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Can I use an Ecowas passport to travel to Tanzania?

Yes, The ECOWAS citizens ( Economic Community of West African States ) can come to Tanzania using an ECOWAS passport but a visa is still required, as Tanzania is not an ECOWAS member and does not grant visa-free entry based on ECOWAS citizenship. The data provided below is provided in sufficiently detailed form that may assist you to learn admission conditions, visa procedure, and other useful travelling recommendations.

Traveling to Tanzania with an ECOWAS Passport

Visa Requirement

Most ECOWAS nationals are eligible for a Visa on Arrival or may apply for an eVisa prior to travel. This includes travelers from Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire, Senegal, and others. Unlike travel within ECOWAS member states, ECOWAS citizens do not receive visa-free entry into Tanzania.

Most ECOWAS passport holders are eligible for a Visa on Arrival in Tanzania; only travelers from countries listed under Tanzania’s 'Referral Visa' category (e.g., Afghanistan, Iran, etc.) must apply at a Tanzanian diplomatic mission in advance. It is important to verify if your specific country is listed under the eligible countries for VoA on the Tanzania Immigration website.

You have three options:

  1. Visa on Arrival (VoA):
    Several ECOWAS countries are eligible to receive a visa on arrival at the major ports of entry in Tanzania, which include:
    • Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam)
    • Kilimanjaro International Airport
    • Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (Zanzibar)
    • Select land border posts (e.g., Namanga, Holili)
  2. Tanzania eVisa (Recommended):
    You can also get a visa online through the official Tanzania Immigration services website (https://tanzaniaimmigration.org/). This is a quicker and more secure way to get your visa, especially during peak travel periods when queues for Visa on Arrival can be long, especially during peak travel seasons, when Visa on Arrival queues at airports can be long
  3. Embassy or Consulate Visa:
    You can also obtain a visa in one of the TZ embassies or consulates in your home country prior to travel.

Documents Required

No matter which visa mechanism is used, you are expected to possess the following:

  • A valid ECOWAS passport (having a validity of 6 months)
  • Visa fees in USD
  • Airline or forwarding ticket
  • Accommodation or invitation letter
  • Enough money to live on during your stay
  • A valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from, or have transited (over 12 hours), through a country where yellow fever risk exists.

ECOWAS Passport Validity

Your passport is accepted in the ECOWAS zone as a means of travelling internationally under the name ECOWAS passport. Although it aids land travel within West Africa, when going to other states outside the ECOWAS, such as Tanzania, you will be accorded the same status as any ordinary international. This means that you must meet visa and immigration requirements

Key Travel Tips for ECOWAS Passport Holders

  • Confirms visa requirements: Most residents of ECOWAS are either allowed visa on arrival or eVisa, but make sure to check Tanzania Immigration Department or contact your local Tanzanian consulate before your trip.
  • Yellow Fever Certificate: In case you are travelling through a country where there are chances of the yellow fever to be spread then you will be required to produce evidence of the yellow fever vaccination. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required only if the traveler is arriving from a Yellow Fever endemic country or has transited for more than 12 hours through one.
  • Follow Entry Rules: Make sure that the documents are in order, more so when you want a visa upon arrival. The Tanzanian entry officers can reject the visas due to missing or incomplete paper work.
  • Currency: The US dollars are strongly embraced in payment of visa charges and in cases, the other currencies are discouraged.

Although the ECOWAS passport is valid for international travel, it does not provide visa-free access to Tanzania. Before your trip, you will have to obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an eVisa in advance. Taking time to make planning will make the entry to this East African treasure easy and stress-free.

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