Tanzania (Zanzibar) relocation guide 2026

01The country in 30 seconds

Tanzania is a mainland country with safaris, Kilimanjaro and the big city of Dar es Salaam, plus the semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar with white beaches. Most Russians go to Zanzibar: there are charter and scheduled flights from Moscow.

Getting in is easy — a normal visa costs $50, you can get it online or at the airport, and it gives up to 90 days. You also need a mandatory government travel insurance for $44.

Staying long is harder. There is no remote-work visa. Real options are living in 90-day blocks on a normal visa, buying a home in Zanzibar from $100,000 in an approved project, or starting a business.

• Russians need a visa: e-visa or on arrival, $50, up to 90 days
• Mandatory entry insurance — $44
• No digital nomad visa
• Budget per person — about $1000–2000 per month
• After the October 2025 election the situation is tense — read the safety section
• Facts checked as of November 2026, rules change — check again before you travel

02Who it's for

Tanzania is a good fit if:

• You want to spend the winter by a warm ocean — in Zanzibar, in Paje, Jambiani or Nungwi
• You work remotely for foreign clients or an employer and don't need a local legal status
• You are fine living in 90-day blocks and leaving between them — for example to Kenya, Rwanda or Dubai
• You love nature and adventure: safari, mountains, diving, kitesurfing
• You have money to buy a home in Zanzibar and want a residence permit through property

What to see in and around the country:

• Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater — classic safari, the base is Arusha
• Kilimanjaro — the highest mountain in Africa, the climb takes 5–8 days
• Stone Town — the old town of Zanzibar, a UNESCO site
• Kitesurfing in Paje, diving near Mnemba and Pemba islands
• Tarangire, Nyerere (former Selous) and Ruaha national parks
• Nearby: Kenya (Maasai Mara, Mombasa), Rwanda (mountain gorillas), Uganda, Seychelles, Comoros

Not for you if:

• You need a clear legal remote-work status for a year or more
• You count on a Mir card or transfers from Russia
• You need good medical care close by — serious cases often go to Nairobi or further
• You struggle with heat, humidity, power cuts and a slow pace of life
• You can't accept political risks: protests and internet shutdowns

03Entry & visa

There is no visa-free entry for Russians — you need a visa. But it is easy: Russia is on the official list of countries whose citizens can get a visa both online and on arrival.

The ordinary (tourist) visa costs $50, single entry, valid up to 90 days. The exact length of stay is set by the officer at entry. One visa covers both the mainland and Zanzibar.

Two options:

• e-visa — in advance on the official portal visa.immigration.go.tz. Processing takes up to 10 days, so apply at least 10 days before the trip. Pay by Visa or Mastercard
• Visa on arrival — at Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro airports. Pay in cash with $50 or $100 notes. You can't get a multiple-entry visa on arrival

What they check at the border:

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the entry date, with at least one blank page
• A return or onward ticket — it is required by the rules
• The mandatory entry insurance (see below)

Apply only through the official portal. There are many middleman sites that charge $80–150 for the same visa.

If you go to Zanzibar first and then to the mainland (or the other way), you don't need a new visa. One useful detail from the official rules: if you visit another East African country on an ordinary visa and come back while it is still valid, you can enter on the same visa.

04Residency & legalization

There is no digital nomad or remote-worker visa in Tanzania — neither on the mainland nor in Zanzibar. The ordinary visa rules say clearly that the holder must not work or do business in the country.

To stay longer than 90 days, the law requires a Residence Permit. There are three classes: A — for investors and self-employed people working through a company, B — for employees, C — for everyone else (retirees, researchers, volunteers, home buyers and others).

