Tanzania has just imposed a mandatory travel insurance charge of USD 44 per person for all foreign, non-residents visiting the country under any reason, including tourism.
This happens to be among the new developments coming up from the country’s fiscal year budget for 2025/2026 as tabled at the National Assembly in Dodoma by the Minister of Finance.
The USD 44 mandatory travel insurance fee for foreign visitors will remain valid for 62 days, or two months’ policy, upon being purchased.
But the non-refundable, new travel insurance fee will not apply to people from the eight East African Community (EAC) member states, and it is possible that even indigenous nationals from the South African Development Community (SADC), may be exempted.
This new insurance for foreigners, possibly to be issued through the National Insurance Company (NIC) and its agents, may tip the scale on the expenses that tourists will be subjected to incur during their visits to Tanzania.
The explanation given is that the money will serve as a caution fee in case of​ emergency, that is to undertake medical covers, cushion accidents, baggage loss or damage and other incidents that will call for compensations to the affected visitors.
​However, some tour operators in Arusha argue that many visitors coming to Tanzania are usually already insured by their respective firms and policies and that forcing them to buy another policy may add another burder which could impact the industry.
It is also not known if Tanzania is going to open up a special online portal to enable foreign travelers to buy insurance covers prior to catching a plane to the country.
It seems the Tanzanian mainland has decided to emulate the Zanzibar Isles, which started charging foreigners for travel insurance cover from October 2024.
Since then, all foreign non-residents traveling to Zanzibar are required to purchase mandatory travel insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC).
Just like the newly declared charges on the mainland, the travel insurance in Zanzibar also costs USD 44 per adult and USD 22 per child aged 3-17, with infants aged 0-2 years being exempted from the fee.