Tanzania Makes Health Declaration Mandatory for All International Arrivals From October 2026 With New Entry Rules and QR Code Requirements

Tanzania has made an online health declaration mandatory for all travellers entering mainland Tanzania from 17 October 2026, introducing wider border screening measures in response to Ebola concerns across East Africa. The Ministry of Health announced the requirement through Travel Advisory No. 18, extending the declaration beyond passengers arriving from previously identified high-risk countries. International tourists, business visitors and other arrivals must provide health and travel details through the official AfyaMsafiri platform and retain a confirmation QR code or reference number. The change affects visitors entering mainland Tanzania through international airports, seaports and land borders, while Zanzibar operates separate health declaration arrangements.

The new requirement adds another step to international travel preparations for one of Africa’s leading safari and beach holiday destinations. Visitors travelling from Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other regions are now covered by the expanded mainland declaration rule, regardless of nationality or country of departure.

The measure does not introduce a general travel ban or automatic quarantine for every visitor. However, arriving passengers must comply with health screening, while those assessed as high-risk may face additional medical checks and 21 days of health monitoring.

What Are Tanzania’s New Health Declaration Requirements From October 2026

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health issued Travel Advisory No. 18 on 17 October 2026, introducing an expanded public health surveillance requirement for international arrivals.

The directive requires travellers entering mainland Tanzania to complete an online Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form before departure or upon arrival. The declaration collects personal identification, travel history, accommodation and health information.

Previously, the declaration requirement focused primarily on travellers arriving from or transiting through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Under the revised arrangement, all mainland arrivals must submit the form, regardless of where their journey began.

The new requirements apply to tourists visiting Tanzania’s national parks, business travellers attending meetings, foreign residents returning to the country and other international arrivals.

The Ministry of Health introduced the measures under Tanzania’s Public Health Act of 2009 and the International Health Regulations, originally adopted in 2005 and subsequently amended.

Key Details of Tanzania’s October 2026 Travel Advisory

The advisory establishes additional public health procedures rather than replacing existing immigration rules. Travellers must continue to satisfy the passport, visa and insurance requirements applicable to their nationality and itinerary.

Why Has Tanzania Expanded Its Health Screening Across International Borders?

Tanzania has strengthened border surveillance following the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and confirmed infections in neighbouring Kenya.

The regional situation has raised concerns about cross-border transmission, particularly through frequent passenger movements between East African countries.

On 18 October 2026, reports based on Kenyan health authorities identified eight confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya, including one death. Those figures represent the reported situation on that date and should not be treated as an unchanged outbreak total.

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health responded by broadening the declaration requirement and introducing enhanced screening at entry points.

The policy aims to improve the identification of travellers who may have experienced relevant exposure or developed symptoms associated with infectious disease.

Ebola is a serious viral disease transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as certain contaminated materials. It is not ordinarily spread through casual airborne exposure in the manner of common respiratory infections.

Health surveillance is particularly important because symptoms may develop after an exposed person has completed an international journey.

Collecting travel histories and contact information enables authorities to identify potential risks and communicate with travellers when necessary.

The expanded declaration does not indicate that every visitor poses a health threat. It is a precautionary measure intended to strengthen public health monitoring while maintaining international passenger movements.

Which International Travellers Must Complete Tanzania’s Health Declaration?

The mainland requirement applies broadly to incoming travellers, including those arriving from countries that have not reported Ebola infections.

This is the central difference between the new advisory and the earlier targeted screening arrangements.

A passenger flying from London to Dar es Salaam, a visitor arriving from Dubai, a tourist travelling from the United States or a passenger crossing from a neighbouring African country is covered by the mainland declaration requirement.

The rule is based on entry into mainland Tanzania rather than the traveller’s nationality.

International Travellers Covered by the New Requirement

Travellers should distinguish between entering mainland Tanzania and entering Zanzibar directly.

Both form part of the United Republic of Tanzania, but their public health arrangements are administered through separate systems.

