Tanzania Mandatory Travel Insurance 2026: What Safari Travellers Need to Know
Since 1 October 2026, eligible foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania need mandatory Tanzania Travel Insurance.
Tanzania Mandatory Travel Insurance 2026: What Safari Travellers Need to Know
Since 1 October 2026, eligible foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania need mandatory Tanzania Travel Insurance. The standard premium is US$44 per person, paid in Tanzanian shillings, with cover lasting up to 92 days. Where you first enter Tanzania determines whether you use the mainland or Zanzibar insurance provider.
Is Travel Insurance Mandatory for a Tanzania Safari in 2026?
Yes. Eligible foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania need mandatory inbound travel insurance. Mainland-first arrivals use NIC, while Zanzibar-first arrivals use ZIC. NIC excludes residents of EAC and SADC member countries from the mainland requirement. Confirm your eligibility, buy the appropriate policy and carry your certificate for entry checks.
Quick Facts: Tanzania Inbound Travel Insurance
| Key Fact | Details |
| Mainland implementation date | 1 October 2026 |
| Mainland provider | National Insurance Corporation, or NIC |
| Standard mainland premium | Tanzanian shilling equivalent of US$44 |
| Maximum validity | Up to 92 days |
| Entry routes | Airports, land borders, and seaports |
| Documents to carry | Insurance certificate and any issued QR code |
| Zanzibar-first arrivals | Purchase through Zanzibar Insurance Corporation, or ZIC |
| Exemptions | Qualifying EAC and SADC travellers are exempt from the mainland requirement |
What Is Tanzania’s New Mandatory Travel Insurance?
Tanzania Inbound Travel Insurance is a compulsory policy for eligible foreign visitors. Its coverage areas include emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, emergency repatriation and lost luggage. What the insurer pays depends on the policy’s conditions and limits.
Medical evacuation means moving someone to a suitable medical facility. Repatriation means arranging their return home, where the policy allows it.
The insurance is separate from your visa, parking fees, accommodation and safari transport. Paying for a safari package does not automatically include it. Ask your operator whether you need to arrange the policy yourself.
Who Needs Mandatory Travel Insurance for Tanzania?
The mainland requirement applies to eligible foreign visitors arriving by air, sea or land. This includes travellers flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport for a safari.
NIC says residents of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries are excluded from the mainland requirement. The wording concerns residence, so do not decide your eligibility from nationality alone. Ask NIC what evidence you should carry.
Zanzibar has separate rules. Check these if your trip includes a Zanzibar Beach Stay, even when you qualify for a mainland exemption.
Check Before You Travel: A mainland exemption does not automatically exempt you from Zanzibar’s insurance requirements.
How Much Does Tanzania Travel Insurance Cost?
The standard Tanzania Travel Insurance Cost for mainland arrivals is the Tanzanian shilling equivalent of US$44 per person. Cover lasts up to 92 days, with multiple entries during the insured period. Your certificate shows the exact dates.
Include this cost in your travel budget alongside flights, visas and safari expenses. Before paying, check whether your operator has already arranged the policy.
For Zanzibar, published rates include US$44 for children aged 3–17. Confirm current child and infant pricing through the relevant insurer before purchase. Do not assume a Zanzibar discount automatically applies to mainland policy.
Staying longer than 92 days? Contact NIC before your policy expires and ask how to maintain continuous cover.
What Does the Mandatory Insurance Cover?
NIC lists these main coverage areas:
- Emergency medical treatment.
- Emergency medical evacuation.
- Emergency repatriation.
- Loss of luggage.
These categories do not mean every related expense will be paid. Read the limits and what the policy does not cover.
On safari, your camp may be far from a hospital. Ask how emergency assistance works and whether the insurer must approve treatment or transport first. Mention pre-existing medical conditions and your planned activities. Balloon flights, walking safaris and mountain treks may require specific checks.
Do not assume the compulsory policy covers cancelled flights, unused accommodation or the full value of expensive camera equipment. Check those items separately.
How to Buy Tanzania’s Mandatory Travel Insurance
Start by confirming where you will first enter Tanzania from abroad. The government notice directs mainland-first arrivals to NIC and Zanzibar-first arrivals to ZIC.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Official NIC Portal or the Official Zanzibar Insurance Portal, depending on your arrival route.
- Enter your passport information, personal details and travel dates.
- Read the terms and check the dates of cover.
- Pay through the insurer’s approved system.
- Save your certificate and any QR code you receive.
NIC also allows purchase at mainland entry points. Buying online before departure gives you time to fix payment problems or incorrect details.
Check your name and passport number carefully. Save the certificate on your phone and carry a printout.
Mainland Tanzania vs Zanzibar: Do You Need Two Policies?
You should not need two compulsory policies simply because one trip includes both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Follow the first-entry arrangement and keep the applicable policy valid throughout your stay.
The government notice explains that emergency services within Tanzania come through the insurer from which the applicable inbound policy was purchased. Policy terms and conditions still apply.
| Your Arrival Plan | Provider to Use |
| Land at Kilimanjaro, then visit Zanzibar | NIC |
| Land in Dar es Salaam, then begin your safari | NIC |
| Arrive in Zanzibar, then fly to the mainland | ZIC |
For example, you land at Kilimanjaro, visit Tarangire and the Serengeti, then finish in Zanzibar. You follow the mainland-first route and arrange the applicable NIC policy.
Keep your certificate and any QR code handy in case someone asks to see them. If you change your arrival route after buying insurance, contact the insurer before purchasing another policy.
Not sure how your route fits? Send us your airport arrival dates and travel dates. We can help organise your itinerary while you confirm insurance eligibility with NIC or ZIC.
Practical Guidance for Remote Safari Travel
Before heading into the parks, save the insurer’s assistance number. Share it with your travel companion and keep your policy number nearby.
Your guide can help explain your location and coordinate local arrangements. The insurer decides whether an expense falls within your cover. Follow the insurer’s assistance instructions. Keep receipts, medical reports and other documents needed for a claim.
Safari Tip: Save your certificate offline, carry a printout and keep the insurer’s current helpline with your travel documents.
Does Your Existing Travel Insurance Replace the Mandatory Policy?
No. If the compulsory requirement applies to you, a policy bought at home does not replace the required inbound insurance.
Your existing insurance may still provide additional protection. Compare cancellation, missed connections, medical expenses and cover for your planned activities.
If you carry out both policies, keep both sets of documents accessible. Tell the insurer about your other cover when making a claim and follow its instructions.
Travel Tips Before Your Safari
Before You Leave
- Confirm your first entry point and use the appropriate official portal.
- Check your details and policy dates, then save your certificate offline.
- Confirm cover for medical conditions and planned activities.
- Keep the insurer’s assistance number with your travel papers.
- Resolve eligibility, payment or document problems before departure.
Planning Your Tanzania Safari with Bestday Safaris
When planning with Bestday Safaris, share your arrival airport, travel dates and any Zanzibar stay. These details help us organise your route and arrival arrangements.
Mention your activities too. Game drives, balloon flights and walking safaris can raise different questions for your insurer.
When comparing Tanzania safari packages, ask whether insurance is included or must be bought separately. We can help with your itinerary. Questions about eligibility, cover, refunds and claims belong with the insurer.
Plan a Trip to Tanzania
We offer different tour types. You can also chat with a local travel specialist if you want a customized tour to Tanzania.
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