3 mandatory things to know before arriving in Zanzibar

Preparing your trip to Zanzibar requires some important checks before departure. Between the visa, mandatory insurance, and passport validity, certain formalities are essential to enter the territory without problems.

Here are the 3 essential things to check before your arrival in Zanzibar.

A visa is mandatory for Zanzibar.

To travel to Zanzibar and Tanzania, as a British, American, German, Spanish or Dutch national, a visa is required.
(Some countries are exempt from visa application: see the official list)

The price of the tourist visa is 50 dollars per person.

You have two options to obtain it:

  • apply online on the Tanzanian government website;
  • or do it directly upon your arrival at Zanzibar airport.

Applying for the visa online can be more convenient before departure, but it should be noted that the official site sometimes experiences bugs or slowdowns. For this reason, many travelers ultimately choose to get their visa directly on-site upon arrival.

Here you will find a complete guide dedicated to the visa for Zanzibar.

Zanzibar insurance is mandatory.

A specific insurance imposed by the government is required to enter Zanzibar.

Even if you already have:

  • travel insurance,
  • bank insurance,
  • or another international coverage,

you will still need to subscribe to this mandatory insurance for Zanzibar.

It may be requested upon your arrival at the airport, just like the visa.

Therefore, it is not possible to escape it.

Click here to read the complete article dedicated to this mandatory insurance.

Check the validity of your passport.

Before your departure, make sure to check the validity date of your passport.

To enter Zanzibar and Tanzania, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your date of arrival in the territory.

This is a very important point to check before booking or leaving.

Well prepare your trip to Zanzibar.

These three points are essential for calmly preparing your arrival in Zanzibar, but there is also a lot of other useful information to know before departure:

 

We regularly share practical tips to help you organize your trip to Zanzibar simply and without stress.

About the author

Violette has been living in Zanzibar for several years. She knows the archipelago like the back of her hand and answers travellers’ questions on a daily basis. Through her videos, she shares practical advice based on her first-hand experience.

Plan your trip to Zanzibar with us

In addition to our travel advice, our team at One Love Tours & Safaris helps travellers plan their excursions, safaris and experiences in Zanzibar and Tanzania every year.

Our local team will help you plan a trip tailored to your preferences, offering personalised advice and on-the-ground support.

A few ideas for your next trip...

Originally created to care for and protect sea turtles, this natural pool is located in Nungwi.
Chumbe Island, a protected marine and forest conservation reserve. Only 18 visitors per day are allowed.
Accompanied by the women of Jambiani, you’ll explore the sponge farms in the lagoon and learn how they are cultivated, harvested, and then transformed into 100% natural sponges.