Tanzania Introduces Mandatory Travel Insurance for Visitors

Tanzania has introduced mandatory inbound travel insurance for foreign visitors entering the country through airports, seaports and land borders.

The new requirement was introduced through regulations issued by the Minister for Finance, requiring foreigners covered by the rules to obtain a valid travel insurance policy before entering the country.

"The Minister for Finance has issued the Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026 (the Regulations) vide Government Notice No. 256 published on 4 September 2026. 

"The Regulations introduce mandatory inbound travel insurance for foreigners entering Mainland Tanzania through land, seaports or airports," the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

According to the ministry, the regulations define a foreigner as anyone who is not a citizen of the United Republic of Tanzania. 

However, citizens of East African Community (EAC) Partner States and Southern African Development Community (SADC) Partner States are excluded from the definition for purposes of the new requirement.

This means citizens from EAC and SADC Partner States will not be required to obtain the mandatory inbound travel insurance when travelling to Mainland Tanzania.

Other foreign visitors covered by the regulations must have a valid inbound travel insurance policy, which can be obtained before travelling or at the point of entry.

"The policy may be purchased prior to travel or at the relevant point of entry. Importantly, a foreigner who enters Mainland Tanzania without a valid inbound travel insurance policy shall be denied entry," the statement added.

The ministry said the prescribed insurance premium is $44 (Ksh5,700), with payment to be made in Tanzanian Shillings through payment systems provided by the designated inbound travel insurer.

The policy will remain valid for a maximum of 92 days from the visitor's date of arrival and will allow multiple entries into Tanzania during the validity period.

"A foreigner who remains in Tanzania beyond the 92 day period is required to apply for a new policy. The premium is generally non-refundable except upon cancellation or in other circumstances specified in the policy," the statement noted.

The regulations further provide that the inbound travel insurance will be offered exclusively by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) or another registered insurer operating in partnership with NIC.

"The insurance product is also subject to prior approval by the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA), although TIRA may exempt an insurer from the approval requirement where public interest exists," the statement further read.

According to the ministry, the mandatory policy is designed to provide financial protection for visitors facing specified emergencies while in Tanzania.

The required benefits include emergency medical treatment, emergency medical evacuation, emergency repatriation and compensation relating to loss of luggage.

"The applicable limits of cover and specific benefits will, however, be determined by the terms of the policy issued to the insured," the statement concluded.

This comes weeks after Kenya's Ministry of Health has clarified the legal framework governing the mandatory travel health insurance requirement for non-Kenyan travellers entering the country.

In a statement on Friday, August 7, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the requirement applies to all non-Kenyans intending to stay in Kenya for less than 12 months and is aimed at ensuring visitors have adequate health insurance coverage during their stay. 

He added that Regulation 70(1) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, further provides that any person travelling into Kenya must have travel health insurance in line with the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023.

"Accordingly, every non-Kenyan intending to enter and remain in Kenya for a period of less than twelve months is required to possess a valid travel health insurance policy that complies with the benefit limits and tariff prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary," the statement read.

Duale noted the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024, allows travellers to obtain the required travel health insurance at Kenya's points of entry if they do not already have compliant cover before travelling.

"Any traveller who possesses travel health insurance from their country of origin, provided it meets the insurable value as per the Gazette Notice no. 11492 dated 30th July 2026, should upload it in the Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system," the statement added.

Duale explained that travellers without the required insurance before departure will still be able to purchase a compliant policy upon arrival from approved insurers licensed under Kenyan law.

"However, where a traveller has not obtained the required travel health insurance before travelling to Kenya, the traveller may obtain a compliant travel health insurance policy at the point of entry from an insurer licensed under the Insurance Act and approved to provide the requisite travel health insurance cover, in accordance with regulation 70(3) of the Social Health Insurance Regulations, 2024," the statement explained.

Duale also announced that proof of valid travel health insurance will become a mandatory requirement during the electronic travel authorization application process.

"To facilitate compliance, applicants for a Kenya Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) shall be required to upload proof of a valid travel health insurance policy as part of the eTA application process for verification before travel," the statement further read.