Tanzania’s New Mandatory Travel Insurance: What Travelers Need to Know
If you’re planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, go on safari in the Serengeti, or explore more of Tanzania, there’s a new travel requirement you’ll want to add to your pre-trip checklist.
Beginning October 1, 2026, Tanzania requires most foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania to obtain mandatory inbound travel insurance.
The good news? It’s a relatively simple requirement to take care of before your trip. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Tanzania’s new mandatory travel insurance?
The Government of Tanzania introduced mandatory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania by air, land or sea.
The policy is provided by the National Insurance Corporation of Tanzania (NIC) and costs the Tanzanian shilling equivalent of $44 USD per person.
The policy is valid for stays of up to 92 days and can cover multiple entries into Tanzania during the coverage period.
The requirement applies to most foreign visitors, although residents of East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states are exempt.
What does the insurance cover?
According to NIC, the mandatory policy provides financial protection for certain unexpected situations while you’re traveling in Tanzania, including:
- Emergency medical expenses
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Repatriation
- Loss of baggage
Additional benefits may apply depending on the terms and conditions of the policy.
For anyone traveling to climb Kilimanjaro, however, there is an important distinction to understand:
Tanzania’s mandatory inbound insurance should not automatically be considered a replacement for your own comprehensive travel insurance.
A Kilimanjaro trek is very different from an ordinary vacation. Before traveling, climbers should carefully review their personal travel insurance to make sure they understand what activities, medical expenses, trip interruptions and emergency evacuation situations are covered — particularly when trekking at high altitude.
When should I purchase it?
We recommend taking care of the insurance before you leave home.
NIC states that foreign visitors should obtain the policy before arriving at their Tanzanian entry point, and proof of coverage may be requested when you arrive.
Tanzania’s Ministry of Finance also strongly recommends purchasing the insurance before traveling to help avoid unnecessary delays during the entry process.
Once you’ve purchased your policy, keep an electronic copy of your insurance certificate readily available with your other travel documents.
Where do I purchase the insurance?
If your first point of entry is Mainland Tanzania, the mandatory insurance is purchased directly through the National Insurance Corporation of Tanzania.
Use the official NIC Inbound Travel Insurance portal:
We recommend using the official government-designated insurance provider rather than purchasing through an unfamiliar third-party website.
What if I’m also traveling to Zanzibar?
This is especially important for travelers combining a Kilimanjaro climb or safari with a few days relaxing in Zanzibar.
You do not need to purchase two mandatory inbound policies simply because your itinerary includes both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
If you enter Tanzania through the Mainland and obtain your required policy from NIC, you can subsequently travel to Zanzibar without purchasing another mandatory inbound policy, subject to the policy’s applicable terms and conditions.
If Zanzibar is your first point of entry, the mandatory policy is instead issued through the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC).
That makes things considerably easier for travelers planning one of our favorite Tanzania combinations: Kilimanjaro + safari + Zanzibar.
What else should be on my Tanzania travel checklist?
Insurance is only one part of preparing for your trip.
If you’re traveling to Tanzania for a Kilimanjaro climb or safari, you’ll also want to make sure you have:
A valid passport
Check your passport’s validity well in advance of your departure and make sure you meet Tanzania’s current entry requirements.
The appropriate Tanzania visa
Visa requirements vary by nationality, so check the requirements that apply to your passport before traveling.
Comprehensive personal travel insurance
Review your policy carefully, particularly if you’re climbing Kilimanjaro. Don’t assume every travel insurance policy automatically covers high-altitude trekking or every type of emergency evacuation.
Your vaccination and health information
Talk with your healthcare provider or a travel medicine specialist well before departure about recommended vaccinations, medications and your individual health considerations.
Copies of important documents
Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, insurance documents, emergency contacts and itinerary somewhere you can access them while traveling.
And, of course, if you’re climbing Kilimanjaro: the right gear.
There is nothing quite like discovering at 15,000 feet that the gloves you thought were warm aren’t quite as warm as you thought.
Preparing for Kilimanjaro is about more than paperwork
There are a lot of details involved in planning a Kilimanjaro adventure.
Which route should you choose? How many days should you spend on the mountain? How do you prepare for altitude? What should you pack? How much training do you need? What happens if someone becomes sick on the mountain?
Those questions matter far more to us than simply getting you to Tanzania.
At Roam Wild Adventure, we believe preparation is part of the experience. We want our climbers to arrive knowing what to expect and feeling prepared for the journey ahead.
Our Kilimanjaro itineraries are intentionally designed with acclimatization in mind, and our mountain teams closely monitor climbers throughout the trek. Our guides are Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified and experienced in recognizing and responding to signs of altitude-related illness.
We also believe that climbing Kilimanjaro should be about more than reaching Uhuru Peak.
It’s about watching the landscape change as you move through the mountain’s ecological zones. It’s about the people you’ll meet along the way. It’s about the moment you realize you’re stronger than you thought you were.
And yes, it’s about standing on the Roof of Africa at 19,341 feet and thinking:
I actually did this.
Thinking about Kilimanjaro in 2027?
If Kilimanjaro has been sitting on your bucket list, this might be the year to stop saying someday.
Roam Wild Adventure offers several Kilimanjaro routes and departure dates throughout the year, including our recommended 8-day Lemosho route, which provides additional time for acclimatization while taking you through some of the most beautiful terrain on the mountain.
And if you’re coming all the way to Tanzania, don’t be surprised if we encourage you to stay a little longer.
A few days on safari in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro after Kilimanjaro is a pretty incredible way to celebrate what you just accomplished.
Dream. Believe. Achieve.
Roam Wild Adventure
Travel requirements can change. This article reflects information available as of October 1, 2026. Travelers should always verify current entry and insurance requirements with official Tanzanian government sources before departure.