Tanzania’s New Mandatory Travel Insurance: What Safari Travellers Need to Know

Updated 1 October 2026

From 1 October 2026, most foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold the government-mandated inbound travel insurance policy before passing through immigration. Zanzibar has operated its own scheme since October 2024. The mainland rule applies whether you fly into Kilimanjaro for the Serengeti, land in Dar es Salaam or cross by road from Kenya.

It is quick and relatively inexpensive to arrange, but it is now a firm entry requirement. Add it to your pre-departure checklist alongside your passport and visa.

The short version

• Mainland cost: the Tanzanian shilling equivalent of USD 44 per person.
• Validity: up to 92 days from arrival, with multiple entries allowed during the policy period.
• Where to buy: use the official NIC mainland portal if you enter mainland Tanzania first, or the official Zanzibar inbound insurance portal if you fly directly to Zanzibar first.
• Mainland exemption: residents of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner states are excluded from the mainland requirement.
• It is not a substitute for comprehensive cover: keep your own travel insurance for cancellation, delays, activities and adequate medical evacuation.

For itineraries combining mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, official guidance says travellers should not need to buy two mandatory policies. Buy the appropriate policy for your first point of entry and keep the certificate with you throughout the trip. Because Zanzibar publishes separate terms, travellers relying on an EAC or SADC exemption should check the Zanzibar portal before departure if their itinerary begins there.

Where the rule comes from

The requirement is law, not simply airline or tour-operator guidance. Tanzania’s Finance Act 2025 added section 134A to the Insurance Act (Cap. 394). The Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026 were then published as Government Notice No. 256 on 4 September 2026.

A Ministry of Finance public notice dated 25 September 2026 confirmed that enforcement begins on 1 October 2026. The regulations state that a foreigner who enters mainland Tanzania without a valid policy may be denied entry. The policy can be bought at a point of entry, but arranging it online before departure avoids an extra queue and the risk of payment or connectivity problems after a long flight.

Who needs mainland Tanzania’s inbound insurance?

The mainland regulations apply to foreign visitors arriving through airports, seaports and land borders, excluding residents of EAC and SADC partner states. In practical terms, most visitors travelling from the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, Australia, Asia and the Middle East will need the policy.

This includes travellers arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam or overland at crossings such as Namanga. If you are planning a northern-circuit safari, see our Serengeti stays and camps.

The residency detail matters

The mainland regulations refer to residents of EAC and SADC partner states, rather than simply passport holders. That distinction matters.

• If you live in an EAC or SADC country, carry proof of residence with your passport.
• If you hold a passport from one of those countries but live elsewhere, do not assume that the mainland exemption applies to you.
• If you are a foreign national resident in an EAC or SADC country, carry a valid residence or work permit and confirm the latest requirements before travel.

Zanzibar has its own insurance scheme and currently publishes separate pricing and eligibility information. If you enter Zanzibar first, check the Zanzibar portal for the terms that apply to your party rather than assuming the mainland exemption works identically.

What does it cost?

The mainland NIC premium is the Tanzanian shilling equivalent of USD 44 per person, payable online by debit or credit card or at the point of entry.

Published information about child, infant and group prices has not been fully consistent across the mainland and Zanzibar schemes. Check the live total on the relevant official portal before payment rather than relying on a quoted child rate from a third-party guide.

What it covers — and what it does not

The regulations require the policy to provide protection for:

• Emergency medical treatment
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Emergency repatriation
• Loss of luggage

The limits and detailed conditions appear on the policy certificate. The mandatory policy should be treated as an entry requirement with a basic safety net, not as a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

Before travelling, check that your own policy covers trip cancellation, curtailment, missed connections, flight delays and the activities in your itinerary. Safari areas such as the Serengeti, Ruaha and Nyerere are remote, so high-limit medical evacuation cover is important. Kilimanjaro trekkers should confirm that high-altitude trekking is explicitly covered.

Mainland or Zanzibar: which policy should you buy?

• Entering through Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza or a mainland land border: buy the NIC mainland policy.
• Flying directly into Zanzibar: buy the ZIC Zanzibar policy through its official inbound portal.
• Mainland safari first, then Zanzibar: official guidance says the NIC policy is sufficient for the combined trip.
• Zanzibar first, then mainland Tanzania: official guidance says the ZIC policy is sufficient for the combined trip.

Keep your digital certificate for the whole itinerary and carry a printed copy as a backup, as you may be asked to show it when travelling between the mainland and Zanzibar.

How to buy the policy

1. Use an official portal. For mainland Tanzania, visit inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz. For Zanzibar-first arrivals, use inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz.
2. Have your details ready. The mainland application asks for passport details, travel dates, purpose of visit and basic personal information.
3. Pay and save the certificate. Cover starts after payment and a digital certificate is issued.
4. Keep a backup. Save the certificate on your phone and print a copy to carry with your passport and visa.

NIC says mainland policies may also be purchased on arrival using cash or card, and extensions can be arranged before a 92-day policy expires. Buying in advance is still the safer, faster option.

For mainland assistance, NIC lists 24-hour support on +255 736 100 800, toll-free 0800 110 041 within Tanzania and wecare.inbound@nicinsurance.co.tz.

Your Tanzania entry checklist

• A passport valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages
• A Tanzanian visa or e-visa, where required for your nationality
• A yellow-fever certificate where the current health rules require one for your journey
• An NIC or ZIC inbound insurance certificate, where the relevant scheme applies
• Proof of residence if you are relying on the mainland EAC or SADC exemption
• Your own comprehensive travel insurance, including suitable emergency evacuation cover

Frequently asked questions

I already have comprehensive travel insurance. Do I still need this?

Yes, if the mandatory scheme applies to you. Existing medical or travel insurance does not replace the prescribed local policy.

I live in South Africa. Do I need the mainland policy?

Residents of SADC partner states are excluded from the mainland requirement. Carry proof of residence. If you enter Zanzibar first, check the Zanzibar portal because that scheme publishes its own eligibility terms.

I am doing a Serengeti safari and then staying in Zanzibar. Do I need two policies?

Official guidance says no. Buy the policy for your first point of entry and keep the certificate for the whole journey.

Can I buy mainland insurance at the airport?

Yes. NIC says the policy can be purchased at a point of entry, but buying online before departure avoids delays.

Can I leave Tanzania and return on the same policy?

The mainland policy allows multiple entries during its stated validity period of up to 92 days.

Planning a Tanzania safari?

Entry rules can change quickly. When Safari Stays plans your tailor-made Tanzania safari, we help shape the route, arrange the stays and make sure you know which documents to check before departure.

This guide reflects the regulations and official guidance available on 1 October 2026. Requirements, prices and policy terms can change, so confirm the latest information on the official NIC or Zanzibar portal shortly before travelling.

Sources

• National Insurance Corporation: Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance FAQs
• Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026 — Government Notice No. 256
• Tanzania Embassy: implementation notice
• Clyde & Co: legal analysis of the regulations
• Official Zanzibar inbound insurance portal