Visa rules and how to get that precious paper

"Just get it at the airport! It's super easy!" Ah, yes. The battle cry of the self-proclaimed Zanzibar visa experts in Facebook groups. But is it really that simple? I mean, how would these one-time Zanzibar visitors actually know the ins and outs of the visa process? Spoiler alert: they don't. So, let's dive into the real facts, shall we? Because navigating visa requirements shouldn't be a guessing game.

First things first: most nationalities (but not all – even some European countries are included in this) need a tourist visa to visit Zanzibar. If you already have a valid Tanzanian visa from the mainland, you're good to go – no separate Zanzibari visa needed. But always, and I mean always, check the official government website (https://visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines) for the most up-to-date rules. Facebook groups are not your source for official visa information. Trust me on this one. Visa regulations can change, and you don't want to rely on hearsay.

The visa itself costs USD $50 per person, and that includes the little ones (because apparently, even babies need visas these days). The price is the same whether you apply online or at the airport. But here's where things get interesting…

If you apply online, you can pay with a credit card. Easy peasy. At the airport, however, the card terminals often decide to take a vacation of their own. So, bring cash – USD, to be precise. If you bring Euros, you might get a less-than-favorable exchange rate (think 1 USD = 1 EUR – ouch!). And if you're using a currency other than USD, you'll probably get hit with fees and a dodgy exchange rate. Suddenly, that "easy" airport visa is looking a bit pricier.

Applying online can save you from long lines at the airport, especially if you happen to land at the same time as a bunch of other international flights. But not always. Sometimes, the airport lines move surprisingly fast, and sometimes, even with an online visa, you still have to queue. It's a bit of a gamble and there is no 100% guarantee.

Now, let's talk about the downsides of the online application. The form can be a bit… finicky. Lots of fields, confusing options, and sometimes, the tech just doesn't cooperate. It's gotten better over the years, but it's still not perfect. And some people claim their applications get stuck in "pending" limbo. While I haven't personally witnessed this with the thousands of travelers I've helped over the years, it's worth mentioning. If this happens to you, your best bet is to contact the local embassy you listed on your application.

Personally, I've always used the online method (and still do for family and friends). I've seen firsthand how the "airport is just as fast" claim can be so wrong. But, as I said, online applications can have their hiccups too.

So, there you have it. A (hopefully) clearer picture of the visa situation. Now, on to those "pro tips"…

If you decide to do it online, make sure that you write down the application number you get so you can log in and check the status on the application and download it when it's approved (you are supposed to receive an email when it's approved but do not wait for that one)
Apply at least a couple of weeks before you travel, even though normally it takes maximum about 3-4 working days, it's better to be safe than sorry
You need to upload a photo of yourself, your passport page and the return ticket. If you struggle with the size limit (the system only accepts up to 300 kb file size for each) you can use any free online resizer tool, for instance https://www.simpleimageresizer.com to downscale the size easy
Print out a copy of it even though they have it in their computer system, and hand it over at immigration together with your passport
...and NEVER EVER use any thirdparty service to assist you with this process, you do not want your personal passport information spread all over the internet! The only site you must use for online applications are https://visa.immigration.go.tz
If you decide to do it at arrival, bring a pen for each of those that needs to fill out the paper form to save time
Make sure you have USD $50 * number of passports in cash (yes like I said earlier there are card terminals but they often do not work), and also have your flight number and hotel name, address etc readily available to make it go faster filling out the paper form
They will take photos there so you don't need to bring any with you
Paying in EUR is mostly accepted by the officers but at a 50 = 50 exchange rate, so you will pay more for the visa with the current real life exchange rate
Some airlines have the form and hand them out before you land but this is just a few of the airlines currently
...and no, you should not base your application on a PDF download form that someone has published on internet and fill that out by hand at home, and try to deliver that at immigration. You could easily be pushed back into the line to fill out the form they have as it's on a special paper type
It's the same visa requirement for the whole union, meaning Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar, so you only need one for your whole trip
In the travel groups on FB some people claims there is a departure tax, this is NOT true. Nothing to pay when you leave our beautiful island

...and visa is not the only thing you are required to have when travelling to Zanzibar, so don't forget to check out my "The Mandatory travel insurance" post as well.

Karibu Zanzibar!