Most fans attending AFCON 2027 in Tanzania need a visa. The good news — you can apply for an online visa to visit the United Republic of Tanzania — both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar — by filling in the online form, making payment and submitting your application online. No embassy visit. No queuing. Done from your phone or laptop. Here is the complete step by step guide.
Do You Need a Visa?
Not every nationality requires a visa to enter Tanzania. Check your status first before applying:
| Nationality | Visa required? | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most African nations | ✅ Yes — eVisa | $50 USD | Apply online at visa.immigration.go.tz |
| USA citizens | ✅ Yes — Multiple Entry Visa | $100 USD | Standard single entry not available for US passports |
| Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi | ❌ No | Free | EAC nationals — visa-free entry |
| Some nationalities | ⚠️ Referral Visa | Varies | Application reviewed by Commissioner General — takes longer |
Check the full visa-free and referral country lists at immigration.go.tz before applying. If in doubt — apply. A visa you did not need costs $50. Being denied entry at the airport costs everything.
What You Need Before You Start
- Valid passport — at least 6 months validity after your planned departure from Tanzania and at least one blank page
- Return flight ticket or proof of onward travel
- Proof of accommodation — hotel booking confirmation
- Passport-size photograph — digital copy
- Credit or debit card for payment — Visa or Mastercard
- Email address — your visa approval comes here
- Yellow fever certificate — if arriving from an endemic country (Nigeria, Ghana, DRC, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire). See our health guide for the full list.
Step by Step — How to Apply
Step 1 — Go to the official portal
Go to visa.immigration.go.tz — the only official Tanzania eVisa portal. Do not use any other website. Third-party visa sites charge significantly more and offer no advantage.
Click Apply for a New Visa.
Step 2 — Create your application
Enter your email address, passport number, passport issue country and create a security question and answer for resuming your application at another time if needed. Click “I’m not a robot” and select “Start New Application.” You will be sent an Application ID to the email address you provided. Save this ID — you need it to resume or track your application.
Step 3 — Fill in your personal details
The form asks for:
- Full name — exactly as it appears in your passport
- Date of birth
- Nationality and passport details
- Phone number including country code
- Home address — present and permanent
- Employment status and occupation
- Travel details — arrival date, entry point, accommodation
Critical: Every detail must match your passport exactly. A name mismatch between your visa and passport causes problems at Tanzania immigration — and cannot be corrected after submission. Once submitted, no changes are possible. If there is an error or mismatch, contact Tanzania Immigration at info@immigration.go.tz for guidance.
Step 4 — Select your visa type
Tanzania Immigration Services issues six types of visa. For AFCON 2027 fans the correct visa is the Ordinary Single Entry Visa at $50 USD — valid for up to 90 days — for tourism purposes including attending a sporting event. The Multiple Entry Visa at $100 USD is valid for one year — recommended for fans visiting Tanzania multiple times or combining Tanzania with Kenya and Uganda.
One visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. If you wish to visit both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, select your first destination while filling the form. You will be allowed to visit both places without a need for a new visa.
Step 5 — Upload your documents
Upload clear scans or photos of:
- Passport bio-data page
- Passport-size photograph — white background, clear face, no glasses
- Return flight ticket or proof of onward travel
- Hotel booking confirmation
- Yellow fever certificate — if applicable
Make sure all documents are clear and legible. Blurry or incomplete uploads delay processing or cause rejection.
Step 6 — Pay the visa fee
Pay online using a credit or debit card. Accepted: Visa, Mastercard. The fee is charged in USD:
| Visa type | Fee | TZS equivalent | KES equivalent | UGX equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Single Entry | $50 USD | 132,500 TZS | 6,450 KES | 187,500 UGX |
| Multiple Entry (1 year) | $100 USD | 265,000 TZS | 12,900 KES | 375,000 UGX |
Step 7 — Save everything immediately
Immediately after paying and submitting your application, screenshot or print your payment confirmation page. Save a digital copy in your email, phone photos or cloud storage so you have a backup.
Step 8 — Wait for approval
Visa applications are processed within ten days. Apply at least 2 months before your travel date to be safe. For AFCON 2027 — apply the moment your travel dates are confirmed. Do not leave this until the week before you fly.
You will receive an email notification when your application is approved or if additional information is required. Track your application status at visa.immigration.go.tz using your Application ID.
Step 9 — Print your visa grant notice
Print your Visa Grant Notice PDF and carry a physical copy when you travel. You may also save it on your phone as backup. Present this document to the immigration officer on arrival in Tanzania alongside your passport.
Do not rely on phone signal or battery at the immigration counter. Have a printed copy. Always.
Visa on Arrival — Is It Available?
Yes — if you have not applied online, you can still get your visa on arrival at Zanzibar Airport or mainland entry points such as Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam. Fill out the form, pay the fee and get your visa in your passport.
However — during AFCON 2027 the visa on arrival queues at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam will be extremely long. Hundreds of international fans arriving on the same flights, all needing visa on arrival processing simultaneously. The eVisa is faster, cheaper in stress terms and gives you certainty before you travel. Apply online.
What Happens at Tanzania Immigration on Arrival
- Hand your passport and printed Visa Grant Notice to the immigration officer
- Officer verifies your visa and passport details
- Biometric data — fingerprints and photograph — taken on arrival
- Entry stamp issued — welcome to Tanzania
- Proceed to baggage claim
- Go immediately to the Vodacom or Yas SIM card desk in arrivals — see our SIM card guide
Key Rules Once You Are in Tanzania
- 90 day maximum stay — do not overstay your visa. Overstaying is a criminal offence in Tanzania.
- No working on a tourist visa — attending AFCON matches is fine. Working commercially requires a separate permit.
- Declare currency over $10,000 USD — required on both entry and exit from Tanzania.
- Your visa covers both mainland and Zanzibar — no separate permit needed for the island.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Tanzania visa processing take?
Up to 10 working days officially. In practice many applicants receive approval within 3 to 5 days. Apply at least 2 months before travel for AFCON 2027.
Can I get a visa on arrival for AFCON 2027?
Yes — but apply online instead. AFCON 2027 will create extremely long visa on arrival queues at major airports. The eVisa is processed before you travel and gets you through immigration faster.
Does one visa cover both Tanzania and Zanzibar?
Yes. One Tanzania eVisa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. No separate Zanzibar visa needed.
What if my visa is not approved before my flight?
If your visa has not been approved before your departure, print your completed application and payment confirmation and take them with you. The immigration officer will review your documents upon arrival.
Do Kenyan and Ugandan fans need a visa for Tanzania?
No. Citizens of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi — all EAC member states — enter Tanzania visa-free. No eVisa application needed.
Do Nigerian fans need a visa?
Yes. Nigerian passport holders require a Tanzania eVisa — $50 USD single entry. Nigerian fans also require a yellow fever certificate as Nigeria is a yellow fever endemic country. See our health guide for details.
For the complete AFCON 2027 Tanzania planning guide covering health, money, flights and accommodation visit our practical info page. For a full budget guide in TZS, KES and UGX visit our cost guide. For flights to Tanzania visit our flights guide.
Visa information sourced from Tanzania Immigration Services official portal (visa.immigration.go.tz), US State Department Tanzania travel advisory and verified third-party guides as of June 2026. Visa requirements can change — always verify current requirements at immigration.go.tz before travel.