A New Layer of Entry Requirements
Travellers heading to Tanzania or Zanzibar face a new pre-departure task. Since 1 October 2026, most international visitors must purchase government-issued travel insurance before they arrive, under section 134A of Tanzania's Insurance Act. The rule applies regardless of how you enter - by air, land, or sea - and affects an estimated 2.3 million visitors annually.
The policy must be bought through the National Insurance Corporation for mainland Tanzania or the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation if entering via the archipelago. Proof of coverage is now checked at entry points alongside passports and visas.
What the Policy Covers and Costs
The mandatory insurance is designed to cover emergency medical assistance, accidents, repatriation, and personal liability during a visit. Tanzanian officials say the policy also extends to baggage delays and theft, though the extent of those protections remains to be detailed in practice.
Premiums are set at $44 per adult and $22 per child aged three to 17. Children under three travel covered at no charge. Groups of 10 or more receive a 10 per cent discount. Each policy remains valid for 92 days and covers multiple entries during that period, which is useful for travellers moving between the mainland and Zanzibar or leaving and returning within three months.
One practical upside: visitors planning the popular combination of a safari on the mainland and a beach stay in Zanzibar do not need to buy separate policies for each territory. Either the National Insurance Corporation or Zanzibar Insurance Corporation policy covers travel across both.
Who Is Exempt
A handful of categories are excluded from the requirement. Transit passengers passing through without entering the country are exempt, as are diplomats travelling on official passports and holders of certain work and residence permits. Citizens of East African Community member states and some other African nations are also not required to purchase the policy.
Everyone else - including visitors who already carry their own private travel insurance - must buy the state-issued coverage. That means paying twice for overlapping protection if you arrive with an existing policy from home.
Timing and Context
The requirement comes at a moment when travel costs are already under pressure. Fuel prices have been volatile in recent months, shaped by conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping routes. Adding a mandatory insurance fee - modest though it is - layers another fixed cost onto trip budgets.
Tanzania is not alone in mandating travel insurance. Argentina, Kenya, Qatar, and several European countries within the Schengen Area impose similar entry requirements, though the structure and provider vary. In some cases, visitors can use private insurers that meet government standards; in Tanzania's case, the policy must come from the state corporations.
The rationale behind such rules is typically financial: governments seek to avoid shouldering the cost of emergency medical treatment or repatriation for foreign visitors who arrive uninsured or underinsured. Thailand has been considering a similar mandate to address unpaid hospital bills left by tourists.
What It Means for Visitors
For travellers, the new rule adds a step to pre-departure planning. Policies must be purchased before arrival, which means factoring in the application process and any processing time. The 92-day validity period offers flexibility for longer trips or multi-entry itineraries, but the upfront cost is non-negotiable.
Whether the policy delivers value depends on what you already carry. If your existing travel insurance includes robust medical evacuation, emergency care, and liability coverage, the Tanzanian policy is redundant - except that it is legally required. If you typically travel without insurance, the mandate at least ensures baseline protection in a country where healthcare access can be uneven outside major cities.
The requirement is unlikely to deter visitors to one of Africa's most popular safari destinations, but it does shift the cost structure slightly. For families or groups, the per-person fee adds up quickly, even with the group discount. Solo travellers and couples face a fixed $44 or $88 surcharge that was not part of the trip budget a year ago.
Tanzania's tourism sector has rebounded strongly in recent years, and the government appears confident that the insurance mandate will not reverse that momentum. Whether other destinations follow suit - and whether private insurers push back on state monopolies in this space - remains to be seen.
