Zanzibar Travel Requirements
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so the visa is Tanzanian, but travellers arriving on the islands may pass through local arrival and document checks in addition to the Tanzania visa process, plus a mandatory inbound insurance rule. Here is what you actually need.
- Guide
- Planning
- Reading time
- 18minutes
- In this guide
- 6sections
- eVisa process
- Insurance rule
- Yellow fever
Written and maintained by the Safari Soles planning team in Arusha, Tanzania.
Most visitors need a Tanzanian tourist visa, applied for in advance through the official immigration eVisa portal.
- Apply for the eVisa 3–4 weeks before travel through the official portal only.
- US citizens normally need the multiple-entry visa class; check your nationality's category.
- Zanzibar's mandatory inbound insurance is compulsory for every foreign visitor, in addition to your own cover.
- Yellow fever certificate needed if arriving via an endemic country.
- Expect a local arrival and document check on the islands, even on domestic flights from the mainland.
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The Tanzanian eVisa, step by step
What paperwork do you need?
Check which of Zanzibar's entry requirements apply to your routing. Always confirm against the official portals.
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Guidance only. Entry rules change: confirm with the official Tanzanian immigration and Zanzibar insurance portals before you travel.
- Apply on the official Tanzanian immigration eVisa portal, never through a third-party lookalike site.
- Choose the correct class: ordinary tourist visa for most nationalities, multiple-entry for US passport holders.
- Upload a passport bio page scan, a passport photo and your flight and hotel details.
- Pay online by card and keep the receipt and reference number.
- Allow up to ten working days for approval, and print the grant notice to show at immigration.
Visas on arrival are available to many nationalities at Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro airports, but the queue can be long and approval is at the officer's discretion. We recommend the eVisa in every case: it is the same cost, it is decided before you fly, and it removes the one part of arrival that can genuinely go wrong.
East African citizens and some other nationalities are exempt. Requirements change, so check the official portal for your passport before booking. The link is in the sources below. Once entry is settled, the rest of the trip shape is covered in the Zanzibar travel guide and the month-by-month season guide.
Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania. It is not a separate country and there is no second visa, but arrivals on the islands may pass through local arrival and document checks in addition to the Tanzania visa process. Even on a domestic flight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam you will show your passport on arrival. Keep it in your hand luggage, not in the hold.
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Zanzibar's travel insurance requirement
Zanzibar operates a Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance scheme. It is a compulsory island policy that every foreign visitor buys through the official Zanzibar Insurance Corporation portal before arrival, and it applies in addition to, not instead of, your own travel insurance. Holding a comprehensive policy from home does not exempt you from it.
It is a low, fixed cost per visitor for a set period of cover, and the confirmation is checked at the airport, so buy it through the official channel only and carry the confirmation offline. Rules and pricing for this scheme change, so re-check the official portal close to departure.
The mandatory island policy is basic emergency cover, not a substitute for a full travel policy. You still want your own insurance covering medical evacuation, because anything serious in Zanzibar is flown to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, and that flight is expensive without cover. If you are also on safari or climbing, check that your policy covers the altitude and activities involved: the safari and beach guide and the circuit and island planning guide set out how the two halves connect.
- Medical evacuation and repatriation cover: non-negotiable.
- Cover for water sports, diving depth and any safari or trekking activity.
- Cancellation and delay cover, given bush-flight variability.
- Baggage cover for camera equipment on light aircraft.
- Carry your policy number offline as well as on your phone.
