Tanzania is the home of amazing wildlife safari and the Mount Kilimanjaro, and beautiful beaches of Zanzibar, which makes it a dream destination to many travelers. When you are planning a trip, entering the country is one of the most crucial things that you have to clarify whether you will do it via an E-Visa or a Visa on Arrival. All these options have their advantages, which are based on your travel schedule and personal preference.
Tanzania tourist visa can be obtained in digital and on-arrival forms. The selection of the method will be based on such factors as comfort, safety, and the amount of time you can have at the airport. This guide is an in-depth comparison of the Tanzania visa options to enable you make a wise choice and have a stress free and easier travel.
Here are some of the E-Visa vs. Visa on Arrival: Which Is Better for Tanzania?
1. What is a Tanzania e-Visa?
An E-Visa is an electronic visa, which can be applied prior to entering Tanzania by the travelers. The whole procedure is done online via the official immigration portal. After it is approved, travelers are issued a digital confirmation, which should be printed and carried along with them on arrival. This process is convenient particularly to those who want to plan everything in advance. E-Visa normally takes a couple of business days to process, which is why it is prudent to apply no less than 7 days prior to your visit.
2. What Is Visa on Arrival?
Visa on Arrival enables the traveler to obtain his or her visa on arrival at the Tanzanian airport. At the intended points of entry, you are able to complete a form, pay the necessary fee to obtain a visa, and collect your visa at the airport or border. Although this is a simple way of going about it, it may be accompanied by long queues and delays in the processing, particularly when there is a peak season. Nevertheless, it remains a good source of an alternative to any people who like to make decisions about traveling last minute or those who had no time to make an application online.
3. The Advantage of E-Visa: Pleasure Prior to the Trip:
Peace of mind is one of the greatest advantages of Tanzania travel application using the E-Visa system. The fact that you know that your visa has been approved before you board your flight eliminates anxiety. You will be able to prevent the unforeseen problems at the immigration, e.g. the refusal to enter because of the absence of documents. Also, E-Visa system is frequently easy to use and quite convenient with user-friendly instructions and email notifications.
4. Visa on Arrival Pros: Freedom to the Spontaneous Travelers
Visa on Arrival is ideal to those travelers who choose to visit Tanzania at the last moment or face difficulties when using the online visa system. It is more flexible and particularly when you are visiting more than one country in Africa and you are settling your plans as you move. Nevertheless, this flexibility can be at the expense of time you spend in queues at the airport and the probability of being late, in case you have not prepared the necessary paperwork.
5. Documentation Requirements: Prepare in Both Ways
The Tanzania visa options; E-Visa and Visa on Arrival have similar documents required, such as a valid passport, flight tickets, and accommodation. The E-Visa can request an electronic passport photo and a scanned passport copy. You might need to have physical copies when using Visa on Arrival. Whichever the way, it is always highly recommended that a traveler should carry all the required documents beforehand to prevent any hustle.
6. Prices and Processing Time
The cost of the visas of the two processes is typically the same, about 50 dollars as the fees of most nationalities on a single-entry tourist visa to travel in Tanzania. Nevertheless, using the E-Visa requires also considering the time needed to process (usually 3-10 days). Conversely, Visa on Arrival enables you to enter instantly but you can expect to wait in queues and delays at the airport.
7. What Is More Suitable to You?
The E-Visa is preferable in case you are a person, who appreciates planning and stress-free travels. It saves time when getting there, and brings peace of mind. The Visa on Arrival may be a better option in case you are a last-minute planner or you are traveling to a place that does not have a lot of internet access. In any case, these two types of visas are meant to invite tourists to experience the beauty of Tanzania without much hassle.
Conclusion
Whether you are using an E-Visa or Visa on Arrival is highly dependent on your travelling preferences. Advance application of the E-Visa is greatly encouraged to those who would prefer a smooth and pre-planned journey. It reduces tension and eases the process of immigration, which is particularly tedious following a long flight.
However, if flexibility is your top priority or your trip was planned last-minute, then the Visa on Arrival option offers a practical alternative. Both options allow you to obtain a tourist visa for Tanzania travel legally and efficiently. By understanding the pros and cons of each, you can decide which Tanzania visa method suits your needs best, ensuring a memorable and hassle-free trip to this breathtaking African destination.