How Can Travellers Complete Tanzania’s Mandatory Online Health Declaration

Travellers entering mainland Tanzania must complete the Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form through the Ministry of Health’s AfyaMsafiri platform.

The declaration requires accurate identification, travel and health information to help port health officials assess arrivals.

Passengers should have their passport and travel booking details available before starting the application.

The platform requests information relating to the intended arrival point, accommodation and countries visited during the relevant recent travel period.

Details Required for the Online Health Declaration

Applicants should ensure the submitted information matches their actual travel documents.

Incorrect passport numbers, arrival dates or contact information may create difficulties if the confirmation needs to be checked against passenger records.

How to Submit the Declaration

1. Open Tanzania’s official AfyaMsafiri health declaration portal.
2. Enter the required personal and passport information.
3. Provide the intended arrival date and entry point.
4. Complete the transport and accommodation sections.
5. Declare recent travel history and relevant health information.
6. Review all submitted details.
7. Submit the completed form.
8. Save the confirmation QR code or reference number.

Each traveller requires an individual declaration, including children accompanying their parents or guardians.

The online system provides confirmation after successful submission. Passengers should retain this confirmation for possible verification by the authorities on arrival.

When Should International Passengers Submit the Health Declaration?

Tanzania’s October advisory permits travellers to complete the health declaration before departure or upon arrival.

However, completing the form before travelling is the more practical option because passengers may otherwise need additional time to provide information after reaching the airport or border.

The AfyaMsafiri platform recommends completing the declaration within 24 hours before arrival.

This recommendation should not be confused with an absolute requirement to submit the form several days ahead of travel.

Travellers should follow the latest instructions displayed by the official portal and any updated guidance issued by their airline or the Ministry of Health.

For international journeys involving connecting flights, passengers should calculate their expected arrival date in Tanzania rather than simply using the departure date from their home country.

A traveller departing Europe late in the evening, for example, may not reach Tanzania until the following day.

Completing the form after confirming flight details can help ensure that the arrival information is accurate.

Passengers should also retain an offline copy of the confirmation because mobile connectivity may be unreliable at some entry points.

What Happens After Travellers Receive Their Health Declaration QR Code

After successfully completing the health declaration, the system generates a confirmation containing a QR code or identifying reference.

This confirmation demonstrates that the traveller has submitted the required health information.

Port health authorities may request it during the arrival screening process.

The QR code does not replace a passport, visa, insurance certificate or other travel document.

It also does not guarantee exemption from temperature checks or additional medical assessments.

Documents International Travellers Should Keep Accessible

Keeping these documents accessible can reduce unnecessary delays when several checks are conducted during the arrival process.

Travellers should preserve the health declaration confirmation until they have completed the relevant entry procedures.

Will Tanzania Conduct Medical Screening at Airports, Seaports and Land Borders

Yes. The Ministry of Health’s advisory establishes screening procedures at entry points, including international airports, seaports and land crossings.

Arriving passengers are subject to temperature checks and other public health assessments.

Travellers displaying symptoms associated with Ebola or another infectious disease may be referred for further medical examination under national screening procedures.

These arrangements apply to international passengers regardless of whether they have already submitted the online declaration.

Health Screening Measures for International Arrivals

Tanzania’s principal international airports include Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha and Moshi.

Both are important gateways for international visitors. Land crossings also play a significant role in regional tourism, especially for travellers combining destinations across East Africa.

The expanded screening requirements are intended to detect potential health risks without introducing a blanket prohibition on international tourism.

Does Tanzania Require All Travellers to Quarantine for 21 Days

Tanzania’s updated public health measures do not impose an automatic 21-day quarantine on every arriving visitor.

Instead, the advisory provides for 21 days of health monitoring for travellers identified as high-risk following the relevant assessment.

This monitoring may involve daily automated messages, telephone communication or other contact from public health officials.

Travellers subject to these arrangements must cooperate with the monitoring process, including when they have already departed Tanzania.

