Tanzania
Summary
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The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to
- any area within 20km of the Tanzanian border with the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, due to attacks by groups linked with Islamic extremism.
If you need to contact the emergency services, dial 112 and ask for the emergency service you require.
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Tanzania’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
Around 75,000 British nationals visit Tanzania every year.
Although most visits to Tanzania are trouble-free, violent and armed crime is increasing. Take sensible precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. See Crime
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Tanzania. See Terrorism
On occasion, demonstrations and political rallies across Tanzania have turned violent and resulted in fatalities. You should avoid all demonstrations and rallies. See Safety and security
During the rainy seasons, end of March until May and October to middle of December, exceptionally heavy rainfall and strong winds can occur. See Natural disasters
Plastic bags are banned for environmental reasons. See Local laws and customs
There is a threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. See River and sea travel
On 6 November 2022, a Precision Air flight from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba crashed into Lake Victoria close to Bukoba airport. See Air travel
In the last few years there have been several ferry disasters in which hundreds of people have died. If you believe a ferry is overloaded or not seaworthy, do not get on. See River and sea travel
Long distance buses are often involved in accidents which can be fatal. See Road travel
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to
- any area within 20km of the Tanzanian border with the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, due to attacks by groups linked with Islamic extremism.
If you need to contact the emergency services, dial 112 and ask for the emergency service you require.
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Tanzania’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
Around 75,000 British nationals visit Tanzania every year.
Although most visits to Tanzania are trouble-free, violent and armed crime is increasing. Take sensible precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. See Crime
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Tanzania. See Terrorism
On occasion, demonstrations and political rallies across Tanzania have turned violent and resulted in fatalities. You should avoid all demonstrations and rallies. See Safety and security
During the rainy seasons, end of March until May and October to middle of December, exceptionally heavy rainfall and strong winds can occur. See Natural disasters
Plastic bags are banned for environmental reasons. See Local laws and customs
There is a threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. See River and sea travel
On 6 November 2022, a Precision Air flight from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba crashed into Lake Victoria close to Bukoba airport. See Air travel
In the last few years there have been several ferry disasters in which hundreds of people have died. If you believe a ferry is overloaded or not seaworthy, do not get on. See River and sea travel
Long distance buses are often involved in accidents which can be fatal. See Road travel
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
Update history
2025-01-17 11:14
Information on suspected outbreak of Marburg Virus disease in Kagera region (‘Health’ page).
2024-12-13 12:41
Updated assessment that terrorist attacks in Tanzania cannot be ruled out (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-09-26 15:09
Removal of information on political demonstrations held on 23 September (‘Safety and Security’ page)
2024-09-22 10:32
Demonstrations are likely to take place in Dar es Salaam on 23 September and may occur in regions throughout Tanzania. Avoid any demonstrations, protests or large political gatherings (Safety and Security page).
2024-08-30 13:22
Addition of information that from 1 October 2024, you must have a mandatory travel insurance policy from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation for entry (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-06-21 16:30
Updated assessment that terrorists are likely to try and carry out attacks in Tanzania (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-15 16:08
New information on international driving permits (IDPs) (‘Safety and security’ page.)
2024-05-08 13:09
Removal of information on Tropical storm Hadiya, which has now passed (‘Safety and security’ page). Update to information on fines for traffic violations (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-03 11:08
Information on Tropical storm Hadiya forecasted to make landfall between 3 and 6 May (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-29 15:41
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-10-30 12:04
(CORRECTION) Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Tanzania in the near future.
2023-10-28 18:37
Terrorists are highly likely to try to carry out attacks in Tanzania in the near future.
2023-09-06 11:46
Updated links to the Tanzanian immigration website (‘Entry Requirements’ page).
2023-06-27 12:05
Information on the risk of terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-06-22 11:48
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-06-07 15:32
Information on declaration that the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak is over (‘Health’ page).
2023-04-26 10:55
Updated information on the risk of altitude sickness in the northeast (‘Safety and Security’ page).
2023-03-24 16:10
Update to information on an outbreak of Marburg virus in Bukoba, northwest Tanzania. Health authorities have announced enhanced public health measures (‘Health’ page).
2023-03-22 16:56
New information added on an outbreak of Marburg Virus in Bukoba, Northwest Tanzania (‘Health’ page).
2023-03-10 15:10
Updated information on the risk of terrorism (‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).
2023-02-09 11:52
Updated information on health screening for entry; you no longer need to show a COVID vaccine certificate or PCR test for entry. Removal of information on Ebola screening for arrivals from Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. (See ‘Health’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).
2023-01-27 10:11
Updated information on the terrorism threat. (See ‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ page).
2023-01-26 09:41
Updated information on locations that terrorists may target. (See ‘Terrorism’ page)
2023-01-18 20:44
Updated information on threat level in Tanzania. (See ‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages)
2023-01-04 10:17
Updated information on health surveillance forms required for entry to Zanzibar, and for travellers entering Tanzania from Uganda or DRC (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Health’ pages).
2022-11-30 11:38
Update to information and advice on road safety, local transport and the Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Uganda (‘Safety and security’ and ‘Health’ pages).
2022-11-06 18:02
Update following the Precision Air plane crash in Lake Victoria (‘Summary’ and Safety and Security’ pages).
2022-10-10 10:35
Updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements for Tanzania (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-09-23 16:24
Updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements for Tanzania ; Ebola outbreaks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda (‘Health’ and ‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-08-19 15:32
New information regarding a questionnaire residents and tourists may need to fill out for the population and housing census on 23 August 2022, a public holiday (‘Summary’ page)
2022-03-28 13:30
Update to information on entry requirements and the terrorism threat (‘Summary’, ‘Terrorism’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)