On this page
One visa for mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar
Tanzania has issued its eVisa online since 2018, and the grant is issued for the country as a whole rather than for one region of it. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so a visa that is still within its granted stay normally covers mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar together. The ordinary single entry visa is listed for stays of up to 90 days from arrival. US passport holders use the multiple entry visa instead, which comes with 12-month validity and stays of up to 90 days on each entry, and it covers both parts of the country in the same way. A transit visa is commonly listed as valid for 7 days from arrival.
Which route you use depends on the passport you travel with. 133 countries are eligible for the eVisa and 47 nationalities travel visa free, while passports on neither list follow the embassy or standard visa route instead. Whichever category applies, the form should name the first destination you expect to enter, because the application, the passport and the travel dates need to describe the same journey from beginning to end.
One passport, one grant. The visa stays tied to the passport used in the application, so carry that same passport, the grant notice and your booking evidence whenever you move between the mainland and the islands.
Arriving in Zanzibar
Short flights from the mainland land at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar, where officers typically run the same checks used at a mainland entry point. Your passport should be valid for six months from arrival, and officials commonly ask to see the printed eVisa approval that was emailed to you as a PDF. A paper copy may be requested at the counter, so keep one in your hand luggage as well as a file on your phone.
The online process is the same one used for mainland arrivals: fill in the form, review it, submit the government application, follow the status tracking and receive the approval by email, as each step is set out in the how to apply guide. Applications handled with assistance are typically guided towards a decision within ten days, which is an assistance estimate rather than a decision by Tanzania Immigration. Referral cases, missing documents or a correction request can add time.
Print the approval before you fly. The visa is checked against the passport used in the application, and a printed PDF avoids relying on mobile data at the counter. Fees, eligibility lists and entry rules can change without notice, so confirm the live requirements before you travel.
Planning a mainland and Zanzibar itinerary
Trips that combine a safari on the mainland with time on the islands are common, and the paperwork works best when the plan is coherent from the first screen of the form. Four habits keep it that way:
- 1
Name the first destination
Enter the airport or border point where you first expect to enter Tanzania, whether that is Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar itself.
- 2
Align the dates across the booking
Safari nights, Zanzibar accommodation and the return flight should add up to the same stay described in the form.
- 3
Allow time for the decision
Assistance estimates typically point to a decision within ten days, while referral applicants are advised to apply at least two months ahead.
- 4
Check the correction route before you pay
Plans that change after submission may not be editable in the portal, and the fee is non-refundable once an application is submitted.
Ferry and domestic hops between the two
Regular ferries link Dar es Salaam with Stone Town in Zanzibar, and the crossing is commonly scheduled several times a day. Ferry and terminal staff may ask to see your passport and visa print before you board, so keep them in your hand luggage rather than in a checked bag. Timetables can change without notice, and extra local checks may apply on busy travel days.
By ferry
A sea route between the mainland and Stone Town, useful with luggage and typically cheaper than flying. Tickets and your passport details may be requested at the terminal.
By air
Short domestic flights connect the mainland with Zanzibar in well under an hour, and the passport used in your application is commonly checked at the airport.
Neither option replaces the entry check. A visa does not cover the practical transport steps on its own, so officials at the port or airport may ask to see your passport and visa print, and both should travel with you for the whole itinerary.
What to carry while island hopping
Your visa does not change when you cross from the mainland to Zanzibar, but the checks move with you. Keep these items with you for the whole trip:
- 1
The passport used in the application
It should be valid for six months from arrival and hold at least one blank visa page.
- 2
A printed eVisa approval
The approval arrives as a PDF by email, and a paper copy may be requested at the counter or terminal.
- 3
Travel evidence
Return or onward tickets and the address of where you are staying keep the itinerary consistent.
- 4
Supporting documents
The papers your visa category asked for, in the same names and dates as the form. Children travelling with you need their own passport and documents.
Fees, lists and entry rules can change without notice, so re-read the visa fees guide and the required documents checklist before you pay, and confirm your category against the live result for your own passport.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate visa for Zanzibar?
Usually not. Zanzibar is part of Tanzania, so a Tanzania visa that is still within its granted stay normally covers mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar together. The ordinary single entry visa is listed for stays of up to 90 days from arrival.
Do officials check documents in Zanzibar?
Checks in Zanzibar are commonly the same as on the mainland. Immigration officers may be requested to see your passport and your printed eVisa approval, and the passport should be valid for six months from arrival.
Are ferry crossings controlled?
Ferry terminals are typically ticketed and staff may ask to see your passport and visa print before you board. Keep both in your hand luggage, and allow time for the check on busy travel days.
Can I fly between the mainland and Zanzibar?
Yes. Short domestic flights connect the mainland with Zanzibar throughout the day, and the passport details used in your application are commonly checked at the airport as well.
What should I carry in Zanzibar?
Carry the passport used in the application, a printed copy of the eVisa approval that was emailed as a PDF, and your key booking evidence. Supporting documents for your visa category may be requested as well.
Does my visa cover Pemba and other islands?
A valid Tanzania visa normally covers Zanzibar, which includes Pemba and many smaller islands, for as long as it remains valid. Eligibility lists and entry rules can change without notice, so confirm the live position before you travel.
Content Disclaimer: This page is general guidance based on the Tanzania Immigration Services visa guidelines and was last reviewed on 21 October 2026. VistoRoute is an independent visa information and application-assistance service. We do not issue visas or decide approvals. Fees, eligibility lists and entry rules can change without notice, so confirm the latest requirements on the Tanzania Immigration portal, with your airline and with border authorities before you travel. A Visa Grant Notice is not a guarantee of entry.