email. Present a copy of the grant notice to the Immigration Officer on arrival at the airport in Tanzania.

Travellers can fly to Zanzibar via the island’s main airport (ZNZ) for visitors wondering how to get to Zanzibar.

A passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond visa issuance and/or date of entry, and at least one blank visa page, is required. Visitors who enter on visas must present a roundtrip ticket and demonstrate they have sufficient funds for their stay.

Be prepared to show your passport and explain your visa status when entering or departing Zanzibar or when traveling around the mainland.

U.K. visitors visa and passport

All British passport holders need a tourist or business visa to enter Zanzibar. Tanzania has introduced an ‘e-visas’ system through which applications can be submitted and approved online in advance of travel.

It is no longer possible to get a visa from the Tanzanian High Commission in London. It is also possible to get a tourist or business visa for a single entry on arrival at main ports of entry to Tanzania, subject to the fulfilment of all immigration requirements.

Understanding the best time to visit Zanzibar is useful as this can impact flight prices and availability. 

Visitors may be asked to provide proof of your return journey. You will not be able to get a multiple entry visa on arrival. For further information about visas visit the Tanzanian immigration website.

South African visitors visa and passport

No visa is required for South Africans, a 90-day visa is issued upon arrival and passports need to be valid for six months.

EU citizens visa and passport

Citizens from most EU countries do require a visa to enter Zanzibar. The exception to this rule are nationals of Cyprus, Malta and Romania who do not require a visa.

Canada visitors visa and passport

Canadians need a visa to visit Zanzibar. At the main ports of entry, visitors can get a visa on arrival for a maximum of 3 months.

Switzerland visitors visa and passport

A valid visa for Zanzibar is a requirement for all Swiss visitors, or anyone visiting on a Swiss passport, for the purposes of tourism. Single-entry tourist visas are valid for 90 days and can be obtained at Zanzibar immigration control when presenting a valid passport and supporting travel documents.

Visa summary by country

Passport holderVisa required?Length of stayPassport valid for at least
U.S.Yes90 days6 months
U.K.Yes90 days6 months
EU countriesYes, for most countries90 days6 months
SwitzerlandYes90 days6 months
CanadaYes90 days6 months
AustraliaYes90 days6 months
South AfricaNo90 days6 months
IndiaYes90 days6 months

The full list of countries that do and don’t require a visa to enter Zanzibar/Tanzania can be found here.

eVisa application process

  • Visit the Tanzania Immigration Services website
  • Click “e-services” button
  • Select and click “e-Visa Application Form”
  • Upload and attach the applicant’s scanned relevant documents for the Visa
  • Applicant will receive an e-mail message containing their User Identification Number (that may be used to track the application online)
  • After completion of filling an online visa application form, the applicant will have to pay for a for respective visa fee
  • Upon successful payment, the applicant will submit their application
  • Lastly, the applicant will receive a message of confirmation of his application being received.

After successfully submitting the application, an applicant may track the progress of his application by using his ID Number, which is given during the application stage.

To track the application, applicants can go back to the Visa Application System, then click on the Visa Status button.

An applicant may at any time enquire to seek clarification regarding process through the following e-mail: info@visatanzania.go.tz

Entry points for approved Visa’s

Applicants whose visa applications have been approved are, at present, required to enter the United Republic of Tanzania through the five specified Entry Points, which are:

  • Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)
  • Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA)
  • Namanga border
  • Tunduma border

Other requirements

Visitors should also be aware of Zanzibar vaccines and Covid-19 entry requirements including

  • Anti-malaria treatment is recommended
  • Yellow fever vaccine is recommended
  • DTPP, hepatitis B, typhoid, hepatitis A vaccines are recommended

Visitors can expect similar Visa requirements to be enforced when visiting the nearby islands of Pamunda, Pemba island, Chumbe and Unguja Island.   

Useful visa contacts

FAQs

Do visitors need a visa for Zanzibar?

U.S, U.K, EU, Australian and Canadian nationals are required to have a visa to enter Zanzibar. The island shares the same visa policy as the rest of Tanzania. An eVisa can be secured online or at a port of entry including Dar es Salaam for between $50-$100.

Any other entry requirements for visitors to Tanzania?

Visitors should adhere to the latest Covid-19 entry requirements which may require a negative PCR test.