Tanzania eVisa System Down: Visa on Arrival Still Active for Eligible Travelers
Published: March 2026 | Tanzania Immigration Services Department Update
If you are planning a trip to Tanzania in the coming days or weeks, there is an important development you should know about.
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Tanzania Immigration Services Department published a Public Notice confirming that its central immigration system is currently unavailable due to a technical incident. The Tanzania eVisa portal is temporarily inaccessible, and no new applications can be submitted or processed during the outage.
The authorities did not disclose the exact cause or provide a timeline for restoration. Technical teams are actively working to resolve the situation.
FAQ: I was about to apply for a Tanzania eVisa today. What should I do instead?
You can obtain your visa on arrival at any major international entry point in Tanzania, including all principal airports. This is an official alternative under Tanzania’s immigration policy and is not affected by the current outage.
Official Notice
Visa on Arrival Remains Fully Operational
The most critical point from this announcement: the visa on arrival facility continues to operate without interruption. Eligible foreign visitors can still obtain a visa directly upon arrival at major entry points across the country.
Key Visa Details
- Ordinary Visa: Valid for up to 90 days.
- Multiple Entry Visa: Valid for 1 year.
- Passport Validity: Must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry.
FAQ: Has Tanzania officially cancelled visa on arrival?
No. Despite repeated speculation in late 2024 and early 2025, Tanzania has not suspended visa on arrival. As of March 2026, the Immigration Services Department confirms it remains available at all major entry points.
Recurring Portal Issues Led Up to This Outage
This disruption did not come without warning. Over recent months, travelers and travel professionals reported persistent difficulties with the eVisa portal, including slow access, unpredictable processing times, and approvals arriving the day before or even the day of departure.
These ongoing problems had already pushed a growing number of travelers toward the visa on arrival route well before this outage occurred.
Already Paid for an eVisa? Steps You Should Take
If you submitted and paid for an eVisa application but have not received approval, keep all your documentation. The most important item is your Application ID, the reference number assigned at the time of submission.
Present this ID along with your payment confirmation to the immigration officer upon arrival. This may help demonstrate that you already initiated the process online and could help you avoid paying again.
Final decisions, however, rest entirely with immigration officers at the point of entry. Prepare for the possibility that you may need to pay the visa fee on arrival if the system cannot verify your prior application.
FAQ: I paid for my eVisa two weeks ago and still have no approval. Will I get a refund?
The authorities have not announced any automatic refund procedure. Carry a printout of your Application ID and payment confirmation. Officers can often verify pending applications internally, but if the system fails to confirm your payment, you may need to pay again at the border.
We will continue to monitor developments from the Tanzania Immigration Services Department and provide updates as new information becomes available.
Start Your Tanzania eVisa
- Fill out the Tanzania eVisa application form online with your passport details.
- Pay the visa fee securely online using your credit card.
- Check your email for payment confirmation and receive your Tanzania eVisa electronically.
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