Tanzania Immigration and Customs: What to Expect on Arrival

Arrival & Getting Around · 3 min read · By Ndovu African Expeditions

Knowing what happens at Tanzanian immigration and customs, from e-visa printouts to the plastic bag ban, makes your arrival quick and stress-free.

Stepping off a long-haul flight at Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar, the first thing you face is the arrivals process. It is usually straightforward, but queues can be long when several flights land together, and having everything ready speeds things up.

Here is what our team tells guests to expect at the airport, along with a reminder that entry rules can change and must always be checked for your own nationality before travel.

Visas and the e-visa printout

Many nationalities need a visa to enter Tanzania. Apply only through the official Tanzania e-visa portal at visa.immigration.go.tz, and be wary of unofficial sites that look similar and charge extra fees. Processing times vary, so apply well ahead of travel.

Once approved, print your grant notice and carry it with your passport. Officers may want to see a paper copy, and phones have a habit of running out of battery at the wrong moment. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your stay and has blank pages.

At the immigration desk

Officers will check your passport and visa, ask about the purpose of your trip and where you are staying, and take fingerprints and a photograph. Have your first hotel's name and address ready, and keep your safari itinerary handy in case it is requested.

You may also be asked for your yellow fever vaccination certificate, particularly if you are arriving from or have transited through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Check the current requirement with a travel clinic, as it depends on your route.

Customs and what you can bring

After collecting your bags, you pass through customs. Most visitors walk through without issue, but bags may be scanned or opened. Duty-free allowances for items such as alcohol, tobacco and perfume apply; limits can change, so check the official guidance before you travel rather than relying on old information.

Some items require special permission or attention:

• Drones: permits are required, and arriving with an undeclared drone can lead to it being held.
• Large amounts of cash: declaration rules may apply above certain thresholds.
• Professional camera or commercial filming gear: may need permits.
• Medication: carry prescriptions in original packaging with a copy of your prescription.

The plastic bag ban

Tanzania has banned plastic carrier bags since 2019, and visitors are expected to comply. Do not pack duty-free shopping or clothes in plastic carrier bags, and remove any before you land. Airport staff may ask you to surrender them.

Clear zip-lock bags used for toiletries in hand luggage have generally been tolerated, but it is best to keep them to a minimum and take them home with you.

Arriving in Zanzibar

Zanzibar requires visitors to hold mandatory Zanzibar inbound travel insurance, introduced in October 2024. Buy it before you travel and keep proof accessible, whether you fly in directly or arrive from the mainland.

Once you are through the arrivals hall, your driver or guide will be waiting. If you have booked with us, look for a sign with your name just outside the exit, and do not accept offers of help from anyone you were not expecting.