Tanzania has gazetted new regulations requiring foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania to have inbound travel insurance, with the policy set at US$44 and valid for up to 92 days.
Tanzania has introduced a new mandatory travel insurance requirement for foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania, adding another requirement for international travellers planning to visit the East African country.
The new rules were issued through the Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026, published under Government Notice No. 256 on September 4, 2026. The regulations require covered foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania through airports, seaports or land borders to have a valid inbound travel insurance policy.
Under the new framework, the insurance will cost the equivalent of US$44, which is approximately KSh5,700, and will remain valid for a maximum of 92 days from the date of arrival.
The policy will cover several risks that visitors may face during their stay, including emergency medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation, emergency repatriation and loss of luggage.
The introduction of the requirement means international travellers planning holidays, business trips, safaris or other visits to mainland Tanzania will need to pay attention to the new insurance rules alongside existing immigration and visa requirements.
However, there is an important distinction for travellers from the region.
The regulations exclude citizens of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner states from the definition of the foreign visitors who are required to obtain the mandatory cover. This means Kenyan citizens and other eligible nationals from EAC and SADC member states are exempt from the new mainland Tanzania requirement.
The new policy is part of a wider shift in the region towards requiring international visitors to have insurance protection while travelling.
Tanzania’s decision also comes after Zanzibar introduced its own mandatory inbound travel insurance scheme in October 2024.
The Zanzibar policy applies separately to foreign visitors entering the islands and is issued through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation.
Under that existing Zanzibar scheme, foreign visitors are required to obtain the designated insurance even when they already have travel or medical insurance from another provider. The Zanzibar policy costs US$44 for an adult and covers a stay of up to 92 days.
The new mainland regulations therefore expand the concept of mandatory inbound insurance beyond Zanzibar, although the two systems are governed by different arrangements.
For travellers heading to mainland destinations such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, Mwanza, Moshi, Serengeti and other parts of Tanzania, the new regulations will be particularly important once implementation begins.
One of the major questions for travellers at the moment is when the new mainland requirement will actually begin to be enforced.
Although the regulations have already been gazetted, reports indicate that Tanzania has not yet announced a specific rollout or enforcement date. The regulations establish the mandatory requirement, but the practical implementation arrangements still need to be clarified.
This means travellers should distinguish between the publication of the regulations and the start of enforcement.
The legal framework is now in place, but authorities still need to communicate the operational details clearly to airlines, tour operators, border officials and international visitors.
Under the regulations, a foreign visitor covered by the requirement must have a valid inbound travel insurance policy when entering mainland Tanzania.
The policy can be purchased before travelling or at the point of entry, according to the regulations. Once the premium has been paid, the insurer is required to issue the traveller with a certificate and policy, either in physical or electronic form.
The rules also provide a significant consequence for visitors who fail to comply.
A foreigner who does not hold the required inbound travel insurance may be denied entry into Tanzania once the requirement is being enforced.
For international travellers, this makes it important to understand the requirement before beginning a journey.
Being denied entry at an airport, seaport or land border could result in significant inconvenience, particularly for tourists who have already paid for hotels, safari packages, flights and other travel arrangements.
Tour operators and travel agencies are also likely to play an important role in educating their clients about the new requirement.
Travel companies arranging holidays to Tanzania may need to update their booking information and travel checklists to ensure visitors know whether they are required to purchase the cover.
Airlines and other transport operators could also be required to adjust their passenger information systems once enforcement begins.
The regulations provide that the inbound travel insurance will be issued by Tanzania’s National Insurance Corporation (NIC) or another registered insurer working in partnership with NIC. The inbound insurer is expected to develop systems for verifying payments and integrating the insurance verification process with relevant travel authorities.
This digital verification system could become an important part of the entry process.
Travellers are likely to receive documentation showing that they have purchased the required cover, allowing immigration authorities to verify the insurance at the point of entry.
The regulations also require insurers to provide clear information about policy terms, exclusions and limits.
This is important because the US$44 payment should not automatically be interpreted as unlimited medical or travel protection.
The policy has defined benefits and limits, and travellers will need to understand what is covered before relying on it.
Emergency medical treatment is among the required benefits.
This is particularly relevant for Tanzania because the country attracts visitors for activities that can involve different forms of risk.
Tourists travel to Tanzania for wildlife safaris, mountain climbing, beach holidays, cultural tourism and other outdoor activities.
The country is home to major attractions including the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and numerous coastal destinations.
Visitors can encounter unexpected medical emergencies while travelling far from major towns.
A tourist who becomes seriously ill or is involved in an accident may require urgent medical attention.
In some circumstances, the person may need to be transported to a facility capable of providing specialised treatment.
That is where the emergency medical evacuation provision becomes important.
The regulations also provide for emergency repatriation.
This can become relevant in serious situations where a visitor needs to be returned to their home country for medical or other emergency reasons.
Loss of luggage is another category specifically included in the mandatory cover.
Travellers regularly move between airports, hotels, safari camps and other destinations, and luggage can sometimes be delayed, lost or misplaced during journeys.
The regulations require the policy to provide protection for luggage loss, although the specific limits and conditions will be contained in the individual policy.
The 92-day validity period is also significant.
The policy is valid for a maximum of 92 days from the visitor’s date of arrival in mainland Tanzania.
The regulations also allow multiple entries during the validity period.
This means that a traveller who enters Tanzania, leaves and returns during the same 92-day period can remain covered under the same policy, subject to its terms.
Visitors who remain in Tanzania beyond the 92-day period will be required to obtain a new policy.
The arrangement could therefore be particularly relevant to long-stay tourists, business travellers, researchers and other visitors whose trips extend beyond the typical holiday period.
