Can I get a visa on arrival in Zanzibar?
Yes. Most travellers can apply for a visa on arrival in Zanzibar. It is issued directly at the airport after you land.
What you usually need
- A passport valid for at least six months
- One empty passport page
- The visa fee, paid on arrival
- A return or onward ticket
Some nationalities have to apply online in advance instead, so check before you travel rather than at the gate.
The official Tanzania eVisa application is at visa.immigration.go.tz.
What it costs
The ordinary tourist visa is US$50 for most nationalities. Citizens of the United States are issued a multiple-entry visa at US$100. Payment at the airport is by card or cash in US dollars; bring clean, recent notes, as worn or pre-2009 bills are often refused across Tanzania.
How long it takes
Expect 30 to 60 minutes at the desk depending on how many flights landed together. Applying online in advance through the official portal does not skip the queue entirely, but it does shorten it.
Who must apply in advance
A number of nationalities are placed in a referral category and must apply online before travelling, and that list changes. Check the official portal against your own passport rather than relying on what another traveller was told.
What else immigration will ask for
Proof of the mandatory Zanzibar inbound insurance, a return or onward ticket, and an address for your first night. Have all three ready on your phone before you reach the desk.
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