You land on the mainland first
Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, or a land border
Covers your safari, and Zanzibar afterwards.
Open the NIC siteYou land in Zanzibar first
Zanzibar airport or the Zanzibar ferry port
Covers the island, and your safari on the mainland.
Open the ZIC siteOne traveller, one policy. US$44 per adult, US$22 for ages 3 to 17, free under 3. Valid up to 92 days.
On this page
The short version
- Who needs it: foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania (since 1 October 2026) or Zanzibar (since 1 October 2024). Some residents of nearby countries are exempt.
- How many policies: one per trip, bought for your first point of entry into Tanzania.
- Price: US$44 per adult. Children aged 3 to 17 pay US$22. Children under 3 are free.
- How long it lasts: up to 92 days, with entries as many times as you like in that period.
- It does not replace your own travel insurance. It is basic emergency cover. Keep your own policy as well.
If you want to Share a group-joining safari. Book Our Best Group Safari.
What changed since our last notice
Our earlier notice, dated 16 September 2026, said that most safari and beach guests would need two policies, about US$88 per person. That is no longer correct.
On 25 September 2026 the Ministry of Finance said a policy from either insurer covers emergencies anywhere in the United Republic of Tanzania. Since then, NIC and ZIC have both said in public statements that one policy is enough for a trip that includes the mainland and Zanzibar. The Norwegian Embassy in Dar es Salaam gave the same advice on 30 September 2026.
We also corrected three other points. The rule came into force on 1 October 2026, not in September. Children pay half or nothing, not the full price. And exemption on the mainland does not always mean exemption in Zanzibar.
If you paid for two policies because of our earlier advice, contact us and we will help you ask the insurer about a refund.
Which policy do I need?
The one rule to remember: the place where you first land in Tanzania decides which insurer you buy from. After that, the same policy covers you everywhere in the country.
NIC puts it simply. A visitor who first enters the mainland and buys cover there can travel on to Zanzibar without buying again. A visitor who first enters Zanzibar can travel on to the mainland in the same way.
Here is how that works on the routes our guests actually take.
| Your route | First point of entry | Buy from | Second policy? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly into Zanzibar, then a fly-in safari to Mikumi or Nyerere | Zanzibar | ZIC | No |
| Fly into Kilimanjaro, safari in the north, then fly to Zanzibar | Mainland | NIC | No |
| Fly into Dar es Salaam, take the ferry to Zanzibar | Mainland | NIC | No |
| Fly into Dar es Salaam for a Mikumi safari only | Mainland | NIC | Not applicable |
| Fly straight into Zanzibar and stay on the island | Zanzibar | ZIC | Not applicable |
| Bought and paid for ZIC before 1 October 2026, then landed on the mainland first | Mainland | Keep your ZIC | No, if still valid for your dates |
| Cross by land from Kenya into Arusha | Mainland | NIC | No |
Two things to watch
- Connecting flights. If you change planes in Dar es Salaam on your way to Zanzibar and pass through immigration in Dar es Salaam, your first point of entry is the mainland. If you stay airside and clear immigration in Zanzibar, it is Zanzibar. Check your ticket, and if in doubt ask your airline or us.
- Your 92 days. One policy lasts up to 92 days from the start date on your certificate. If you leave Tanzania and come back inside that window, you do not buy again. If you come back after it ends, you do.
What it costs
Both insurers charge the same prices. You pay in Tanzanian shillings at the rate of the day, so the final figure can move by a little.
| Traveller | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, 18 and over | US$44 |
| Child, 3 to 17 | US$22 |
| Child, 0 to 2 | Free |
| Group of 10 or more adults | 10% off adult price |
A family of two adults and two children aged 8 and 12 pays US$132 in total. Before October 2026 we would have told that family to budget US$264 for two policies. That was wrong.
Both official sites offer three packages: Individual (one or two people), Family (three to nine people) and Group (ten or more).
What it covers, and what it does not
Covered, within limits
- Emergency medical treatment and some emergency dental care
- Medical transport, emergency evacuation and repatriation
- Lost or stolen checked luggage, in some cases
- Personal liability and some legal costs
- Help if your travel documents are stolen
- Repatriation of remains if the insured person dies
Not covered, or limited
- Trip cancellation, cancelled flights or rebooked safaris
- Some pre-existing illnesses
- Routine check-ups
- Trips made in order to get medical treatment
This list is for the NIC policy. The ZIC policy has its own terms, so read them if you buy from ZIC.
This is why we still ask every guest to carry their own full travel insurance as well. For a safari, choose a policy that covers medical evacuation by air from a remote park and trip cancellation.
Who does not need it
On the mainland, residents of East African Community and Southern African Development Community countries are exempt. The rule talks about where you live, not only your passport. A British citizen living in Kenya may be exempt on the mainland. A Kenyan citizen living in London may not be.