Real options for a remote worker, from simple to hard:

1. Live in 90-day blocks. Enter on a $50 ordinary visa, stay up to 90 days, leave — to Kenya, Rwanda, Dubai or home — and come back with a new visa. No official yearly day limit is published on the portal, but the officer at entry decides. The more often you come back, the more questions you get. Extending the ordinary visa inside the country is not described on the official portal — don't count on it.
2. Buy a home in Zanzibar. The permit matrix has a separate category C-11 — "buyer of real estate", government fee $500. In Zanzibar, residence is given to buyers registered with the investment agency ZIPA who buy a home from $100,000 in approved projects (for example Fumba Town). The permit covers a spouse and children. The amount and details come from public sources, not from ZIPA's official site — check with the developer and ZIPA before you buy.
3. Business — Class A permit. You register a company, invest capital (for joining a company the official matrix names $100,000) and get Class A. The fee is $3000 for most sectors (A-3), and IT is on the list of allowed fields. You also need a work permit from the Labour Commissioner, a tax number (TIN), licences and clean tax records. This is serious paperwork — you need a local lawyer.
4. Retirement permit — C-2. For people aged 55+ with an assured income. The fee is $500.
5. Employment — Class B. You need an employer in Tanzania, fee $2000 (B-1). You get it before you enter.

How to apply: online on the portal eservices.immigration.go.tz. By the rules, Class B and C are applied for from outside the country (exceptions: Class A and retirees). After approval you have 60 days to pay, then you give fingerprints at an immigration office. The validity period is not stated on the official page — ask when you apply.

Do Russians get it in practice? Russia is not on the list of "referral" countries whose visas need personal approval from the Commissioner General of Immigration. We found no special bans for Russians on residence permits. But there are few public stories of Russians with permits through property or business — this route is for people who really invest.

What the permit gives for travel: nothing special. It is not a Schengen permit — it doesn't open visa-free travel to other countries, and East African Community (EAC) freedom of movement is only for citizens of those countries. You travel on your Russian passport.

Easy trips from Tanzania on a Russian passport (as of November 2026, check again):

• Kenya — you need an online eTA, processing about 3 days
• Rwanda — visa on arrival for all nationalities, no more than $50
• UAE — visa-free for Russians, direct flights to Dubai from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar
• Seychelles — no visa, you need an online travel authorisation
• Uganda, Ethiopia, Comoros, Madagascar — visas online or on arrival, check the rules before you go

05Work & taxes

There is no legal status of "remote worker on an ordinary visa". The official rules say that ordinary visa holders don't work or do business in the country. To work you need a work permit plus a residence permit.

The rules don't say anything specific about remote work for foreign clients from Tanzania. In practice many tourists do it, and there is no visible crackdown on such people. But it is a grey zone, not a legal status.

Taxes. According to PwC (updated September 2026), you become a Tanzanian tax resident if:

• You spend 183 days or more in the country in a year
• Or on average more than 122 days a year over the current and two previous years
• Or you have a permanent home in Tanzania and visited this year

Residents pay tax on worldwide income at up to 30%. But there is an important exception: a "short-term resident" — someone who has been a Tanzanian resident for no more than two years in their whole life. Like a non-resident, they pay tax only on income from Tanzania.

In practice: if you live on an ordinary visa for less than 183 days a year, Tanzania does not tax your foreign income. Even if you become resident, foreign income is not taxed in the first two years under these rules.

About Russia: if you are outside Russia for more than 183 days in 12 months, you become a Russian tax non-resident. This changes tax on salary from a Russian employer and on deposit income. It's a complex case — talk to a tax adviser.

06Banks, cards & money

Mir cards don't work in Tanzania, and Visa and Mastercard from Russian banks are blocked by sanctions. Don't count on them at all.

The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). Rent, tours and hotels in Zanzibar are often priced in dollars, but shops, markets and taxis take shillings. Change money in banks and official exchange offices, not on the street.

A card from a bank in a third country (Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, etc.) is the main way to pay by card and withdraw cash. Use ATMs at bank branches — CRDB, NMB, Stanbic, NBC.

Opening a local bank account on a tourist visa is almost impossible. Banks usually ask for a residence or work permit and a tax number (TIN). We found no official rules specifically for Russians — check with the bank.

Mobile money — M-Pesa (Vodacom), Airtel Money, Mixx by Yas — is the main way to pay here. People use it for taxis, shops and bills. The wallet is linked to a SIM card registered with your passport. Limits and features for foreigners depend on the operator.

07Renting a place

Use Airbnb and Booking for the first weeks, then look through Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam expat Facebook groups, local agents and word of mouth. Many people make a deal directly once they are there.

