The Government of Tanzania has entered into agreements with various countries to ease visa requirements, allowing citizens from 71 nations to enter the country without a visa.
Tourists from many parts of the world are now eligible to obtain visas on arrival at major international airports such as Julius Nyerere (Dar es Salaam), Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar.
This development was announced by the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dunstan Kitandula (MP), in response to a question from Dr. Pius Stephen Chaya.
Dr. Chaya had asked what measures the government has taken to simplify the visa process for international tourists, particularly in light of the growing interest generated by the Tanzania: The Royal Tour initiative.
Kitandula highlighted that the government continues to modernize the visa issuance system in line with global technological trends.
One key advancement is the launch of an online visa application system (e-Visa) by the Immigration Department, enabling travelers to apply for visas from anywhere in the world without needing to visit a Tanzanian embassy.
“In addition, the government has updated the 2023 Immigration Regulations (GN No. 428), which now allow tourists holding a Visitor’s Pass to travel to other East African Community (EAC) member states and return to Tanzania without having to reapply for entry,” Kitandula noted.
Given the direct link between visa policies and the tourism sector, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has enhanced its collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly the Immigration Department.
Their joint efforts focus on collecting accurate tourist data and implementing coordinated strategies to boost tourism and attract investment opportunities.
To further improve the visitor experience, the Ministry through the National College of Tourism has recently conducted Customer Service and Hospitality training for Immigration Officers.
This initiative aims to raise the standard of service provided to incoming travelers, especially tourists.
