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Yes—if you are a foreign visitor covered by the rule, you need Tanzania’s designated inbound travel insurance. The insurer depends on where you first enter: NIC for Mainland Tanzania or ZIC for Zanzibar. Mainland’s requirement took effect on 1 October 2026; Zanzibar’s began on 1 October 2024. The mandatory policy is an entry requirement, not necessarily all the travel cover you need.
Which policy do you need for your first entry point?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says to buy the policy for your first port of entry, and warns that another travel policy is not accepted as a substitute. Use the designated insurer for that entry point:
| First point of entry | Designated insurer | Published price and duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mainland Tanzania | National Insurance Corporation (NIC) | USD 44 per visitor for up to 92 days, according to the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance notice of 27 September 2026. NIC describes the premium as the Tanzanian-shilling equivalent of USD 44 and the term as up to 92 days. |
| Zanzibar | Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) | ZIC lists USD 44 per adult, USD 22 per child, and USD 22 for travelers from SADC and EAC member states. Its page says prices and cover can change; confirm the amount in the official purchase flow. |
The Mainland amount and term come from the Mainland implementation notice; NIC’s current details are in its mandatory inbound insurance FAQs. Zanzibar’s listed categories are on the ZIC inbound insurance page, accessed 3 October 2026.
If your itinerary includes both Zanzibar and the Mainland, the reviewed guidance does not establish that a policy bought for your first entry point necessarily covers every later cross-territory leg without another purchase. Check the applicable policy terms with NIC or ZIC before relying on a single policy.
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Who is required to buy it, and who may be exempt?
The FCDO’s current Tanzania entry guidance says all visitors to Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, except residents, must have mandatory inbound insurance and that entry may be refused without it. The detailed exceptions described in official material are not identical for the two destinations.
Mainland Tanzania
The Mainland requirement began on 1 October 2026 under Government Notice No. 256 of 2026, dated 4 September 2026. NIC’s FAQ says its cover excludes residents of EAC and SADC partner states, while the FCDO summarizes the exception more broadly as residents. Because these descriptions differ in specificity, travelers who may qualify for an exemption should confirm their status against the applicable regulations and current NIC terms rather than assume they are exempt.
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Zanzibar
A Zanzibar Government notice dated 17 October 2024 says the requirement began on 1 October 2024 and names residents, work-permit holders and cabin crew as exceptions. It also describes a certificate with a QR code for scanning at entry. Read the Zanzibar Government notice and confirm your eligibility with ZIC if your circumstances are not clear.
How to arrange the policy and show proof
- Identify your first entry point. Choose NIC for first entry through Mainland Tanzania or ZIC for first entry through Zanzibar, following the FCDO’s Tanzania entry guidance.
- Use the designated insurer’s official purchase process. Check the current premium, eligibility and policy terms there, especially for Zanzibar, where ZIC says prices and coverage can change.
- Complete payment and keep the proof accessible. NIC says its cover takes effect after payment and that proof may be required on arrival. Zanzibar’s notice says the ZIC certificate includes a QR code for scanning.
- If you cannot complete Zanzibar’s online process, check the stated arrival option. The Zanzibar notice describes application and payment on arrival for visitors from countries with online-payment restrictions and for applicants unable to complete the process because of system-access problems. Do not assume this applies to every traveler or to Mainland entry.
For Mainland entry, the public notice advises arranging cover before travel to reduce delay. The FCDO warns that visitors without the required policy may be refused entry.
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The Mainland public notice describes the policy as covering medical emergencies. NIC’s FAQ also lists emergency medical expenses, loss of luggage, emergency evacuation and repatriation, subject to the policy terms. The reviewed information does not provide enough detail to establish the applicable limits, exclusions or benefit conditions for every traveler, so read the actual policy before purchase.
Do not treat the entry policy as a guaranteed replacement for comprehensive travel insurance. The FCDO recommends checking that you also have cover for your individual needs. When assessing additional cover, pay particular attention to:
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- Medical treatment and emergency evacuation limits.
- Trip cancellation or interruption.
- Activities on your itinerary, such as trekking or safari.
- Terms for pre-existing conditions and any excess.
- Whether the policy is available to people resident in your country.
A separate commercial policy may fill gaps, but it does not replace the required NIC or ZIC policy.
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