Tanzania: $44 insurance requirement for visitors outside EAC and SADC

Tanzania has introduced new regulations mandating travel insurance for foreign visitors entering the mainland. The fee is set at the equivalent of $44, and the coverage can remain valid for up to 92 days, allowing for multiple entries during this period.

The Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026 were published on September 4 under Government Notice No. 256. They stipulate that the policy can be purchased prior to travel or at the point of entry. A visitor subject to this requirement who does not have valid insurance may be denied entry to the mainland.

The policy must cover at a minimum emergency medical care, medical evacuation, emergency repatriation, and loss of luggage. The National Insurance Corporation is tasked with coordinating the provision of this insurance alongside other registered insurers, according to the regulations.

Individuals from partner states of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community are exempt. This measure applies to the mainland of Tanzania and does not replace the separate regulations already in effect in Zanzibar.

The published regulations do not specify a start date for enforcement at the borders. However, the legal framework is now established, following the introduction of a provision in the Insurance Act in 2025 that mandates this coverage for the relevant foreign visitors.