Price guide for a studio or 1-bedroom per month (our estimate from Numbeo and listings; prices depend a lot on season and area):

• Zanzibar, Stone Town and suburbs — $300–700
• Zanzibar, coast (Paje, Jambiani, Nungwi, Kendwa) — $400–1000 for a place with a proper kitchen, air conditioning and internet
• Dar es Salaam, expat areas (Masaki, Oyster Bay, Mbezi) — $600–1500
• Dar es Salaam, further from the centre — $200–500
• Arusha — $300–700

According to Numbeo (November 2026), a 1-bedroom in central Dar es Salaam costs about 1.4 million shillings a month, outside the centre about 0.5 million. Zanzibar has little data, and it shows "local" prices: housing for foreigners costs noticeably more.

High season is July–September and December–February, and prices go up then. In the rainy season (about April–May) many things are cheaper, and some cafés and hotels on the coast close.

Landlords usually want 1–3 months in advance, sometimes 6 months for a long lease. Get a written contract, even a simple one.

08SIM card & internet

The main operators are Vodacom, Airtel, Yas (former Tigo) and Halotel. Vodacom usually has the best signal in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam; on the coast it depends on the spot.

SIM cards are sold at the airport and in operator shops. Registration is biometric: you need your passport and they take your fingerprints. Without registration the SIM won't work.

• Mobile plan with 10+ GB per month — about 24,000–30,000 shillings (about $10–12) on Numbeo
• Home internet 60+ Mbps — about 90,000 shillings in Dar es Salaam and 60,000–200,000 in Zanzibar (about $35–80)
• Tourist eSIM from international services — handy for the first days, but more expensive

09Healthcare & insurance

Healthcare is a weak point. The UK foreign office says medical facilities are limited, especially outside Dar es Salaam. The best private clinics are in Dar es Salaam (for example Aga Khan Hospital). Zanzibar has private clinics for tourists, but serious cases usually go to Dar es Salaam or Nairobi.

Main health risks:

• Malaria — present across the country, including Zanzibar. Talk to a doctor about prevention, sleep under a net, use repellent
• Dengue — also spread by mosquitoes, most people have no vaccine, same protection
• Cholera — drink only bottled or boiled water
• Altitude sickness — on Kilimanjaro and in the mountains, climb slowly
• Mpox — the UK foreign office lists it among the risks

Yellow fever: you need a vaccination certificate if you come from a country with a transmission risk. If you change planes in such a country (for example Ethiopia or Kenya), check in advance whether they may ask for it.

The emergency number is 112 (ambulance). Cities have pharmacies, but rare medicines can run out — bring a supply of your own medicines with prescriptions.

10Transport

Getting there from Russia. Direct options exist, but there are few:

• Seasonal Azur Air and Nordwind charters from Moscow and other cities to Zanzibar — sold through tour operators, but often you can buy just a ticket
• Air Tanzania announced flights to Moscow (Vnukovo) in 2026 — check the current schedule on the airline's site before buying

With a connection it's easier and more reliable: via Dubai (flydubai, Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Muscat (Oman Air) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines). All these airlines fly to both Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.

Between Zanzibar and the mainland:

• The fast ferry Dar es Salaam — Zanzibar takes about 2 hours. Buy tickets from big companies (for example Azam Marine), at the counter or officially online
• Local airlines (Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Coastal, Auric Air, ZanAir) fly from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and the national parks

Around the country: the electric SGR train connects Dar es Salaam with Morogoro and Dodoma. Buses run between cities, but roads and driving are dangerous — for long distances it's better to fly.

In Dar es Salaam Bolt is the easiest option. In Zanzibar people mostly use regular taxis with a negotiated price. There are also bajaji (tuk-tuks) and boda-boda (motorbike taxis). The UK foreign office notes that dala-dala (minibuses), boda-boda and bajaji have a poor safety record.

11Safety & important laws

What to know about politics:

• Stay away from all demonstrations and crowds, and leave at once if a protest starts nearby
• Filming and sharing videos of protests or violence is illegal — you can be detained for posts about the political situation
• Security services may check phones for election-related content
• The internet has already been cut during and after protests
• Elections in Zanzibar have been violent before, and the UK foreign office notes growing anti-foreigner rhetoric

Everyday crime:

• Dar es Salaam has armed robberies, including in the centre, Masaki/Oyster Bay (including Coco Beach) and on Toure Drive
• There are "express kidnappings" — people are forced to withdraw cash at an ATM or make a transfer
• In Zanzibar incidents happened in Stone Town, at hotels and on popular beaches
• Bag snatching, hotel room theft and sexual assault — including at beach resorts

Terrorism: the UK foreign office does not rule out attacks. In the south, near the border with Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, IS-Mozambique attacks are possible — better not to go there.