Zanzibar is different. ZIC has said that being exempt on the mainland does not automatically make you exempt in Zanzibar. If you think you are exempt and your trip includes Zanzibar, check with ZIC before you travel. ZIC also lists an exemption for international students studying in Zanzibar.
How to buy it
Buy before you fly. Both insurers allow you to buy on arrival, but after a long flight you do not want another queue, and the rules say a visitor without cover can be refused entry.
- Work out your first point of entry. Look at the first Tanzanian airport, port or border on your ticket where you go through immigration.
- Open the right official site. Mainland first: inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz. Zanzibar first: inbound.visitzanzibar.go.tz. Use only these two sites. Ignore agents who sell the policy for a fee on other websites.
- Have these ready: passport details for every traveller, travel dates, purpose of the visit and basic personal details.
- Choose the package (Individual, Family or Group) and pay online by Visa or Mastercard. NIC also takes cash at the point of entry.
- Save the certificate and its QR code. It usually arrives within minutes. Keep it on your phone and print one copy. You may be asked for it on arrival and again when you travel between the mainland and Zanzibar.
Cover starts on the date shown on your certificate, so enter your arrival date carefully.
If your plans change
- Staying longer than 92 days: NIC says you can extend your cover, but only before the policy ends. This does not extend your visa. That is a separate matter for immigration.
- Trip cancelled: NIC says refunds may be possible, depending on its refund rules and when you cancel. You may need to show proof that the trip was cancelled. Do not count on getting the money back.
Who to contact
| Insurer | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| NIC mainland first | +255 736 100 800 from abroad 0800 110 041 free inside Tanzania | wecare.inbound@nicinsurance.co.tz |
| ZIC Zanzibar first | 0800 008 005 free inside Tanzania | inbound@zic.co.tz |
In an emergency, call the number printed on your own certificate. Under the Ministry of Finance notice, the insurer that sold you the policy is the one that helps you, wherever you are in Tanzania.
What this means for your Kai Tours trip
For most of our guests the rule makes life simpler, not harder.
Zanzibar holiday with a short safari
You land in Zanzibar and buy ZIC. That one policy covers a fly-in to the mainland. You do not buy NIC as well.
1-day Nyerere (Selous) safari from Zanzibar
2-day private Nyerere fly-in safari
Mikumi fly-in safari from Zanzibar
Northern safari, then the beach
You land at Kilimanjaro and buy NIC. That one policy covers the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and your days in Zanzibar afterwards.
Arriving in Dar es Salaam
You buy NIC, whether you go on to Mikumi, Nyerere or the ferry to Zanzibar.
When you book with us, we check your flights, tell you which policy to buy and remind you before you travel. The government insurance is not included in our safari prices. You buy it yourself, with each traveller's passport details.
Not sure which applies to your route?
Send your flights and we will tell you, usually within a few hours.
Common questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for Tanzania in 2027?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, foreign visitors entering mainland Tanzania must hold a government inbound travel insurance policy from NIC, under Government Notice No. 256 of 2026. Zanzibar has had the same kind of rule, through ZIC, since 1 October 2024. Residents of EAC and SADC countries are exempt on the mainland.
Do I need two policies for a safari and Zanzibar?
No. You need one policy, bought for your first point of entry into Tanzania. NIC and ZIC have both said a visitor does not have to buy a second policy because the trip includes both the mainland and Zanzibar.
I land in Zanzibar and fly to Mikumi or Nyerere for a day. What do I buy?
Buy the ZIC policy before you land in Zanzibar. It covers your day on the mainland. You do not need NIC.
I land at Kilimanjaro and finish my trip in Zanzibar. What do I buy?
Buy the NIC policy. It covers your safari and your time in Zanzibar.
How much does it cost?
US$44 per adult, US$22 for children aged 3 to 17, and free for children under 3. Groups of 10 or more adults get 10 percent off the adult price. You pay the Tanzanian shilling equivalent.
I bought ZIC before 1 October 2026, but I land on the mainland first. Do I need NIC?
No. ZIC has said that policies bought and fully paid before 1 October 2026 remain valid, as long as they cover your dates. Do not cancel it.
Does it replace my own travel insurance?
No. It is basic emergency cover. It does not cover trip cancellation, and it has limits and exclusions. Keep your own full travel insurance, including air evacuation from remote parks.
Can I buy it at the airport?
Yes, at mainland and Zanzibar entry points. We still advise buying online before you fly, because you can be refused entry without it and airport queues can be long.
How long is it valid?
Up to 92 days from the start date on your certificate, with as many entries as you like during that time. NIC allows you to extend it before it ends.
Is the visa included?
No. The insurance and the visa are separate. Most visitors pay US$50 for a visa, and US citizens pay US$100.
Justus Kahwa,
Founder and Operations Manager of Kai Tours and Safaris. He arranges safaris and Zanzibar holidays and checks Tanzania's entry rules for every guest before they travel.
