Mandatory Travel Insurance for Tanzania

Mainland Tanzania now requires all foreign visitors to buy a government-backed travel insurance policy, following the system Zanzibar has run for the past year or so. It costs US$44 and covers essentials such as emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation. It’s mandatory, so if you can’t show it on arrival you can expect problems at the airport. Treat it like a visa: buy it online before you travel and carry a printout, screenshot or PDF on your phone, to show at immigration.

In addition, since 17 October 2026, as a precaution following a disease outbreak elsewhere in the region, all arrivals must also complete a short online health declaration, within 24 hours before arrival. You’ll receive a QR code to show at entry, where there are also simple health checks such as a temperature check.

Which policy you need depends on where you first enter the country. If you start with a few days on Zanzibar’s beaches before your safari, buy the Zanzibar policy, which also covers you on the mainland. If you fly into Dar es Salaam and head straight to Ruaha or Nyerere, buy the mainland Tanzania policy, which also covers you on Zanzibar. You only need one of the two.

This mandatory cover doesn’t replace your own comprehensive travel insurance, which you should still arrange at home. That might be a single-trip policy, an annual multi-trip policy if you travel often, or cover through your credit card or employer. Above all, check the medical cover: it should ideally run into the millions, since hospital treatment and evacuation from remote areas can be very expensive. Lost baggage and similar extras are useful but secondary. Cancellation and trip interruption cover is worth considering, but it can add significantly to the premium, so weigh it against the value of your trip and the likelihood of this happening. Are you someone that buys the plane ticket that can be changed whenever for no fee but double the price...

I will talk you through all of this when you book, so you can travel with complete peace of mind.