How to Apply for a Tanzanian eVisa

The Tanzanian eVisa - Finally!

For a long time now, visitors to Tanzania have had two options when it came to getting a visa:

• They could arrange this on arrival and deal with airport queues;
• They could apply in advance by mailing their passport to the nearest consulate or embassy.

While both of these options were relatively painless, neither could boast the convenience of the online visas that so many other countries offered.

At long last, Tanzania has moved into the 21st century and is offering future tourists the chance to fill out an easy online form to get their Tanzanian eVisa.

Let the Shadows of Africa team walk you through the simple process of applying for your Tanzanian eVisa.

#1 - Go to the Tanzanian eVisa website

First thing's first. Go to the Tanzanian Visa website. It should look like this:

You're going to scroll down to the box in the lower left corner: New Application.

Go ahead and click that.

#2 - Set Up An Account

On the next page, you'll be prompted to enter your email address as well as selecting a security question and answer.

You'll also need to complete a CAPTCHA form to prove you're human. If you are not human, you can't get a visa, I'm afraid.

On the next page, you'll be presented with your application information: an application ID and the date. You'll want to write both of these down!

#3 - Fill Out Your Application

The next few pages will have you fill out the meat and bones of your application.

• Page 1: Fill out your personal information such as name, date of birth, and nationality.
• Page 2: Provide contact information, your present and permanent addresses, and your employment information.
• Page 3: Provide your passport information as well as information on your parents. Weirdly, you are required to provide information on your legal guardian. Just put your own name or your parents' name here.
• Page 4: This one is a little trickier, so we'll cover it in the next section!

#4 - Travel Information

Up until now, this has all been pretty straightforward, but the fourth page of your application gets a little more complicated.

1. You'll be asked to list the country in which you are applying and the nearest embassy. There is a limited selection of embassies here, so choose the one in your country or, if all else fails, select immigration headquarters.
2. When asked for your Type of Visa, you'll need to select Ordinary (or Multiple Entry, if need be). For Purpose of Your visit, select Leisure and Holiday.
3. If you have visited Tanzania previously, you'll need to provide the date of your last entry as well as your visa number from that visit.
4. For your travel plans, select all that apply. Be sure to select the correct Port of Entry - the airport or land border crossing. If you aren't sure, ask your Shadows of Africa Safari Expert!
5. When asked for your Local Host, select:Host: Company/Organisation
   Full Name: Shadows of Africa
   Mobile Number: Enter the contact number provided in your booking contract
   Email: Enter the email address of your contact at Shadows of Africa
   Company: Shadows of Africa
   Relationship: Tour Operator
   Physical Address: Mateves, Arusha, Tanzania
6. Lastly, it will ask you for your accommodation. Ask your Shadows of Africa contact for the address of the first hotel in your itinerary and enter this.

#5 - Travel Companions

On the following page, you'll be asked two questions:

• Are you traveling as part of a group or organization?
• Are you being accompanied by minors?

If the answer to either of these is 'yes', you'll be prompted to provide additional information.

#6 - Documents

On the next page, you'll be asked to upload a passport sized photo, a copy of your passport's photo page, and an invitation letter.

An invitation letter is not actually needed for a tourist visa, but the system is set up to require one.

Your booking contract will work in place of a formal invitation letter.

#7 - Final Steps

On the next page, you'll be asked to review the information you've submitted and agree to a Declaration Statement.

Make sure everything is 100% correct, as you can't change it after this.

You'll then make payment for your visa and be provided with confirmation.

Visas are $50 USD (or $100 USD for US citizens), just as they would be at the border or airport upon arrival.

You're done!

Checking the Status of Your Tanzanian eVisa Application

To check on the progress of your application, return to this website.

You'll find a Visa Status button in the bottom right corner. Enter the details you were provided in step two and you're all set!