Most foreign nationals need a visa to enter Tanzania. Previously, tourists had two options to obtain a tourist visa: to get a visa upon arrival or apply in advance through their nation’s Tanzanian consulate, which required sending their passport away in the mail and waiting for it to be returned. The latter being less-than-ideal, time-consuming and somewhat risky if you’ve ever experienced the postal system losing your passport.

Thankfully, the process has gotten easier and now tourists can apply for an Electronic Visa to enter Tanzania as a tourist. Don’t let the prospect of a visa deter you, it is a very simple step that nearly every nation in the world requests for travelers.

The cost of a Tanzanian tourist visa is $50 USD for most travelers, $100 USD for American citizens. Citizens of some countries (such as several neighboring African countries) are allowed to enter Tanzania for free, without a visa.

To see if you are from a country that is exempt from a tourist visa, please check out Tanzania’s official visa exemption list, here.