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Health requirements and recommendations
| Item | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow fever certificate | Required conditionally | If arriving from or transiting 12h+ through an endemic country, including Kenya |
| Malaria prophylaxis | Strongly recommended | Zanzibar is a low-transmission malaria area; discuss with a travel clinic |
| Routine vaccinations | Recommended | Tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid commonly advised |
| Rabies | Situational | Consider for longer stays or rural travel |
| Water | Bottled or filtered | Do not drink tap water; good hotels have refill stations |
Yellow fever certificate
- Status
- Required conditionally
- Notes
- If arriving from or transiting 12h+ through an endemic country, including Kenya
Malaria prophylaxis
- Status
- Strongly recommended
- Notes
- Zanzibar is a low-transmission malaria area; discuss with a travel clinic
Routine vaccinations
- Status
- Recommended
- Notes
- Tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid commonly advised
Rabies
- Status
- Situational
- Notes
- Consider for longer stays or rural travel
Water
- Status
- Bottled or filtered
- Notes
- Do not drink tap water; good hotels have refill stations
See a travel clinic four to six weeks before departure. Some vaccinations need a course, and malaria tablets often start before arrival. Bring medication in original packaging with a prescription copy if it is a controlled substance. Families should read this next to the guide to travelling with children, and the Zanzibar packing list covers what to carry it all in. If any of this is unclear for your passports or dates, ask our team before you book flights.
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Arriving by air or by ferry
By air
- Abeid Amani Karume International (ZNZ), 15 min from Stone Town
- Direct international services from Europe and the Gulf
- Domestic hops from Dar es Salaam (20 min), Arusha and Kilimanjaro
- Light aircraft from Serengeti airstrips on safari itineraries
By ferry
- Fast ferry from Dar es Salaam, around 2 hours
- Book the official operator in advance in high season
- Rough crossings in the long rains, take motion sickness tablets
- Passport required; the same local arrival check applies
- Do not carry or use plastic bags: single-use plastic bags are banned in Tanzania.
- Keep your visa grant notice and insurance proof accessible on arrival.
- Departure from Zanzibar can be slow in peak season; arrive three hours before international flights.
- Drone use requires prior permits and is heavily restricted.
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The arrival sequence at Zanzibar, step by step
Arrivals on the islands pass a local document check even when flying in from mainland Tanzania. Knowing the order removes most of the stress.
- 1
Health and insurance check
Visitors are required to hold the mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance policy, purchased in advance. Have the confirmation on your phone and printed.
- 2
Immigration
Passport with sufficient validity and blank pages, visa or visa-on-arrival processing, and proof of onward travel and accommodation if asked.
- 3
Baggage
Small terminal, slow belts at peak arrival times. Allow for it if you have an onward connection.
- 4
Transfer
Meet your driver in the arrivals area. Confirm the hotel name and your booking reference before leaving; unofficial drivers do approach arrivals.
Documents to have ready, in this order
- Passport with the validity your airline and Tanzanian immigration require, plus blank pages.
- Visa or e-visa confirmation: check your own nationality's route; requirements differ significantly.
- Mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance certificate, purchased before travel.
- Yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from or transiting a country where it is required.
- Accommodation confirmation and return or onward ticket.
- Cash in small denominations for tips and any local fees; ATMs at the airport are not always working.
Entry rules, visa routes, insurance requirements and health advice all change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current position for your nationality with the official Tanzanian and Zanzibari authorities and your own government's travel advice before booking and again before departure. The dates and sources listed on this page show when we last checked.
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Health, money, connectivity and staying out of trouble
- Malaria is present at low levels. Seek medical advice on prophylaxis, use repellent at dusk and dawn, and sleep under a net where provided.
- Water: drink bottled or filtered water, including when brushing teeth in simpler accommodation.
- Sun and heat are the most common cause of a spoiled first day. Hydrate and stay out of the midday sun.
- Medical facilities are limited outside Stone Town, and serious cases are evacuated to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi. This is the argument for comprehensive cover with evacuation, on top of the mandatory local policy.
- Money: Tanzanian shillings for local spending, US dollars widely accepted at hotels. Bring cash; card acceptance is patchy and ATMs unreliable outside town.
- Connectivity: local SIM or eSIM is cheap and far better than roaming. Hotel Wi-Fi on the quiet coasts is often slow.
- Dress: Zanzibar is a predominantly Muslim island. Swimwear on the beach, shoulders and knees covered in villages and Stone Town.
- Drugs are illegal and enforced. Penalties are severe, and beach offers are not a grey area.
