Tanzania Removes Nigerians From Referred Visa Category

Nigerian travellers to Tanzania will no longer be subject to the country's additional referred-visa requirements after Tanzania removed Nigerian nationals from its Referred Visa Category.

The Tanzania Immigration Services Department announced the change in a public notice dated September 25, 2026, saying it followed amendments published in Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026. The change took effect immediately.

“With immediate effect, Nigerian nationals traveling to the United Republic of Tanzania are no longer subject to referred visa restrictions and will follow standard visa application procedures through the official immigration online portal or designated entry points,” the department said.

Under the previous referral arrangement, nationals of countries on the category were required to obtain approval from the Office of the Commissioner General of Immigration before travelling to Tanzania.

Applicants under the referral category were also advised to submit their visa applications at least two months before their intended travel dates and were required to obtain approval before beginning their journey.

The removal of Nigeria from the category means Nigerian travellers can now follow Tanzania's standard visa application procedures without the additional referral requirement.

However, the development does not make Tanzania visa-free for Nigerians.

Tanzania's official immigration guidelines continue to list Nigeria among Commonwealth countries whose nationals are required to obtain visas. Nigeria is also absent from the country's current list of nationalities exempt from visa requirements.

For Nigerian tourists, the standard option is an Ordinary Visa. Tanzania's immigration department provides two routes for obtaining a visa: applying online through its official immigration portal or obtaining a visa on arrival at an official entry point. The department recommends the online application route.

The immigration guidelines state that visa applications are generally processed within 10 days, except for applications that fall under the referral category. Applicants are advised to wait for their visa approval notification or Visa Grant Notice before travelling.

Tourist visas are generally issued as Ordinary Visas and can be valid for up to 90 days. Applicants are required to have passports valid for at least six months with at least one unused visa page. Travellers must also be prepared to present a return ticket at the point of entry.

The Tanzania Immigration Services Department has advised visa applicants to use only its official immigration website and warned that visa regulations and conditions may change.

The latest change therefore represents a relaxation of the additional screening and approval requirements previously applicable to Nigerian travellers, while Tanzania's visa requirement for Nigerian nationals remains in place.