Mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance for Tanzania: What Visitors Need to Know
Planning a Kilimanjaro climb, safari or Zanzibar holiday? According to the latest guidance shared with us, applicable foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania from 1 October 2026 will need Inbound Travel Insurance. Here is how to find the right application portal and what to check before you travel.
Which insurance should you apply for?
The first destination on your itinerary determines where you should apply:
Arriving in Mainland Tanzania first? This includes guests arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport or another mainland entry point. Apply through the official NIC portal — USD 44 per person for the standard adult policy.
Arriving in Zanzibar first? Apply through the Zanzibar inbound insurance portal — USD 44 per person for the standard adult policy.
We recommend completing your application online before departure and keeping a copy of your certificate on your phone. This will make it easier to present it if you are asked for proof of insurance during your journey.
Visiting both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar?
Many Genes Adventures guests combine a Kilimanjaro climb or safari with time on Zanzibar.
The current guidance indicates that visitors who arrive on the mainland first and hold valid NIC inbound insurance do not need to purchase a separate ZIC policy when travelling onwards to Zanzibar. Similarly, visitors who arrive in Zanzibar first with valid ZIC insurance do not need to purchase a separate NIC policy when continuing to the mainland.
Keep your certificate available throughout your trip. If you are unsure which policy applies to your route, check where you first enter Tanzania before applying.
How much does it cost?
The standard adult premium is USD 44 per person. According to the guidance shared with us, the mainland policy is valid for up to 92 days, including multiple entries.
Reduced premiums are indicated for children and groups of 10 or more, while certain travellers may be exempt. Check the applicable price and requirements on the relevant application portal.
Already booked your trip with Genes Adventures?
This requirement also applies if you booked your trip with us before the new regulation was announced. The inbound insurance is a new government requirement and its cost is not included in your existing booking. Guests who are required to hold the insurance are responsible for arranging and paying for it, even if their trip was booked earlier.
Do you still need your own travel insurance?
Yes. Inbound Travel Insurance is an entry requirement and is separate from the personal travel and cancellation insurance we recommend for our guests.
If you are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, make sure your personal travel insurance explicitly covers trekking up to 6,000 metres, as well as medical evacuation and repatriation. Do not assume that a standard travel policy includes high-altitude trekking; check the wording with your insurer.
We also strongly recommend cancellation insurance that covers your full trip cost. If you unexpectedly have to cancel, a policy with a low maximum payout may reimburse only a small part of what you have paid. Check the insured amount and the circumstances covered by the policy before you travel.
Apply before you travel
Choose the portal for your first point of arrival:
Mainland Tanzania: apply for NIC Inbound Travel Insurance — USD 44 per person for the standard adult policy.
Zanzibar: apply for ZIC Inbound Travel Insurance — USD 44 per person for the standard adult policy.
For more background, you can read the Inbound Travel Insurance presentation and the Insurance Regulations Notice.
Travelling with Genes Adventures? If you have questions about which portal to use for your itinerary, get in touch with us. We are happy to help you prepare for your journey.
Information based on guidance available in September 2026. Entry requirements and application procedures may be clarified or updated by the relevant authorities; check the applicable portal again before departure.
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