Tanzania Volunteer eVisa
Apply for the Tanzania Volunteer eVisa online — use the official Tanzania Immigration portal and get your visa grant notice by email once approved.
What Is the Tanzania Volunteer eVisa?
The Tanzania Volunteer eVisa is an electronic visa category for foreign nationals who will travel to Tanzania to perform recognised volunteer work, usually under an NGO, charity, or registered host organisation. Tanzania moved much of its visa processing online in recent years and the eVisa workflow is managed via Tanzania Immigration's official e-visa platform. The online system replaced much of the old embassy-only application process and allows applicants to upload documents and receive a Visa Grant Notice by email.
Apply through the official portal at eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa or use DoVisa to prepare and check your application before submission — we make sure you have the correct host letters, passport scans and return ticket details. After the immigration authority approves your application you receive a downloadable Visa Grant Notice (PDF) and an email notification; you must present that notice and your passport at immigration on arrival.
The Tanzania Volunteer eVisa sits alongside visitor and business visa categories — it is an entry visa, not a work permit. It authorises travel and entry for volunteer activities approved by the immigration authorities but does not replace local volunteer permits or any registration required by the host organisation in-country. The official guidelines state online visa decisions are normally communicated within ten days; applicants with referral or special-case status may need to apply earlier and supply additional documents.
Key facts: passport validity requirement is at least 6 months on arrival, a return/onward ticket is required, and proof of the volunteer placement (host letter or invitation) is essential. For broader entry rules see Tanzania visa information and the official eVisa portal at eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa. When you’re ready, Apply for your Tanzania Volunteer eVisa now.
Who Needs the Tanzania Volunteer eVisa?
Who Needs It
- Foreign nationals travelling to Tanzania to undertake volunteer placement with a registered NGO, charity or host organisation
- Applicants who will present a host letter, invitation or certificate of placement as part of the online application
- Each traveller must submit their own application — including minors, who require a parent or guardian to apply on their behalf
Who Is Exempt
- Tanzanian nationals (holders of Tanzanian passports)
- Diplomatic and official passport holders on government business
- Airline, shipping and vessel crew on active official duty
- EAC Member State citizens: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda (benefits under regional agreements)
Tanzania Entry Requirements & Restrictions
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival and have at least one blank page for the entry stamp. See Tanzania Immigration guidelines at visa.immigration.go.tz/guidelines.
Volunteer Placement & Supporting Documents
You must upload a host letter or invitation from the sponsoring organisation, a copy of your passport bio-data page, recent passport-style photo(s), and proof of onward/return travel when applying online.
Vaccination Requirements
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Check CDC guidance for details: CDC — Tanzania.
Customs & Prohibited Imports
Tanzania prohibits importing certain items including illegal drugs, firearms and ammunition. Agricultural goods and items subject to permits are restricted — see the TRA Customs Act for full lists: TRA Customs Act.
Health Insurance & Local Requirements
Carry travel medical insurance that covers evacuation — medical facilities are limited outside major cities. Some host organisations require proof of insurance as part of the placement paperwork.
Travel Tips for Tanzania Visitors
Tanzania spans coastal lowlands, the Serengeti plains and Mount Kilimanjaro — plan logistics carefully when your placement is outside the major cities. International gateways include Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam — DAR), Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar — ZNZ), and Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). Cash is essential outside big hotels; US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas but carry small bills and official ID when exchanging.
- Language: Swahili is the official language; English is commonly used in tourism, NGOs and city services.
- Time zone: East Africa Time (GMT+3). Plan domestic transfers and meetings with hosts in local time — some remote lodges operate flexible pickup times.
- Local SIMs & connectivity: Buy a local SIM at the airport for data; signal can be intermittent at rural placements and power outages happen — bring a power bank.
- Money & banking: ATMs are available in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar; card acceptance is limited in remote locations — carry TZS for local markets and transport.
- Security: Avoid walking alone after dark in unfamiliar urban areas, secure valuables, and follow your host organisation’s safety briefing.
- Culture & customs: Dress conservatively at local community sites; ask before photographing people. Bring modest clothing for village visits and respect religious observances in Zanzibar.
- Transfers: Domestic flights or long road journeys are common between entry airports and volunteer placements — confirm pick-up times with your host and leave buffer time for late flights.
"Applied for the Tanzania Volunteer eVisa for a two-month placement with an NGO. Uploaded the host letter and passport scan — got the grant notice by email in under two weeks. Departure check-in was smooth."
"Everything was straightforward — filled the online questions, attached the invitation, and the PDF visa came through. Flights to Dar and immigration officials just asked to see the grant notice."
"Used my phone to apply mid-trip planning and uploaded all documents in one sitting. The application checks on DoVisa caught a missing signature and helped me fix it before submission."
"I had my Tanzania Volunteer eVisa approved while coordinating a placement in Zanzibar. Host organisation confirmed pick-up and the visa grant notice was easy to print and show at immigration in Dar."
"Form fields were clear but the portal timed out once and I had to log in again. Support replied and the visa arrived in time for my flight. Minor annoyance, otherwise good service."
"Got my grant notice quicker than expected. The host letter requirement was strict — make sure the organisation includes contact details. Worked perfectly at immigration in Dar es Salaam."
"I never received the confirmation email but downloaded the PDF from my account. The visa itself was valid and immigration stamped me without issue — just check your spam folder."
"Photo upload failed twice and support was slower than I hoped. I eventually had to resize the image myself and re-upload. Visa arrived before my trip but the process felt clunky."
"Booked late and still managed to get the Tanzania Volunteer eVisa for my community teaching placement. Host picked me up at the airport as promised — everything lined up well."
"Application was clear, support was helpful with document names, and immigration at Kilimanjaro airport asked to see the grant notice only — no extra questions. Solid experience."
"Applied for the Tanzania Volunteer eVisa for a two-month placement with an NGO. Uploaded the host letter and passport scan — got the grant notice by email in under two weeks. Departure check-in was smooth."
"Everything was straightforward — filled the online questions, attached the invitation, and the PDF visa came through. Flights to Dar and immigration officials just asked to see the grant notice."
"Used my phone to apply mid-trip planning and uploaded all documents in one sitting. The application checks on DoVisa caught a missing signature and helped me fix it before submission."
Tanzania Volunteer eVisa: Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Apply for Your Tanzania Volunteer eVisa?
Prepare your host letter and passport scan — official eVisa decisions are normally communicated within 10 days. Use DoVisa to check documents and submit.
Check Price & Apply NowSources & References
- Tanzania eVisa - Guidelines
- Tanzania eVisa Portal (Official)
- Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania — Visa Information (Abu Dhabi)
- CDC — Tanzania Travel Health Notices & Vaccines
- TRA — The Customs (Management and Tariff) Act (Customs rules)
- Government of Canada — Tanzania travel advice
- U.S. Department of State — Tanzania International Travel Information
- International Trade Administration — Tanzania: Prohibited & Restricted Imports