Does Tanzania Require a Visa for South Africans in 2026?

Quick answer: South African citizens travelling on ordinary South African passports are generally reported to be able to enter Tanzania for tourism without applying for a visa in advance, usually for up to 90 days [4][14]. Tanzania's official pages supplied for this guide do not publish a South-Africa-specific exemption list, so confirm the current position with Tanzania Immigration or the Tanzanian High Commission before travelling.

For travellers who do need a visa, Tanzania's official ordinary tourist visa fee is US$50, while a multiple-entry visa is US$100 and a transit visa is US$30 [5]. The official visa guidance requires a passport valid for at least six months and supporting documents such as a passport copy and return ticket [1][2].

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Visa requirements for South African citizens: the short answer

Visa rules depend on your nationality, passport type, purpose of travel and intended length of stay. A South African citizen visiting Tanzania for a holiday or safari is generally treated as visa-exempt, according to current third-party country guidance and published visa tables [4][14]. The reported visa-free period is up to 90 days [4][14].

This exemption should not be assumed to cover employment, study, residence, paid assignments or other activities. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation warns that visa exemptions are normally intended for permitted short visits, while work, study and residence permits must be obtained before travel where required [12]. Entry is ultimately decided by Tanzanian immigration officials, and holding permission to travel does not guarantee admission [12].

Travellers using emergency, temporary or other non-standard travel documents should obtain individual confirmation before departure. Tanzania's Pretoria High Commission states that an entry document must be valid for at least six months and must be recognised by the Tanzanian government as a travel document [1].

Visa types and who needs one

Ordinary tourist visa

An ordinary visa is the standard single-entry option for tourism when a visa is required. Tanzania Immigration lists the fee as US$50 [5]. The official visa material describes this category for visitors travelling for tourism and requires the correct visa category to be selected [5][7].

South African tourists who qualify for visa-free entry should not need to purchase an ordinary visa solely for a normal holiday. However, the exemption can change, and the official sources supplied here do not provide a nationality-by-nationality exemption table for South Africa. Check the official Tanzania e-Immigration portal before paying for an application.

Multiple-entry visa

Tanzania Immigration lists the multiple-entry visa fee as US$100 [5]. This category may be relevant to travellers who need repeated entries or whose circumstances do not qualify for ordinary visa-free tourism. Do not select it simply because you are visiting more than one Tanzanian destination; moving between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar does not by itself establish a multiple-entry requirement.

Business, study and other permits

Business travel, study, employment, residence and research can require a different visa or permit. Tanzania's official fee chart lists a business visa at US$250 and student visa fees beginning at US$50, depending on the category and duration [5]. South African citizens should confirm the correct permission before booking travel if the trip involves work, volunteering, formal study, paid assignments or residence.

Transit visa

Tanzania lists a transit visa at US$30 [5]. The official eVisa guidance says a transit visa is strictly for travellers passing through Tanzania to another country and is not intended for tourism or another purpose [2]. Supporting evidence includes a visa and/or onward ticket for the intended destination [2].

Step-by-step: how to apply if you need a Tanzanian visa

Many South African safari travellers will not need to submit a visa application for a qualifying tourist visit. If the official eligibility check says that you do need one, apply through Tanzania's official e-Immigration service rather than an unauthorised agent or lookalike website. The official portal provides a visa application service at eservices.immigration.go.tz [10].

1. Check your status and purpose. Confirm whether your South African passport qualifies for visa-free tourism and identify whether your trip is tourism, transit, business, study or another purpose. Select the category that matches the real reason for travel [7].
2. Use the official portal. Tanzania's e-Immigration portal provides the visa application option [10]. Avoid paying an intermediary unless you deliberately choose a recognised service and understand its additional charges. Tanzania Immigration says an ordinary tourist visa is US$50; a higher invoice may indicate an agent or unauthorised link [5].
3. Prepare your passport. The Pretoria High Commission requires a passport or recognised travel document valid for not less than six months [1]. The online guidance also requires a copy of the passport biographic-data page [2].
4. Upload a suitable photograph. The official eVisa guidelines require a recent colour passport-style photograph with a plain background, a front-facing full-face image and eyes open [2]. The supplied guidance states that the image should not exceed 45mm by 35mm, the file should not exceed 500KB and the format should be JPG or JPEG [2].
5. Add travel evidence. The official online guidance lists a return ticket among the required documents [2]. Keep your itinerary, accommodation details and onward travel evidence available in case an immigration officer requests them.
6. Pay only the official charge shown for your category. Tanzania's published fee chart lists US$50 for an ordinary visa, US$100 for a multiple visa, US$250 for a business visa and US$30 for a transit visa [5]. Confirm the live amount and payment instructions on the official portal before submitting.
7. Save the application record. Keep your application reference, payment confirmation and any approval notice with your travel documents. An approved visa still does not remove the immigration officer's authority to decide admission [12].

