Mainland Tanzania has published detailed regulations for a new mandatory travel insurance scheme that will require all foreign visitors to hold a valid policy before entering the country. The Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026, were issued under Government Notice No. 256 on September 4, 2026, and were established under Section 134A of the Insurance Act, a provision introduced through the Finance Act 2025.
Coverage and cost of the mandatory policy
Under the new rules, foreign nationals entering mainland Tanzania by air, sea, or land must hold an Inbound Travel Insurance policy worth the shilling equivalent of $44. The policy can be purchased before departure or at the point of entry, and the insurer must issue a certificate in either electronic or paper form. Coverage runs for up to 92 days from the date of arrival and allows multiple entries within that window. Visitors staying beyond 92 days must buy a new policy.
The regulations set out four minimum areas of coverage: emergency medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation, emergency repatriation, and loss of baggage. The National Insurance Corporation (NIC), Tanzania's state-owned insurer, sits at the centre of the scheme. Other registered insurers may participate only in partnership with the NIC, and their systems must be linked to relevant authorities to allow policy verification. Visitors who arrive without valid coverage may be refused entry.
Exemptions for East African and Southern African residents
The regulations define a "foreigner" as anyone who is not a Tanzanian citizen, but carve out residents of East African Community (EAC) Partner States and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States. Notably, the exemption is tied to residency in those states, not nationality. Visitors from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia will therefore be subject to the requirement once it takes effect.
The Zanzibar question and potential double cost
One issue yet to be resolved is how the new mainland scheme will interact with Zanzibar's own mandatory insurance policy, which has been in place since October 1, 2024. That policy, issued by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC), also costs $44 per adult and covers up to 92 days. The September 4 regulations define the required mainland policy as one issued by the NIC or a partner insurer, which means a ZIC policy does not automatically satisfy the mainland entry requirement. No mutual recognition arrangement between the two schemes has been announced.
For a traveller combining a safari on the mainland with a stay in Zanzibar, the total insurance cost could reach $88 if the two systems remain legally separate. The new regulations will require foreign visitors to show proof of coverage upon arrival, and the lack of a mutual recognition arrangement could lead to higher costs for those visiting both parts of the country.
