Tanzania Changes Visa Rules for Nigerians: What You Need to Know

If Tanzania has been sitting on your travel list, this is the kind of update you want to pay attention to. Tanzania has removed Nigerian nationals from its Referred Visa Category, meaning Nigerian travellers are no longer subject to the extra referral-clearance process that previously applied to them.

However, before you start pricing flights to Zanzibar or planning a Serengeti trip, there is one very important detail: Tanzania has not become visa-free for Nigerians. The visa requirement remains. What has changed is the process you have to go through to get that visa.

This Is What Tanzania Actually Changed

The Tanzania Immigration Services Department announced the change in a notice dated 25 September 2026. The Tanzania High Commission in Abuja published the update on 28 September, while Nigerian media reports brought it wider attention on 29 September.

The change followed amendments published in Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026. With immediate effect, Nigerian passport holders travelling to Tanzania are no longer subject to the referred-visa restrictions and can follow the country's standard visa application procedure.

The official Tanzania High Commission update confirms the removal of Nigerian nationals from the referred category.

So, What Was the Referred Visa Problem?

A referred visa was not simply a normal visa application with a different name. Applicants under that category needed additional clearance from Tanzania's immigration authorities before a visa could be issued.

Under the previous rules, applicants in the referred category were advised to apply at least two months before travelling and wait for approval before beginning their journey. Local host information, including a physical address and contact details, could also be required.

For a Nigerian traveller trying to plan a holiday, that meant you could not treat the visa application like an ordinary travel checklist. There was an extra layer of immigration clearance sitting between your application and your trip.

That additional layer is what Tanzania has now removed for Nigerians.

But Wait, Does This Mean Nigerians Don't Need a Visa?

No. This is the part you should not miss.

Tanzania's current immigration guidance still lists Nigeria among Commonwealth countries whose citizens require visas. Nigeria is also not included in Tanzania's current visa-exempt list. So, if you are travelling on a Nigerian passport for tourism, you still need the appropriate Tanzanian visa.

You can check the current rules directly on the Tanzania eVisa guidelines before you apply.

What Changes for You as a Nigerian Traveller?

In practical terms, the new arrangement means:

• You can follow Tanzania's standard visa application procedure.

• You can apply through the official Tanzania Immigration online portal.

• You are no longer subject to the additional referral clearance that previously applied to Nigerian nationals.

• You do not have to plan around the former referred-visa process.

• You still have to meet Tanzania's normal visa and entry requirements.

How Much Is the Tanzania Visa for Nigerians?

For tourism, Tanzania's immigration guidance lists the Ordinary Visa at US$50, with validity of up to 90 days.

The Tanzania High Commission in Abuja also lists the single-entry ordinary/tourist visa at US$50 and a multiple-entry option at US$100 for one year, subject to its stated conditions. Because visa fees and conditions can change, check the High Commission's visa information immediately before applying.

Other visa categories have different requirements and fees. If you are travelling for business, study, work or another purpose, your visa category should match the actual reason for your trip.

Can Nigerians Apply for a Tanzania Visa Online?

Yes. Tanzania operates an official online visa application system, and the immigration authorities recommend using it.

The process involves completing the application, providing the required documents, paying the applicable fee and tracking the application through the portal. Tanzania's current guidance says standard online visa applications are generally processed within 10 days.

Although the referred-visa restriction has been removed for Nigerians, it is still sensible to apply early. Processing times can vary, and your travel plans should not depend on a last-minute approval.

You can Apply through the official portal: Tanzania eVisa application

What Do You Need for the Application?

For a normal tourist application, you should be prepared with:

• A Nigerian passport valid for at least six months.

• At least one unused visa page.

• A completed visa application and declaration form.

• A passport photograph that meets the application requirements.

• Payment for the applicable visa fee.

• Any additional supporting documents requested for your particular trip.

• A return ticket or evidence of onward travel where required.

Tanzania's online visa terms also state that applicants should select the correct visa type and upload the supporting documents required for that category. A wrongly selected visa category can lead to rejection.

For Nigerians applying from Nigeria, the Tanzania High Commission's visa requirements provides additional guidance.

What Happens After You Apply?

After submitting your application, you can track its progress using your application identification number. Tanzania says applicants may also receive updates through the email address used during the application.

If approved, you can download your Visa Grant Notice through the visa portal. However, a Visa Grant Notice is not a final guarantee of entry. Immigration officers at the point of entry can still assess whether you meet Tanzania's entry conditions.