For a visitor staying for only a few days, the 92-day maximum provides a relatively long period of validity compared with the length of many ordinary tourist trips.
The introduction of the mainland insurance requirement follows Tanzania’s experience with Zanzibar.
Zanzibar has operated its mandatory inbound travel insurance system since October 1, 2024.
The Zanzibar Insurance Corporation says the cover is compulsory for foreign visitors entering the islands and remains mandatory even where a traveller already has valid travel or medical insurance from another provider.
The Zanzibar government has previously explained that the scheme was intended to ensure that foreign visitors have access to protection during their stay.
Tanzania’s insurance regulator, the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority, has also reported that Zanzibar’s mandatory inbound travel insurance scheme was formally approved and implemented in 2024. The regulator said the product had helped visitors access timely assistance following insured events.
The Zanzibar experience is therefore providing a backdrop as the mainland prepares to implement a similar arrangement.
There is also a regional dimension to the development.
Kenya has been pursuing its own mandatory inbound travel insurance framework for foreign visitors, although implementation has faced legal challenges.
Kenya’s proposed system is structured differently from Tanzania’s. Rather than setting a single premium of US$44, Kenya’s framework sets minimum insurance benefits for foreign visitors.
Kenya’s implementation was suspended by the High Court after legal challenges, making Tanzania’s latest move notable within the East African region.
The two countries’ approaches are therefore not identical.
Tanzania has prescribed a premium of US$44 for the inbound policy, while Kenya’s framework specifies minimum benefit levels rather than a single amount that every visitor pays.
For travellers, the distinction matters because the US$44 figure represents the premium for Tanzania’s mandatory policy. It should not be confused with the maximum value of benefits available under the insurance.
The exact limits and conditions of Tanzania’s cover will be determined by the policy issued to the traveller.
For international tourists, the new requirement means that travel planning will increasingly involve more than booking flights and accommodation.
Visitors will need to check immigration rules, visa requirements, insurance requirements and any health or documentation requirements applicable to their nationality.
Travellers should also avoid assuming that mandatory inbound insurance replaces comprehensive travel insurance.
The mandatory policy provides specified protection, but visitors may still choose to purchase broader travel insurance depending on their circumstances.
A traveller could, for example, want additional protection for trip cancellation, delays, personal liability, adventure activities or other risks that may not be fully covered by the mandatory policy.
The terms of the individual policy should therefore be read carefully.
This is particularly important for people planning specialised activities such as mountain climbing, diving or other adventure tourism.
Visitors should check whether the activities included in their itinerary are covered and whether there are exclusions.
The new rules are also expected to have an impact on Tanzania’s tourism industry.
Tourism is an important part of the country’s economy, and Tanzania attracts visitors from across Africa and around the world.
The country is known internationally for its wildlife attractions, beaches and cultural experiences.
The government will therefore need to ensure that implementation of the insurance requirement is clear and convenient enough to avoid unnecessary disruption to travellers.
Clear communication will be particularly important during the transition period.
Foreign visitors may have questions about where to purchase the insurance, who is exempt, whether the policy can be purchased on arrival, how the certificate will be verified and what happens when a traveller stays beyond 92 days.
The regulations provide some answers, but practical guidance from authorities will be important as the system becomes operational.
Tour operators, hotels and travel agencies will also need to familiarise themselves with the rules.
For visitors entering through land borders, the requirement could be particularly important because Tanzania shares borders with several countries and receives travellers by road as well as air.
The regulations specifically apply to foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania through land borders, seaports and airports.
The policy is therefore not limited to people arriving at major international airports.
Once implemented, a visitor crossing into Tanzania through a land border would also need to comply if they fall within the category of travellers covered by the regulations.
For East Africans, however, the exemption is significant.
Kenyans and citizens of other eligible EAC member states will not be required to purchase the mainland Tanzania inbound insurance under the new regulations.
This means the policy will affect international visitors from outside the exempted regional blocs more directly than it will ordinary cross-border travel within East Africa. (Clyde & Co)
The new requirement also comes at a time when countries are increasingly looking at ways to ensure that foreign visitors have financial protection against emergencies.
From the government’s perspective, such insurance can help ensure that visitors have access to assistance when unexpected incidents occur.
For tourists, it adds another cost to international travel but may also provide financial protection when emergencies occur.
The challenge will be ensuring that the system works efficiently and that visitors understand exactly what they are paying for.
As Tanzania prepares to implement the new regulations, travellers should watch for further official announcements on the enforcement date and operational procedures.
The regulations have already been gazetted, but the exact rollout timeline remains an important detail for anyone planning to travel to mainland Tanzania in the coming weeks.
For now, the key message is straightforward: Tanzania has established a mandatory inbound travel insurance framework for foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania, with a premium of US$44, validity of up to 92 days, and coverage that includes emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, emergency repatriation and loss of luggage.
Citizens of EAC and SADC partner states are excluded from the requirement.
Visitors who fall within the regulated category will eventually need to ensure they have the required insurance before or upon arrival, with the regulations allowing authorities to deny entry to travellers who do not have the mandatory cover.
The move marks a significant change in Tanzania’s travel requirements and extends nationwide a policy approach that Zanzibar has already been using for foreign visitors.
As the government moves towards implementation, the tourism industry, airlines, travel agencies and international visitors will be watching closely for the final operational details.
For anyone planning a trip to Tanzania, checking the latest official travel requirements before departure will be essential, particularly because the implementation date and practical arrangements for the new mainland insurance system are still being clarified.
The introduction of mandatory travel insurance is therefore likely to become an important part of Tanzania’s entry process for international visitors, while the exemption for EAC and SADC nationals means regional travellers will continue to benefit from the bloc-based arrangements provided for under the regulations.
