Tanzania Facts: Visa, Currency & What to Know Before You Go

Most visitors need a visa to enter Tanzania. The most straightforward route is the official Tanzania e-Visa, applied for online before you travel; a visa on arrival is also available for many nationalities. Requirements and fees change from time to time and vary by nationality, so always check the current rules on the official Tanzania Immigration e-Visa portal, or with your nearest Tanzanian embassy or consulate, before you travel.

Your passport should generally be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry, with at least one blank page — a standard requirement across most African countries. If you are arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, you may also be asked for a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate on entry.

The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), but US Dollars are widely accepted for park entry fees, safari and Kilimanjaro payments, and at many lodges and hotels. If bringing dollars, banknotes printed from 2006 onwards in good condition are the most reliably accepted — older or damaged notes are sometimes refused. ATMs are available in Arusha, Moshi and other larger towns, though not always inside the national parks themselves.