Mandatory Tanzania Travel Insurance: Mainland & Zanzibar
Prepare for your safari, mountain trek or beach holiday with a clear guide to entry insurance, payment and documents.
Information checked: 4 October 2026.
Who pays: you or your tour operator?
You can purchase your policy directly through the official insurer. Tartaruga Safaris does not need to pay it for you. Unless your quotation expressly includes it, arrange and pay for your entry insurance yourself before departure. Our reservations team can help identify the appropriate portal for your itinerary. If insurance is included in your package, obtain confirmation and your certificate before travelling.
Cost, start date and duration
Mainland Tanzania introduced mandatory inbound insurance for eligible foreign visitors on 1 October 2026. The Ministry of Finance notice gives a premium of USD 44 per visitor and cover for up to 92 days. Zanzibar’s requirement began on 1 October 2024. Your certificate and policy wording determine the actual insured dates and benefits. Official government notice.
Which insurer should you use?
| Your first entry | Official purchase portal | Onward travel |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Tanzania, including Kilimanjaro (JRO), Dar es Salaam (DAR) or a mainland border | NIC: mainland insurance | Valid NIC cover also allows onward travel to Zanzibar, subject to terms. |
| Zanzibar, including its international airport | ZIC: Zanzibar insurance | Valid ZIC cover also allows onward travel to mainland Tanzania, subject to terms. |
You should not pay twice for the same covered journey. NIC’s implementation guidance explains that visitors with valid cover from their first entry point can continue to the other destination without purchasing another mandatory policy. Keep your certificate available throughout the trip. NIC implementation guidance.
Europe, North America, Asia and other regions
Eligible foreign visitors must obtain the designated entry policy. Having separate international travel insurance does not automatically satisfy the local requirement. Choose the portal according to your first entry destination rather than where your safari begins.
East African and southern African travellers
Mainland: NIC’s FAQ excludes foreign residents of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner states. Its wording refers to residence. Confirm eligibility with NIC if nationality and residence differ; do not assume departure from an EAC/SADC airport creates an exemption.
Zanzibar: ZIC explicitly includes EAC/SADC travellers and publishes a USD 22 rate for them. A mainland exemption is not an insurance certificate and should not be treated as an exemption for Zanzibar. If you are exempt on the mainland but continue to Zanzibar without a valid policy, ask ZIC to confirm what you must purchase.
Tanzanian citizens and foreign residents with unusual immigration circumstances should confirm their status directly with the relevant insurer before paying. NIC eligibility · ZIC eligibility and prices.
Children and family bookings
ZIC publishes USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child. Confirm its current age bands and any infant exemption on the application portal. NIC’s public FAQ quotes USD 44 per person without a child discount; ask NIC before assuming Zanzibar’s child rate applies to mainland insurance. Make sure every family member who requires cover is correctly recorded.
Online payment or cash at the airport?
Mainland: NIC lists online debit/credit card payment and cash on arrival at entry points. It also advises obtaining insurance before arrival. Buy online before departure whenever possible and save the certificate.
Zanzibar: use the official ZIC application and payment system before travel. RwandAir confirms purchase upon arrival is possible, but recommends advance online purchase. We have not verified current cash currencies or card availability at every Zanzibar arrival point; confirm with ZIC rather than relying on a particular airport payment method.
What information and documents should you prepare?
- Your passport details, with the traveller’s name entered exactly as shown.
- Travel dates, purpose of visit and personal/contact information requested by the portal.
- A payment method accepted by the official system.
- Your issued policy certificate, saved offline on your phone; a printed backup is recommended.
- If claiming an exemption, ask the insurer which residence or citizenship evidence it accepts.
NIC requests passport information, travel dates, purpose of visit and basic personal details. Follow the ZIC form for its own requirements. Check names, passport numbers and coverage dates before travelling. A payment receipt alone is not the same as an issued insurance certificate.
What does it cover?
NIC lists emergency medical expenses, baggage loss, evacuation and repatriation. ZIC describes protection for medical emergencies, accidents and other incidents. Benefits have limits, conditions and exclusions: read the issued policy, and use its emergency assistance instructions.
For Kilimanjaro or other mountain activities, ask your insurer specifically about altitude limits, trekking, rescue and evacuation. Do not assume an entry policy covers every safari or climbing activity. Consider suitable wider travel protection for your itinerary, cancellation and other needs.
Questions before you travel
Does this replace my visa?
No. Insurance and immigration permissions are separate. Check the visa requirements applicable to your passport.
Can I stay longer than 92 days or leave and re-enter?
Ask your provider before expiry or re-entry. NIC describes multi-entry cover within the certificate period and extensions before expiry. Do not assume the same re-entry terms apply to ZIC.
What if my application or payment fails?
Use the official portal’s application-status tools and contact the insurer. Confirm whether a certificate was issued before attempting another purchase.
What if I already bought ZIC insurance but arrive on the mainland first?
NIC has published transitional guidance for valid, paid ZIC policies. Ask NIC to confirm acceptance for your dates and itinerary before buying a duplicate policy.
Official insurance assistance
NIC: wecare.inbound@nicinsurance.co.tz · +255 736 100 800 · Tanzania toll-free 0800 110 041.
ZIC: inbound@zic.co.tz · +255 659 072 500 · Tanzania toll-free 0800 008 005.
Need help planning your arrival?
Tell Tartaruga Safaris your first arrival airport, travel dates and whether you will visit mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar or both. We can help coordinate your itinerary and direct you to the appropriate official insurer.
Enquire: info@tartarugasafaris.com · Explore Tartaruga Safaris
Slow Down. See More.
