Mandatory insurance for travel to Tanzania and Zanzibar

If you are traveling to Tanzania and/or Zanzibar or plan to go soon, this interests you. As of October 1, 2026, foreign tourists entering mainland Tanzania must have mandatory travel insurance managed by the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).

This new obligation is in addition to the mandatory insurance already in place for entering Zanzibar, effective since October 1, 2024, and managed by the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC).

The good news for those combining a safari in Tanzania with a few days on the beaches of Zanzibar is that you don’t necessarily have to pay for two mandatory insurances. The important thing is to know your first point of entry into the country.

If you first enter through mainland Tanzania, for example, to go on a safari in Serengeti, Ngorongoro, or Tarangire, you will need to purchase the mandatory NIC insurance. Once you have this insurance, you can then travel to Zanzibar without purchasing another mandatory insurance, always subject to the applicable conditions. (⁠NIC Insurance)

Conversely, if your first point of entry is Zanzibar and you already have valid mandatory ZIC insurance, you can then continue to mainland Tanzania without having to purchase the mandatory insurance again.

What is the mandatory insurance for travel to Tanzania and Zanzibar?

This is where there can be some confusion, because there are currently two different mandatory insurances, depending on where you enter Tanzania.

To enter mainland Tanzania, the mandatory insurance is from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). It costs $44 USD per person, has a maximum duration of 92 days, and applies to foreign visitors entering by airport, seaport, or land border, with the exceptions established by regulations.

You must purchase it directly through the official NIC website: Purchase mandatory insurance for Tanzania and Zanzibar.

The insurance must be purchased before arrival in Tanzania, and you will receive a certificate that you must have available during your trip.

To enter Zanzibar, however, the insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) remains mandatory. This requirement has been in effect since October 1, 2024, and authorities may deny entry to those who do not have the corresponding insurance.

You must purchase it directly through the official ZIC website: Purchase mandatory insurance for Zanzibar.

Example of the QR code confirming the mandatory insurance for travel to Zanzibar. This QR code is the one you must show upon arrival to the island.

What if I do Tanzania + Zanzibar?

This is probably the situation that generates the most doubts.

Imagine you take the typical trip of safari in Tanzania + a few days on the beach in Zanzibar.

If you first land in Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam, or another entry point in mainland Tanzania, you will need to have the mandatory NIC insurance. Afterwards, you can travel to Zanzibar without purchasing another mandatory insurance, provided the policy conditions are met.

If you do the trip in reverse and first enter through Zanzibar, the corresponding mandatory insurance will be ZIC’s. You can then travel to mainland Tanzania without having to purchase the mandatory insurance again, provided the Zanzibar insurance is still valid.

Therefore, before purchasing anything, pay special attention to where you will enter Tanzania.

And there is a situation that can generate doubts: if you had previously purchased the mandatory Zanzibar insurance but have changed your itinerary and are now going to enter through mainland Tanzania first, we would not assume that this insurance replaces NIC’s. In that case, it is prudent to purchase the corresponding mainland Tanzania insurance before arriving.

What is the coverage of the Zanzibar Compulsory Insurance?

This is the million dollar question, is it necessary to purchase other insurance to travel to Zanzibar considering that you will have your compulsory insurance issued by the Zanzibar government?

This is a bit personal, each case is different, but if we look at the coverages of the compulsory Insurance issued by the Zanzibar government we see that these are far inferior to a standard IATI or Chapka coverage.

Please find enclosed the table of legal coverage of the compulsory insurance to enter Zanzibar:

Coverage of the new compulsory insurance for tourists wishing to travel to Zanzibar — Mandatory insurance coverage for tourists

As you will see, the coverage includes medical expenses (up to $50,000), baggage loss and theft (within the aircraft flight), and other basic coverages such as extra nights in case of illness or repatriation to the country of origin on a commercial flight.

However, if we compare it with Chapka or IATI coverage, we will see that they are much more basic coverages.

Does the mandatory insurance for Tanzania and Zanzibar replace travel insurance?

In our opinion, it is worth purchasing international travel insurance in addition to the mandatory insurance. And here it is especially important to understand the difference between the two: the mandatory insurance does not necessarily replace the travel insurance you would normally purchase before leaving Spain.

If you are going on a safari in Tanzania, for example, we would purchase insurance that covers all days of the trip, from when you leave home until you return, including both safari days and days spent in Zanzibar.

This is especially important because mandatory insurance is designed to meet specific entry requirements and has certain coverages and conditions. NIC, for example, specifies that its policy has limits, eligibility conditions, and exclusions.

We prefer to also have international travel insurance that allows us to more easily manage situations such as illness, an accident, baggage problems, or unexpected changes during the trip.

Additionally, if you carry valuable luggage, cameras, computers, or photographic equipment, it is advisable to carefully review the baggage limits of the policy you purchase.

In short, mandatory insurance is an entry requirement and international travel insurance is the protection we recommend to cover the entire trip.

You can purchase international travel insurance at the following link and enjoy a 7% discount: Chapka or IATI

Finally, we remind you that regardless of this mandatory insurance to enter Zanzibar, it is necessary to bring with you the Tanzanian visa.

More information about traveling to Tanzania and Zanzibar

If you want to travel to Tanzania and Zanzibar I recommend you to read the following posts:

In this post, we analyze the best travel insurance for Tanzania. -> https://triptohelp.org/blog/mejor-seguro-viaje-tanzania-chapka-iati/
Visa for Tanzania
Travel to Zanzibar on your own: what to do in 10 days.
Which safari is better: Kenya or Tanzania?
Traveling responsibly in Tanzania – Sustainable tourism
Do you want to go on safari in Tanzania?

Finally, if you want we can organize your trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar, just write us a message by Whatsapp or e-mail.

Asante Sana!