Tanzania's official visa terms and conditions also advise applicants to wait for approval before beginning their journey.

What About Zanzibar?

If your idea of Tanzania is less safari and more white sand, turquoise water and Stone Town, you are still covered by the same broad visa arrangement.

Tanzania's visa guidance says that if you intend to visit both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, you should select your first destination when completing the application. You can then visit both without applying for a separate visa.

So you could build an itinerary around Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, or combine Zanzibar with a mainland safari, without treating them as two separate visa destinations.

If you want more practical African travel inspiration, you can also read PINCHED's Top 5 Attractions in Kenya guide for another East African trip-planning guide.

What This Means If You're Planning a Tanzania Trip

For Nigerians who have previously avoided Tanzania because of the referral process, this is a meaningful practical change. The extra clearance stage has been removed, so the route to a standard tourist visa is now much more straightforward.

And Tanzania gives you plenty to build a trip around. You can combine a Zanzibar beach break with a mainland safari, explore Stone Town, visit national parks or plan around Mount Kilimanjaro.

The change is also relevant to Nigerians travelling for legitimate business visits. However, the correct visa depends on what you are actually going to Tanzania to do.

Don't Confuse This With Visa-Free Travel

The easiest way to remember the announcement is this:

• Before: Nigerian passport + visa requirement + referred-visa restrictions.

• Now: Nigerian passport + visa requirement + standard visa process.

That is the real story. The policy removes an administrative hurdle; it does not remove the visa requirement.

What You Should Know Before Booking Your Flight

• Check the official Tanzania Immigration requirements immediately before applying because immigration rules can change.

• Use the official online visa portal rather than an unofficial website promising special treatment.

• Do not assume that submitting an application means you are approved.

• Give yourself enough time for processing, even though standard applications are generally processed within 10 days.

• Keep your passport, visa information, return/onward ticket and other supporting documents accessible when travelling.

• Check the entry conditions for your exact purpose of travel if you are travelling for business, study, work or another non-tourism reason.

Why This Matters Beyond the Visa

Nigerians are increasingly looking for easier ways to travel, work and experience other parts of the continent, while destinations are competing for more visitors.

The timing also fits into a wider African travel conversation. PINCHED recently looked at Nigeria's evolving festive-season tourism strategy in Ember to Remember: Nigeria's Detty December Tourism Strategy Explained. Tanzania's new visa arrangement is a different policy, but both developments matter to people thinking about how Africans move around the continent.

The Bottom Line

Tanzania has genuinely made things easier for Nigerian travellers. Nigeria has been removed from the Referred Visa Category, so you no longer face the additional referral-clearance process that previously applied to Nigerian passport holders.

But the headline should not be misunderstood. Tanzania is not visa-free for Nigerians. You still need the appropriate visa, and for tourism the current Ordinary Visa is listed at US$50.

So if Tanzania has been on your list, you can now plan around a much simpler visa process. Just make sure you check the official requirements before you book, apply through the proper channel and don't confuse removed referral restrictions with visa-free entry.

You can also read our guide on The African Countries Nigerians Can Enter Visa-Free Right Now (2026 List)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Nigerians now travel to Tanzania without a visa?

No. Nigeria has been removed from Tanzania's Referred Visa Category, but Nigerian citizens still require a visa where Tanzania's visa rules require one.

2. What changed with Tanzania's visa rules for Nigerians?

Nigerians no longer have to go through the additional referred-visa clearance process. They can use Tanzania's standard visa application procedure.

3. How much is the Tanzania tourist visa for Nigerians?

The standard Ordinary Visa is listed at US$50 and is valid for up to 90 days. A multiple-entry visa has separate conditions and fees.

4. How long does a Tanzania visa take to process?

Tanzania's current online guidance says standard visa applications are generally processed within 10 days. It is still advisable to apply early.

5. Can Nigerians apply for a Tanzania visa online?

Yes. Tanzania operates an official online visa application portal and recommends using the online route.

6. Can I visit Zanzibar with my Tanzania visa?

Yes. Tanzania's guidance says visitors who plan to visit both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar can do so without applying for a separate visa.

7. Does a Tanzania Visa Grant Notice guarantee entry?

No. Immigration officers at the point of entry can still assess whether you meet the country's entry requirements.

8. What is the biggest thing Nigerians should know about this announcement?

Tanzania has made the visa process simpler for Nigerian passport holders by removing the referred-visa restriction. It has not introduced visa-free travel for Nigerians.