Kenyans who intend to visit Tanzania will have to pay almost Ksh6,000 in new entry fees as the Tanzanian government moves to make travel insurance mandatory for all foreign tourists.
On July 4, 2025, the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance announced the new rule, which is a component of larger changes to the nation's Insurance Act intended to reduce the burden on public healthcare systems.
It is worth noting that while the directive, which will take effect starting January 2026, excludes citizens from East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, travellers holding non-Kenyan passports or entering Tanzania from outside EAC/SADC territories could still be subject to the requirement.
This, in turn, raises potential concerns for Kenyans in the diaspora who are looking to visit Tanzania, as well as those who enjoy dual citizenship.
The insurance policy, which will cost USD44 (roughly Ksh5,700), will cover a range of emergency scenarios for tourists, including medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation, personal accidents, rescue operations and compensation for lost baggage.
Further, the policy will be valid for 92 days and is expected to be purchased upon entry. Tourism stakeholders in Tanzania are, however, calling for pre-arrival purchase options to streamline the entry process.
The insurance was part of Tanzania's 2025/2026 fiscal year agenda, but its implementation has been delayed until January 2026 to allow for more time for consultations with stakeholders.
Incidentally, the move mirrors a similar policy that was put in place in October 2024 targeting foreign tourists travelling to Zanzibar.
The Ksh5,700 fee, imposed by Zanzibar's government, is a requirement for all foreign visitors entering the island. This inbound travel insurance is designed to cover emergencies like medical evacuations and other unforeseen incidents for up to 92 days.
At the time, travellers without the insurance were warned that they would be turned away at checkpoints.
Following the new insurance, concerns have emerged about the possibility of double charges for tourists visiting Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania.
Stakeholders fear that the lack of coordination could lead to confusion and discourage multi-destination travel within Tanzania, which would ultimately impact the country's competitiveness in the tourism sector.
