Nigerian travellers to Tanzania no longer need special immigration clearance before applying for entry visas following a change to the country’s visa arrangements.
Tanzania’s Immigration Services Department removed Nigeria from its referral visa category in a public notice issued on September 25, 2026, under Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026.
The decision took immediate effect, allowing Nigerian passport holders to use the ordinary visa process without first obtaining the additional approval required under the referral system.
Nigerians, however, still require visas to enter Tanzania.
Nigeria is now grouped with countries whose citizens can use Tanzania’s standard visa process, including Russia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
The United States is also outside the referral category, although American passport holders travelling to Tanzania for tourism are required to obtain multiple-entry visas.
Tanzania’s updated arrangements divide foreign travellers into three broad categories: those eligible for visa-free entry, those required to obtain ordinary visas and those subject to referral visa requirements.
Citizens of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among those allowed to enter Tanzania without visas.
However, Tanzania has retained referral visa requirements for nationals of Mali, Niger and Iran, meaning they cannot obtain visas on arrival without prior approval from the Commissioner General of Immigration.
The same restrictions apply to travellers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chad, Eritrea, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Applicants from referral countries are required to submit their applications online and obtain approval before travelling. Tanzanian authorities advise applicants to begin the process at least two months before their intended travel dates.
The latest change therefore removes an additional approval stage previously required for Nigerian travellers while leaving the ordinary visa requirement in place.
The development comes as Tanzania prepares to introduce another requirement for foreign visitors. From October 1, 2026, travellers will be required to purchase mandatory travel insurance at a cost of $44 per person.
The revised visa arrangements mean Nigerian travellers now have access to the standard application process, while tighter referral requirements remain in place for nationals of several countries, including Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Iran.
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