Documents South African travellers should carry

For a visa-free tourist journey, carry the documents that demonstrate both identity and the purpose of the visit. For a visa application, the following documents are supported by Tanzania's official guidance:

• A South African passport or recognised travel document valid for at least six months [1].
• A copy of the passport biographic-data page [2].
• A recent passport photograph meeting the official format and image requirements [2].
• A return or onward ticket [2].
• Accommodation confirmation or other evidence of your travel arrangements. The Tanzanian High Commission in Pretoria lists hotel confirmation among its basic requirements [1].
• Additional documents appropriate to the visa category, such as an onward-country visa for transit or institutional documentation for business and official applications [2].

Requirements can differ by entry purpose and document type. If a child is travelling, or if the traveller holds a temporary passport or emergency document, confirm any additional conditions with the Tanzanian mission or Immigration Department before departure.

Visa fees and payment in 2026

The following are Tanzania Immigration's published visa fees. They apply when the relevant visa is required; they are not a charge for a qualifying visa-free tourist entry.

These amounts come from Tanzania Immigration's official fee chart [5]. Fees can be revised, and exchange-rate or payment-provider effects may affect the final amount displayed online. Confirm the current fee on the official portal before paying.

Processing times, validity and length of stay

Tanzania's official visa information published by a Tanzanian embassy states that a visa application will be processed within 10 days and advises applicants to allow for that timeframe [7]. This is a processing indication, not a guarantee, and it does not mean that a visa-free traveller needs to wait 10 days before travelling.

For ordinary South African tourist visits, current third-party guidance reports visa-free access for up to 90 days [4][14]. Because the official sources supplied here do not show the underlying South Africa-specific exemption notice, verify the permitted stay before departure and check the entry stamp issued by immigration.

A visa's validity and the period allowed in Tanzania are not necessarily identical concepts. Follow the dates and conditions printed on the visa or entry record. Do not remain beyond the authorised period without an approved extension.

When planning your trip, you can compare Tanzania safari packages on SafariFind and then confirm the immigration requirements for your exact itinerary. The best time to visit the Serengeti may influence your travel dates, but seasonal safari planning does not change the visa rules.

On arrival: what Tanzanian immigration may check

At an airport, land border or other port of entry, immigration officials may check your passport, travel purpose and supporting documents. For a visa application, Tanzania's official online guidance specifically lists the passport biographic page and return ticket [2]. The Pretoria High Commission also lists hotel confirmation among basic requirements [1].

Keep your passport, accommodation details, return or onward ticket and visa approval or exemption evidence accessible. Answer questions consistently with your actual itinerary. A visa or visa exemption does not guarantee entry; South Africa's DIRCO explains that admission remains the decision of the foreign country's immigration officials [12].

If you are entering Zanzibar, check current Zanzibar-specific travel and insurance instructions separately before travel. The research supplied for this article does not include an official Zanzibar government source sufficient to state a current insurance fee or enforcement rule, so confirm any such requirement through official Zanzibar channels.

Transit, extensions and overstays

A transit visa is only for passage through Tanzania to another country and is not a substitute for a tourist visa [2]. If you intend to leave the airport, stay for a safari or visit Tanzania as a destination, check whether tourist permission is required instead.

Do not assume that a visa-free stay can automatically be extended. The supplied official research does not state a current extension fee, approval process or maximum extension period for South African citizens. Contact Tanzania Immigration before your authorised stay expires if your plans change.

Overstaying or breaching visa conditions can lead to criminal prosecution, imprisonment, deportation or blacklisting, according to South Africa's DIRCO travel guidance [12]. Work, study and residence should not be undertaken under a tourist exemption. Obtain the required permit before starting those activities [12].

Common mistakes and possible problems

• Relying on an old visa rule. Confirm the current exemption immediately before travel because nationality rules can change [12].
• Using the wrong passport. Visa decisions apply to the passport presented at entry. Check the validity and available pages of the document you will actually use [1][7].
• Choosing the wrong visa category. A transit visa is not for tourism, and a tourist exemption is not permission to work or study [2][12].
• Paying an unauthorised website. Use Tanzania's official e-Immigration portal and compare the displayed fee with the Immigration Department's published chart [5][10].
• Submitting an unsuitable photograph. Follow the official size, background, face-position and file-format requirements [2].
• Travelling without return or accommodation evidence. These documents appear in Tanzania's official requirements and may be requested at application or entry [1][2].
• Leaving the application too late. Tanzania's official embassy guidance says processing may take up to 10 days [7]. Apply early if a visa is required and do not rely on an unconfirmed approval.
• Assuming safari destinations change visa rules. Visiting the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar does not remove the need to comply with Tanzania's entry conditions. For wildlife-focused planning, see the guide to how safari tourism funds conservation in Tanzania.

For official confirmation, use Tanzania's e-Immigration portal or contact the Tanzanian High Commission in Pretoria. The High Commission lists its address as 822 George Avenue, Arcadia, Pretoria, and its visa hours as Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 12:30pm [1].

Last checked July 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling. This article is informational content, not legal advice. Entry requirements, fees, processing times and permitted stays can change.