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Everything you need to know about Tanzania visa requirements, e-Visa applications, fees, and entry procedures for Kilimanjaro climbers in 2026.
Most nationalities need a tourist visa to enter Tanzania, costing $50 USD for a single-entry visa valid for 90 days. The e-Visa is the recommended option — apply online at the official portal (visa.immigration.go.tz) at least 3-4 weeks before your Kilimanjaro climb. Visa on arrival is available at Kilimanjaro International Airport as a backup, but queues can be long during peak season.
Tanzania offers three visa categories for foreign visitors. The vast majority of Kilimanjaro climbers need the Ordinary Tourist Visa — here is how each type compares.
The standard visa for tourists visiting Tanzania. Valid for a single entry and allows stays of up to 90 days. This is the visa type you need for climbing Kilimanjaro, going on safari, or visiting Zanzibar. Available as an e-Visa or on arrival at major entry points.
Best for: Most Kilimanjaro climbers
For travellers transiting through Tanzania en route to another country. Valid for up to 7 days. Not suitable for Kilimanjaro climbers, as most treks take 5-9 days before accounting for travel days. Only consider this if you are genuinely passing through Tanzania without plans to stay.
Best for: Passing through Tanzania only
Allows multiple entries over a 12-month period. Useful if you plan to combine Kilimanjaro with visits to neighbouring Kenya or Uganda and return to Tanzania. Also ideal if you plan to climb Kilimanjaro and return later in the year for a safari or Zanzibar holiday.
Best for: Repeat visitors or multi-country trips
The Tanzania e-Visa is the most convenient way to obtain your visa before arrival. The entire process takes about 20 minutes to complete online. Here is exactly how to do it.
Go to visa.immigration.go.tz — the only official Tanzania e-Visa website. Beware of third-party websites that charge inflated fees. The official portal is managed by the Tanzania Immigration Department. Bookmark it before you start, as you may need to return to check your application status.
Register with your email address and create a password. You will receive a verification email — click the link to activate your account. Use an email address you check regularly, as all visa correspondence will be sent there. Keep your login credentials safe, as you will need them to track your application.
Fill in your personal details, passport information, travel dates, and purpose of visit. Select "Tourism" as your purpose and "Ordinary Visa" as the visa type. For your accommodation address in Tanzania, enter your hotel in Moshi or Arusha where you will stay before and after the climb. You do not need to list your mountain camps.
Upload a passport-style photograph (white background, recent, clear face), a scan of your passport bio page (showing your photo, name, and expiry date), and your return flight booking or onward travel itinerary. Documents must be in JPEG or PDF format. Keep file sizes under 500KB for smooth uploading.
Pay the $50 USD fee (for a single-entry tourist visa) using Visa, MasterCard, or other accepted payment methods. The payment portal is secure and encrypted. You will receive a payment confirmation receipt — save this as proof of payment. The fee is non-refundable, even if your visa is denied.
Processing typically takes 3-10 business days, though most applications are approved within 5 days. You will receive an email notification when your visa is ready. Log back into the portal to download your e-Visa approval letter. Print two copies — one for immigration at the airport and one as a backup. Present this letter along with your passport on arrival in Tanzania.
Pro tip: Apply for your e-Visa as soon as you book your Kilimanjaro climb — ideally 4-6 weeks in advance. This gives you plenty of buffer time and means one less thing to worry about as your departure date approaches. Use the waiting time to sort your travel insurance and gear list. If your e-Visa is still processing when you fly, you can obtain a visa on arrival as a backup.
Available at major airports and border crossings
Tanzania offers visa on arrival (VOA) at all major international airports, including Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport. Most nationalities are eligible, though we recommend checking the official Tanzania Immigration website for your specific country.
Important: If you are arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) on an evening flight during peak season (June-September), visa on arrival queues can be especially long as multiple international flights land within the same hour. Having an e-Visa means you skip this queue entirely and go straight to passport control.
Most nationalities require a visa to enter Tanzania. A handful of countries — primarily East African Community member states — enjoy visa-free entry. Here are the requirements for the most common Kilimanjaro climber nationalities.
| Nationality | Visa Required | Fee | e-Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| Canada | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| Australia | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| Germany | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| France | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| Netherlands | Yes | $50 | Yes |
| South Africa | No | Free | N/A |
| Kenya | No | Free | N/A |
| India | Yes | $50 | Yes |
For nationalities not listed, check the official Tanzania e-Visa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz for current requirements.
