Zanzibar visa and entry requirements
Visas, the mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance, passport rules and what to prepare for arrival at ZNZ airport.
Updated
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so Tanzanian entry rules apply, plus one Zanzibar-specific requirement that catches travellers out every week: mandatory local travel insurance. Here is the full picture, in the order you should deal with it.
Do you need a visa
Most nationalities need a Tanzanian tourist visa, which covers Zanzibar and the mainland on one document. The ordinary (single-entry) tourist visa costs US$50 for most passports. US citizens pay US$100 for a multiple-entry visa valid for twelve months.
Check your own nationality's requirement on the official portal before booking; the list of exemptions is short.
Apply online (recommended)
The official eVisa portal is visa.immigration.go.tz. You fill in the form, upload a passport scan and photo, pay online, and receive an approval notice to print. Apply two to four weeks ahead of travel; approvals usually arrive well within that window.
One warning: a cluster of lookalike websites charge large markups to 'arrange' Tanzanian visas. The immigration portal above is the official channel; anything else is an unnecessary middleman.
Visa on arrival
Visa on arrival is still available at Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) and at mainland ports, but the queue can be long after a full flight lands. Bring US dollars in cash for the fee, your hotel's name and address, and patience. Applying online remains the smoother path.
Mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance
Since 1 October 2024, every foreign visitor must buy Zanzibar Inbound Travel Insurance from the state-owned Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. It costs US$44 per adult and US$22 for children aged 2 to 17 (under 2 free), and is valid for up to 90 days.
Buy it on the official portal, visitzanzibar.go.tz, before you fly. It is required even if you already hold your own travel insurance; the local policy is a separate, compulsory layer. Keep the QR code on your phone; immigration scans it in the arrival hall.
Passport and other checks
Your passport needs at least six months of validity. Immigration can ask for proof of onward or return travel, so keep your departure booking reachable offline. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from an endemic country.
Have three things ready for the arrival hall: the printed eVisa approval, the insurance QR code, and your first night's accommodation address. With those in hand, ZNZ moves quickly.