The Tanzanian government has announced that foreign visitors entering the country will be required to obtain travel insurance costing $44 per person, effective October 1, 2026. The insurance cover will extend for up to 92 days and can be purchased from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) for visitors entering Mainland Tanzania and from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) for those entering Zanzibar. This new requirement aims to provide visitors with greater assurance and assistance in case of emergencies during their stay.
The Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary, Dr. Natu Mwamba, announced the requirement in a statement issued on September 25, advising travelers to obtain the cover before traveling to Tanzania. The policy has the potential to inject significant premium income into Tanzania's insurance industry, with an estimated annual value of premiums of about $100 million. This represents a substantial market for the industry, which recorded gross written premiums of Sh1.52 trillion in 2024.
The insurance industry has welcomed the new requirement, with Acclavia Brokers Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ancelim Ancelim stating that it will increase the number of people covered by insurance and raise premium volumes. He also noted that the policy could strengthen Tanzania's tourism sector by giving visitors greater assurance that assistance would be available if they faced emergencies during their stay. Zanzibar's experience has shown that tourists who encountered difficulties have received assistance through travel insurance.
However, tourism operators have expressed concerns over the short notice before implementation, which could cause inconvenience at airports, particularly for travelers who booked their trips months ago and may not yet be aware of the requirement. Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) chairman Wilbard Chambulo said that while the $44 fee was unlikely to be a major concern for tourists, the timing of the implementation could create difficulties at entry points.
Despite these concerns, tour operators are engaging with the government and informing their clients about the new requirement. Mr. Chambulo noted that Tanzania is among the destinations in the East African Community with such a requirement, and that Kenya had also introduced travel insurance but was facing a court case over the measure. The policy could also have wider economic effects through tourism-related employment, tax collections, and foreign-exchange earnings.
Africa Insurance Women Association (AIWA) secretary-general Esther Mwamafupa said that the requirement could have an impact beyond travel insurance by increasing awareness of insurance among tourism operators. She noted that tour operators exposed to travel insurance could become more familiar with other insurance products, potentially creating additional demand. The measure could support efforts to increase insurance penetration, particularly by exposing more people in the tourism value chain to insurance products.
The new policy follows the Inbound Travel Insurance Regulations for Foreign Visitors Entering Mainland Tanzania, published under Government Notice No. 256 of 2026 on September 4. With Tanzania recording 2.29 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, the potential annual value of premiums would be a significant addition to the country's insurance industry. The policy is expected to have a multiplier effect in the economy, increasing employment and taxes from tourism, and helping to increase foreign exchange in the country.
Key points
- Foreign visitors to Tanzania will be required to obtain $44 travel insurance from October 1, 2026.
- The policy has the potential to inject significant premium income into Tanzania's insurance industry.
- Tourism operators have expressed concerns over the short notice before implementation, which could cause inconvenience at airports.
