Tanzania is generating real enthusiasm among tourists eager to discover the riches of this land in East Africa. Mount Kilimanjaro, safaris, the reserves, and the mythical parks of this country are among the places to visit and things to do. It is also an ideal place to experience unusual and unforgettable adventures. However, for my trip to Tanzania, I had to obtain a visa. Here are briefly the steps that allowed me to obtain this visa and that will also help you get your Tanzania visa.
The different types of electronic visas for a trip to Tanzania
Whether you are going for a short or a long duration in Tanzania, you must necessarily obtain a Tanzania visa. For my part, I opted for the visa currently in force in Tanzania, namely the Tanzania electronic visa. In fact, for several years now, the Tanzania embassy no longer issues visa on passport. It has established a system for issuing electronic visa online. You can therefore travel to Tanzania with the e-visa obtained online. However, the choice of your visa depends on the type of trip you want to undertake.
Tourist visa
Also known as ordinary visa, the tourist visa is the most commonly used for visits to Tanzania. However, I must inform you that with this type of visa, it is not permitted to leave the Tanzanian territory. Otherwise, your visa will be canceled and you will need to make another application.
Business visa
The business visa concerns all individuals wishing to work in Tanzania for a short period. Therefore, it is issued for the organization of a seminar, the execution of a mission, or the realization of a financial audit. However, this visa is only valid for a maximum of 90 days.
Transit visa
Valid for a maximum stay of 7 days, the transit visa is intended only for those who simply wish to make a stop in Tanzania. It does not replace the tourist visa and cannot be used for tourism purposes. Moreover, during its processing, the immigration services require a document, either a plane ticket or a visa from another country that proves your final destination.
Student visa
This visa mainly concerns students who wish to study in Tanzania. It is therefore granted to anyone wishing to engage in volunteering, an internship, or simply to undertake an exchange between universities.
Being a citizen of one of the eligible countries
If you don’t know yet, be aware that the electronic visa is not available for all countries. For countries exempt from this visa, Tanzania allows a tourist visit for 90 days without a visa. Among its many countries, I can mention Jamaica, Kenya, Botswana, India, and the Cayman Islands. Not to mention Guyana, Ghana, and Gambia; if you hold these nationalities, you will not need to obtain the visa. In total, 136 countries are eligible like South Africa, Algeria, Germany, and Angola for the Tanzania electronic visa.
The essential documents for obtaining the visa
For a validity period of 30 days, the electronic visa allowed me to access Zanzibar and Kenya. Furthermore, it allows entry into the country through the Kilimanjaro International Airport, the Namangan and Tunduma land border posts. You can also enter the country through the Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam and Abeid Amani Karume Airport in Zanzibar. Regarding the documents, I provided :
- A copy of the second page of my passport,
- A color copy of my ID photo,
- A copy of my plane ticket.
In addition to these documents, some information regarding my stay and previous trips to Tanzania was requested from me.
The necessary vaccinations for applying for the visa
Getting vaccinated was my last step to obtain my electronic visa. Indeed, these vaccinations are part of the important administrative formalities to complete for establishing the e-visa. I therefore received the yellow fever vaccination, against meningitis A+C, against typhoid and hepatitis A and B. In addition to these vaccinations, I also underwent anti-malarial treatment. Be aware that upon your arrival, the authorities require the international vaccination certificate against yellow fever. As for the costs of these formalities, I spent a total of 50 euros.
The websites for obtaining the electronic visa
The application for an electronic visa is done only online on the websites of authorized companies. For my part, I turned to action-visas. Very reliable, the site sent me my visa via e-mail in record time. After selecting my type of visa on the site, I just filled out the application form for the electronic visa. Regarding the completion, I recommend doing it carefully to avoid hindering the issuance of your visa. Otherwise, you will not receive your visa and will also lose the visa processing fee. Among other things, you must provide the data indicated on your passport, your marital status, and other important information. Finally, be sure to check the validity of your documents before applying online.
In summary, these steps allowed me to obtain my visa and enjoy my stay in Tanzania.