- Petty theft happens on busy beaches and in Stone Town at night; use the room safe, walk in company after dark, and use registered taxis.
Common mistakes to avoid
The planning slips we see most often. Each one is easy to avoid once you know it.
- Applying for a Tanzanian visa through an unofficial third-party website.
- Leaving the eVisa application to the week before travel.
- Assuming a Kenyan transit does not trigger the yellow fever requirement.
- Travelling with insurance that excludes medical evacuation.
- Packing your passport in the hold on a domestic flight to the island.
Entry rules change with little notice. Everything here reflects current guidance, but we re-check the official immigration portal for every traveller before departure and send the current requirements with your final documents.
Questions worth asking any operator
Copy these questions into your enquiry: to us or to any operator you are comparing. The answers tell you more about a Zanzibar trip than any brochure.
- Which visa class applies to our nationalities?
- Have we bought the mandatory island policy through the official portal, and do we have the confirmation offline?
- Does our routing trigger the yellow fever certificate rule?
- Do we clear immigration again on arrival in Zanzibar?
- What documents should we carry printed rather than on a phone?
What Safari Soles puts in writing
Nothing important about your trip should be discovered at check-in. Each of these is put in writing for your itinerary before you pay a deposit.
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Which beach area, and why that one for our dates?
Tide, wind and atmosphere vary hugely by coast; the reason should match how you want to spend your days.
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What exactly is included in the board basis?
Half board, full board and all-inclusive mean different things island to island: drinks and excursions are often outside.
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How are transfers and internal flights handled?
Baggage limits, drive times and connection buffers decide whether a safari-to-beach day is calm or stressful.
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Which excursions are booked, and at what price?
Pre-booked trips at fixed prices avoid beach-side selling and surprise costs mid-holiday.
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What is the payment, change and cancellation policy?
Island hotels have their own terms; you should see them in writing before you pay a deposit.
How we run a Zanzibar trip
Safari Soles is a Tanzania-based team. This is what we do for every traveller who books an island stay with us, in plain language.
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One planner, start to finish
The person who plans your route is the person who answers on the day you travel. No handover to an unnamed inbox.
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Itemised quotes
Accommodation, transfers, flights, excursions and fees are listed separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
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Safari and beach as one trip
We plan the parks, the internal flight and the island days together, which is where most Zanzibar itineraries go wrong.
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Honest seasonal advice
If your dates fall in the long rains or a tide window that will not suit you, we say so and suggest an alternative.
Planned by people who live the route
This hub exists because the same Zanzibar questions come up on every safari enquiry we answer.
- Locally based in Tanzania
- Safari and island specialists
- Licensed and insured operator
- Fast, direct answers
- Read Safari Soles reviews on TripAdvisor
- Read Safari Soles reviews on SafariBookings
- Read Safari Soles reviews on Google
Where these facts come from (4)
- Tanzania Immigration eVisa The only official channel for Tanzanian tourist eVisa applications.
- Zanzibar Insurance Corporation: inbound travel insurance Official channel for Zanzibar's mandatory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors.
- Zanzibar Commission for Tourism Official island tourism body: licensed operators, entry rules and visitor information.
- WHO: International travel and health Vaccination, malaria and general health guidance for travel to Tanzania.
Related Safari Soles guides
Continue with the guides travellers usually read next.
Zanzibar Packing List Beach, boat and Stone Town packing, reef-safe sun protection and what to add when a safari sits before the island. Planning
Read the guide
Best Time to Visit Zanzibar Dry seasons, rain months, humidity, sea conditions and how Zanzibar timing lines up with Serengeti migration months. Planning
Read the guide
Zanzibar Travel Cost What Zanzibar realistically costs by travel style: accommodation, transfers, meals, excursions and park or marine fees. Cost
Read the guide
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and the Tanzanian tourist visa covers it. There is no separate Zanzibar visa, though arrivals on the islands may pass a local arrival and document check.
We will check your paperwork with you
Send your nationalities and routing and we will confirm the visa class, the insurance requirement and whether your transit triggers the yellow fever rule.