The 21-day period is connected to the recognised upper end of the incubation period for Ebola virus disease.

However, being selected for monitoring should not automatically be interpreted as a requirement to remain in a hotel or medical facility throughout that period.

The distinction between monitoring, medical assessment, isolation and quarantine is important.

Tanzania’s Health Monitoring and Quarantine Distinctions

The actual response to a suspected infection depends on the assessment conducted by the competent health authorities.

Travellers should comply with any individual instructions issued during screening rather than relying on general assumptions about quarantine requirements.

Are Zanzibar’s Health Declaration Requirements Different From Mainland Tanzania

Zanzibar has separate public health entry procedures, and international visitors should not assume that a declaration submitted for mainland Tanzania automatically covers arrival on the islands.

Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health issued an Ebola-related advisory on 9 October 2026.

That advisory specifically addressed travellers arriving from or transiting through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya.

It requires affected travellers to complete the island’s Traveller’s Health Surveillance Form.

Zanzibar operates its own electronic health declaration platform, separate from mainland Tanzania’s AfyaMsafiri system.

The island’s online portal also indicates a broader requirement for arriving travellers to complete a public health surveillance declaration within 24 hours before arrival.

Because the wording of the advisory and the portal’s general instructions is not identical, visitors should verify the current requirement with Zanzibar’s health authorities before travelling.

Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar Health Entry Comparison

Visitors travelling directly to Zanzibar International Airport should check the island’s entry instructions.

Those combining mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar should verify whether they need to complete both declarations for their particular itinerary.

The distinction is particularly relevant to safari-and-beach holidays, which often involve arrival on the mainland followed by a flight or ferry to Zanzibar.

How Will the New Rules Affect Safari Holidays and Multi-Destination African Tours?

Tanzania is internationally recognised for wildlife tourism, mountain trekking and coastal holidays.

Major attractions include Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park and Zanzibar.

The new declaration requirement applies to travellers entering mainland Tanzania to visit these destinations, rather than imposing separate declarations for each national park.

Visitors combining several countries on a single itinerary should pay particular attention to their entry arrangements.

East African holidays may involve travel between Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and other destinations through international airports or land borders.

For these journeys, travellers should check each country’s separate entry and health documentation requirements.

Popular Tourism Itineraries and Health Declaration Considerations

The additional formality does not mean that Tanzania’s safari parks or tourist attractions have been closed by the October advisory.

Rather, the government has introduced public health procedures at entry points as part of its response to the regional outbreak.

Tour operators should communicate the requirements clearly to international customers, especially those taking escorted group tours or multi-country itineraries.

Does Tanzania’s New Health Declaration Replace Its Mandatory Travel Insurance

No. Tanzania’s online health declaration is separate from the mandatory inbound travel insurance introduced for covered foreign visitors on 1 October 2026.

The insurance requirement was established under Tanzania’s 2026 Inbound Travel Insurance Regulations, published through Government Notice No. 256 of 4 September 2026.

The Ministry of Finance announced that covered international visitors entering through mainland Tanzania must obtain inbound insurance through the National Insurance Corporation.

Visitors entering through Zanzibar use the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation under the applicable arrangements.

The standard premium is USD 44 per adult, with coverage available for up to 92 days.

The insurance is intended to provide protection for specified travel emergencies, subject to policy conditions.

Tanzania’s Health Declaration Versus Mandatory Insurance

The two requirements serve different purposes and should not be confused.

Visitors may also need visas or other immigration documentation, depending on nationality and travel circumstances.

Importantly, official insurance clarification indicates that travellers combining mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar generally need one qualifying inbound insurance policy based on their first point of entry, rather than automatically purchasing two policies.

This should not be confused with the health declaration arrangements, which operate through separate mainland and Zanzibar systems.

Travellers should also examine the limits of mandatory insurance. Government-mandated coverage may not provide all the benefits available under a comprehensive personal travel insurance policy.

