Tanzania will require foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania to hold USD 44 travel insurance under new regulations signed in August 2026.
The Minister of Finance, Khamis Mussa Omar, signed the Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026 on 31 August 2026, under section 134A(5) of the Insurance Act, Cap. 394; the Regulations were gazetted as Government Notice No. 256 of 2026 on 4 September 2026.
The Regulations themselves do not state a commencement date, but a separate Ministry of Finance public notice, signed by Permanent Secretary and Paymaster General Dr. Natu El-Maamry Mwamba, confirms the requirement will officially commence on 1 October 2026.
The Regulations apply to a foreigner entering Mainland Tanzania through an airport, seaport or land border, with the premium payable in the Tanzanian shilling equivalent of USD 44; residents of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner states are exempt.
Under Regulation 4, a foreigner who enters Mainland Tanzania without a valid policy shall be denied entry.
The policy covers emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, repatriation and loss of luggage, and remains valid for up to 92 days from arrival with multiple entries permitted; a traveller staying beyond 92 days must apply for a new policy.
The premium is generally non-refundable except upon cancellation or other circumstances set out in the policy, and can be paid before travel or at the point of entry, with the insurer required to issue a certificate electronically or in hard copy.
The policy may be issued by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) or another registered insurer operating in partnership with NIC, and every inbound travel insurer must obtain prior product approval from the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA).
Zanzibar’s Earlier Mandatory Travel Insurance
On 1 October 2024, Zanzibar mandatory travel insurance became a requirement for foreign tourists, administered by the state-owned Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC).
The policy covers emergency medical expenses up to USD 50,000, including epidemics and pandemics, along with emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Zanzibar’s arrivals kept rising after the requirement took effect: a record 917,167 for full-year 2025, and 633,228 in the first eight months of 2026, up 10.6% on the same period in 2025.
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