In Tanzania, a Referral Visa is required for nationals of specific countries who must obtain special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration (for mainland Tanzania) or the Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar before entering the country. This visa cannot be obtained upon arrival and must be approved in advance.

Countries Requiring a Referral Visa

As of the latest updates, nationals from the following countries need to apply for a Referral Visa:

• Afghanistan
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Chad
• Djibouti
• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• Equatorial Guinea
• Iran
• Iraq
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lebanon
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Senegal
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• Somaliland
• Sierra Leone
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen
• Stateless persons or refugees holding Vienna Convention travel documents

Application Procedure

If you are a national of any of the above countries, follow these steps to apply for a Referral Visa:

1. Online Application: Submit your visa application through the official Tanzania Immigration website: www.immigration.go.tz.
2. Required Documents:

• Valid passport (minimum six months validity).
• Recent passport-size photograph.
• Cover letter from a registered institution/company (for official visits) or from an individual host (for personal visits), detailing the purpose and duration of stay.
• Copy of the host's identification (passport or national ID for Tanzanian citizens; passport and residence permit for foreign nationals).
• Host institution/company registration documents (e.g., Certificate of Incorporation, TIN, Business License).
• Completed Security Bond form (T.I.F 12).
• Visa fee payment.

1. Processing Time: Applications should be submitted at least two months prior to the intended travel date. Do not book flights or make any reservations until your visa is approved.

Important Notes

• Do not book flights or accommodations before receiving visa approval.
• Do not apply for a multiple-entry visa under the Referral Visa category.
• Stateless persons and refugees with Vienna Convention travel documents must also obtain a Referral Visa before traveling to Tanzania.
• We Zanzibar Bookings help in processing customers' visa needs for their holiday trip to Tanzania on request basis.

For more detailed information and updates, please refer to the Tanzania Immigration Department's official website.