What Does Tanzania’s Expanded Health Declaration Mean for Airlines and Tour Operators

The wider health declaration requirement creates additional responsibilities for travel businesses arranging journeys to Tanzania.

Airlines, travel agents, destination management companies and safari operators need to communicate the new instructions accurately to international customers.

Passengers may not be familiar with Tanzania’s electronic health surveillance arrangements, particularly if they booked their holiday before the October announcement.

Clear pre-departure information can help visitors prepare their declarations, retain their confirmation codes and understand arrival screening procedures.

For travel agencies selling multi-country itineraries, the distinction between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar is especially important.

Operators should also avoid incorrectly presenting 21-day health monitoring as mandatory quarantine for all passengers.

The practical objective is to help travellers comply with the government’s requirements while preventing confusion about what the advisory actually states.

No official evidence establishes that the declaration has caused a particular increase in airline delays, cancellations or tourism losses.

Its immediate confirmed effect is the introduction of additional health documentation and expanded screening for incoming travellers.

Why This Matters

Tanzania’s decision to make health declarations compulsory for all mainland arrivals represents a significant expansion of its border surveillance system.

The change is important because Tanzania is a major destination for international wildlife tourism, cultural travel, adventure holidays and Indian Ocean beach experiences.

The measure introduces an additional administrative step for visitors who were previously outside the targeted health declaration requirement.

It also provides authorities with broader travel history and contact information to support public health monitoring.

For travellers, the main consequence is the need to complete the online declaration, retain confirmation and comply with screening at the border.

For the tourism industry, the priority is to communicate these requirements accurately without suggesting that ordinary travel has been suspended.

The measure reflects Tanzania’s response to an evolving regional health situation. Any future changes will depend on government decisions and developments in disease surveillance.

What Travellers Should Know

International visitors planning to enter Tanzania from October 2026 should prepare the health declaration alongside their other travel documents.

Before Booking

• Confirm whether the itinerary includes mainland Tanzania, Zanzibar or both.
• Check the latest Ministry of Health travel advisory.
• Complete the correct health declaration before departure where possible.
• Retain the QR code or reference number for screening.
• Ensure passport and arrival information is accurate.
• Obtain mandatory inbound insurance where applicable.
• Check visa requirements for the traveller’s nationality.
• Follow current health advice and cooperate with border officials.

Travellers with symptoms of an infectious illness should seek appropriate medical advice and follow official instructions rather than relying solely on completion of the electronic form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tanzania’s health declaration mandatory for all international arrivals?

Yes. From 17 October 2026, all travellers entering mainland Tanzania are required to complete the online health surveillance form, regardless of nationality or departure country.

When should passengers complete the Tanzania health declaration?

The Ministry of Health allows submission before departure or upon arrival. The online platform recommends completing it within 24 hours before arrival.

Do travellers need to show a QR code?

Travellers should retain the QR code or reference number generated after successful submission for verification by port health authorities.

Does Tanzania require every tourist to quarantine for 21 days?

No. The advisory introduces 21-day health monitoring for identified high-risk travellers. It does not impose automatic quarantine on every international visitor.

Does Zanzibar use the same health declaration as mainland Tanzania?

No. Zanzibar operates a separate health declaration system. Travellers should check the latest instructions for their specific entry point.

What Happens Next for International Arrivals in Tanzania?

Tanzania’s expanded health declaration requirement is now in effect, introducing a new step for international visitors arriving on the mainland.

The regulation forms part of the country’s public health response to Ebola developments in the region and aims to improve the identification and monitoring of potential health risks.

The Ministry of Health has indicated that its advisory may be reviewed as circumstances change.

For international travellers, the essential preparation is straightforward: complete the correct declaration, retain the confirmation, meet the applicable insurance and immigration requirements, and follow official health screening instructions.

The new system does not close Tanzania to international visitors. Instead, it adds a preventive health surveillance requirement to travel arrangements for one of Africa’s best-known tourism destinations.

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