Before you travel to Tanzania or Zanzibar, find out what the formalities and validity requirements are for your passport.
If you are planning to travel to Tanzania or Zanzibar in the near future, whether for tourism or business, you may be wondering what official documents you need to have with you to be allowed to stay in the country. This includes the need to have a passport to visit Tanzania and Zanzibar. This is what we propose to discover through this page which will explain you what is the validity and the formalities linked to the passport for a trip to Tanzania or Zanzibar.
Tanzania passport: key points
- A passport is of course required for a stay in Tanzania or Zanzibar.
- A passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival in Tanzania.
- A passport is also required to obtain a visa for Tanzania and Zanzibar
- Children must have their own passport to travel to Tanzania.
A passport is of course one of the required and indispensable documents if you want to travel to Tanzania or Zanzibar. Remember that these countries are not currently in the European Union and you cannot go there with a simple identity document.
It will be necessary to have a valid passport which is valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date in Tanzania for English nationals.
Another requirement for your passport for Tanzania and Zanzibar is that your passport must have a sufficient number of blank pages, usually 3 pages with 2 facing each other.
Many parent travellers who wish to travel with their children to Zanzibar or Tanzania also wonder whether they need a passport for each of their children. If you are travelling with your children, you should know that minors, regardless of age, must now also have an individual passport in their name and cannot simply be listed on their parents' passport.
Therefore, if your children do not yet have a passport in their name, we invite you to take the necessary steps to apply for a passport as soon as possible and before applying for a visa.
If your child is not travelling with one of his/her two legal parents, he/she must present an authorization to leave the country signed by both parents with a copy of their identity card.
As you have understood, the passport is the essential document if you want to travel to Tanzania or Zanzibar. But it is not the only official document you will need for your trip.
In fact, all EU citizens in general must have a visa. This visa can be obtained by applying at the Tanzanian embassy or consulate, but also through a much quicker procedure called e-visa, which allows you to obtain this travel document directly online.
To apply for a visa online, you simply need to go to the official website or a website of a visa application provider. All you have to do is fill in the form by simply following the instructions on the screen and attach various supporting documents, including a scanned passport photo and a scan of your passport in JPEG or PNG format. You will also need to upload your flight tickets, return tickets or travel documents in PDF format.
Of course, it is also possible to obtain a visa on arrival in Tanzania at the various entry points such as Dar El Salam airport, Arusha, Zanzibar Kilimanjaro and at a cost of US$50. In this case, it will be advisable to have the amount in cash in case the terminal breaks down. Similarly, travellers wishing to obtain a visa on arrival would need to fill in a form and attach various supporting documents. However, this procedure can be very time consuming and tedious with long queues, which is why we recommend that you use the much faster e-visa procedure.
If you do not yet have a passport in your name or if your current passport is due to expire soon, we recommend that you apply for a passport as soon as possible at your local town hall.
The processing times for passport applications are indeed relatively long depending on the period. However, you will need to have your valid passport with you when you apply for your visa online. You will need to indicate your passport number and attach a photocopy of your passport.
For British citizens wishing to travel to Zanzibar, it is important to understand the requirements for travel documents. Although the British ID card is a valid document for domestic travel within the UK or for some travel within Europe, it is not considered a valid travel document for entry to Zanzibar. It should be remembered that Zanzibar is not part of the European Union and as such, it is not possible to travel there freely without a passport, with a simple identity card.
The Zanzibar authorities require travellers to have a valid passport to enter the island. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Zanzibar. It is important to check the validity of your passport before planning your trip to ensure that you have the necessary documents to enter the island. As mentioned above, your passport can be applied for or renewed at your nearest town hall.
In addition, British citizens must also obtain a visa to enter Zanzibar. Visas can be obtained on arrival at the airport or at a Tanzanian consulate or embassy in advance. If you plan to enter Zanzibar more than once during your trip, you will need a multiple-entry visa.
It is important to check visa and passport requirements with the relevant authorities before planning a trip to Zanzibar. Requirements may vary depending on the length of your trip, your itinerary and your planned activities there. By obtaining the most up-to-date information on travel document requirements, you can ensure that you are able to travel legally and without hassle.
It's also important to remember that the blank pages in your passport are essential to accommodate entry and exit stamps and any other visas needed for the countries you will visit during your trip. So make sure you have enough blank pages in your passport before you leave for your trip to Zanzibar.
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
As Tanzania and Zanzibar are not part of the European Union, it is not possible to travel there with a simple national identity card. In fact, for all international countries outside the European Union, you will need to carry a valid passport which is valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in the country.
The passport is the first document you should have in your possession before applying for a visa for Tanzania and Zanzibar. Indeed, when you will fill in the visa application form for this country, you will have to systematically indicate your passport number as well as attach a photocopy or a scan of the passport with which you will travel.
The quickest way to get a visa to travel to Tanzania is to apply online using the e-visa procedure. This process simply involves filling in an online visa application form at an approved site. Once you have completed the form, all you need to do is pay the application fee and upload the necessary documents to obtain your visa within a few days.
