Mandatory Travel Insurance Also Required in Mainland Tanzania from 1 October
From 1 October 2026, foreign tourists entering mainland Tanzania will also be required to have mandatory inbound travel insurance, according to the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance.
Until now, the requirement for mandatory inbound travel insurance applied only in Zanzibar. From now on, insurance will be compulsory throughout the country, regardless of whether travellers enter Tanzania by air, land or sea.
The insurance coverage includes emergency medical assistance, medical evacuation, repatriation and baggage loss. The specific coverage limits and conditions are set out in the policy.
The insurance costs USD 44 per person and is valid for up to 92 days from the date of entry.
How It Works
In mainland Tanzania, insurance is provided by NIC (National Insurance Corporation), while in Zanzibar it is provided by ZIC (Zanzibar Insurance Corporation).
The Tanzanian Ministry of Finance states that in an emergency, travellers will receive assistance from the insurance provider from which they purchased their policy, regardless of where in Tanzania the situation occurs.
This means that travellers visiting both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar during the same trip do not need to purchase both policies. However, they should pay attention to which website they use to purchase their insurance.
What This Means in Practice
If your first point of entry into the country is mainland Tanzania, for example, if you arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, you must purchase your policy through the NIC website. If you later travel to Zanzibar for a beach holiday after your safari on the mainland, the policy will also be valid on the island.
- NIC – Insurance for mainland Tanzania: inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz
If your first point of entry into the country is Zanzibar, you must purchase your policy through the ZIC website. It will also be valid if you travel from Zanzibar to mainland Tanzania during your trip, for example, to go on safari.
- ZIC – Zanzibar insurance: inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz
After payment, travellers receive an insurance certificate through the website, which they can present upon entering the country.