Gather these documents before starting your e-Visa application or arriving at the airport. Having everything ready prevents delays and rejected applications.
Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of departure from Tanzania. Must have at least 2 blank pages for visa stamps. If your passport expires within 6 months of your return date, renew it before applying.
Recent photograph with a white background, taken within the last 6 months. Must show your full face, ears visible, no glasses, no head covering unless for religious reasons. Digital format (JPEG) required for e-Visa applications.
A confirmed return flight ticket or onward travel itinerary showing you will leave Tanzania before your visa expires. Immigration officers may ask to see this on arrival. A booking confirmation email or printed itinerary is sufficient.
Hotel booking confirmation for your pre- and post-climb accommodation in Moshi or Arusha. If you have booked through a tour operator like Snow Africa Adventure, your operator can provide a confirmation letter listing your accommodation details.
While not always requested, immigration officers may ask for evidence that you can support yourself during your stay. A recent bank statement or credit card statement showing adequate funds is recommended. For Kilimanjaro climbers, your tour booking confirmation typically suffices.
Required if you are travelling from or transiting through a yellow fever endemic country. This includes Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and many other African and South American countries. The certificate must be the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) — commonly known as the yellow card.
Your passport is the most critical document for your Tanzania visa and Kilimanjaro trip. These requirements are strictly enforced — airlines will not board you and immigration will not admit you if your passport does not comply.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to leave Tanzania. If you are climbing Kilimanjaro in September 2026 and departing Tanzania on September 20, your passport must be valid until at least March 2027. Check your expiry date now — passport renewals take 4-8 weeks in most countries.
You need at least 2 completely blank pages in your passport for visa stamps. Tanzania immigration stamps take up a significant portion of a page. If you are combining Kilimanjaro with visits to Kenya or other East African countries, you will need additional blank pages for each country's entry and exit stamps.
Your passport must be in good condition — no water damage, torn pages, or obscured text. The biometric data page (photo page) must be clearly readable. If your passport is damaged, renew it before travelling. Airlines and immigration officers have the right to refuse travel documents that are not in acceptable condition.
While not strictly required, a biometric (machine-readable) passport speeds up immigration processing considerably. Most passports issued after 2010 are biometric — look for the small camera icon on the front cover. If your passport pre-dates this, consider renewing before your Kilimanjaro trip for smoother border crossings.
An essential entry requirement for many travellers
Tanzania requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate from travellers arriving from or transiting through yellow fever endemic countries. This is not optional — you can be denied entry without it. The certificate is known as the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly called the "yellow card."
Our Recommendation
Even if you are flying directly from a non-endemic country and the yellow fever vaccine is not technically required, many travel health specialists recommend getting vaccinated before visiting East Africa. The vaccine provides lifetime protection, eliminates any border complications if your itinerary changes, and protects you against a serious disease. Get vaccinated at least 10 days before travel, as the certificate is only valid from 10 days after vaccination. For more health preparation, read our altitude sickness guide and training plan.
We see these visa mistakes every climbing season. Each one is entirely preventable — read through this list before you start your application and you will avoid the issues that delay or derail other travellers.
Dozens of third-party websites mimic the official Tanzania e-Visa portal and charge $80-$150 instead of $50. Some are outright scams. The only official site is visa.immigration.go.tz. If the URL does not end in .go.tz, it is not the official government website.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure from Tanzania. If you are climbing Kilimanjaro in July and returning home in August, your passport must be valid until at least February of the following year. Climbers are turned away at the airport for this every year.
While e-Visa processing typically takes 3-10 business days, delays can occur during peak travel season (June-October and December-February). Apply at least 3-4 weeks before your travel date. Last-minute applications create unnecessary stress before what should be an exciting trip.
You must print your e-Visa approval letter and carry it with you. While Tanzania is modernising its immigration systems, not all entry points can verify electronic documents reliably. Print two copies — one for immigration and one backup in your luggage.
If you are connecting through Nairobi (Kenya), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), or any yellow fever endemic country, you must carry your yellow fever vaccination certificate. Travellers without this certificate when required can be denied entry or forced to receive a vaccination at the airport.
Only a limited number of nationalities — primarily East African Community and some Southern African Development Community member states — are exempt from Tanzania visa requirements. Do not assume you are exempt based on outdated information. Verify your specific nationality on the official e-Visa portal before travelling.
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