Laws and rules you need to know:

• Same-sex relations are a crime, including in Zanzibar. Public displays of affection can lead to arrest
• In Zanzibar dress modestly outside beaches and hotels, especially in Stone Town. The fine for "improper dress" is $700 or more
• Plastic bags are banned
• Ferries: there have been deadly accidents on routes between Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar and between the islands — choose big operators

The emergency number is 112. The Russian embassy is in Dar es Salaam — write down its phone number in advance.

12How much money you need per month

totalAbout $1000–2000 per month per person, without safaris and climbs

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check your passport — at least 6 months valid from the entry date and a blank page.
2. Buy a return or onward ticket: they ask for it at the border.
3. Get an e-visa on visa.immigration.go.tz at least 10 days before you fly — or plan a visa on arrival and bring new $50 and $100 notes.
4. Buy the mandatory $44 entry insurance — from ZIC if you land in Zanzibar first, or from NIC if you land on the mainland.
5. Get separate health insurance with evacuation and talk to a doctor about vaccines and malaria prevention.
6. Get a card from a bank in a third country and bring cash dollars — Mir and Russian Visa/Mastercard don't work.
7. Book housing for the first 1–2 weeks, find a long-term place once you are there.
8. Buy a local SIM (Vodacom, Airtel or Yas) with biometric registration on your passport.
9. Mark your visa end date in the calendar and plan an exit in advance — Kenya, Rwanda, Dubai or home.
10. If you want a residence permit, talk to a local lawyer early: buying a home through ZIPA in Zanzibar, a business (Class A) or retirement (C-2).

14Useful links

• Official Tanzania e-visa portal
• Official visa rules: types, fees, visa-on-arrival country list
• Residence permit classes A, B, C and fees (Tanzania Immigration)
• NIC — mandatory entry insurance (mainland)
• Visit Zanzibar — ZIC insurance for Zanzibar
• UK FCDO — Tanzania entry requirements
• UK FCDO — Tanzania safety and security
• PwC — tax residence in Tanzania
• Numbeo — cost of living in Dar es Salaam
• Kenya eTA — electronic travel authorisation for Kenya
• Rwanda — visa on arrival

15Other countries

Every guide follows the same structure, so they're easy to compare. Comparison table: all countries.

• 🇦🇲Armenia
• 🇻🇳Vietnam
• 🇹🇭Thailand
• 🇨🇳China
• 🇷🇸Serbia
• 🇨🇷Costa Rica
• 🇵🇦Panama
• 🇦🇪UAE (Dubai)
• 🇬🇪Georgia
• 🇮🇩Indonesia (Bali)
• 🇨🇴Colombia
• 🇲🇾Malaysia
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇵🇹Portugal
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇦🇱Albania
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇦🇷Argentina
• 🇿🇦South Africa
• 🇳🇿New Zealand
• 🇱🇰Sri Lanka
• 🇺🇿Uzbekistan
• 🇰🇬Kyrgyzstan
• 🇹🇷Turkey
• 🇧🇬Bulgaria
• 🇰🇭Cambodia
• 🇵🇭Philippines
• 🇮🇳India
• 🇱🇦Laos
• 🇺🇸USA
• 🇲🇪Montenegro
• 🇭🇷Croatia
• 🇬🇷Greece
• 🇨🇾Cyprus
• 🇭🇺Hungary
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇲🇹Malta
• 🇰🇿Kazakhstan
• 🇺🇾Uruguay
• 🇵🇾Paraguay
• 🇪🇨Ecuador
• 🇵🇪Peru
• 🇨🇱Chile
• 🇩🇴Dominican Republic
• 🇲🇦Morocco
• 🇲🇺Mauritius
• 🇨🇻Cape Verde
• 🇰🇪Kenya
• 🇳🇦Namibia
• 🇪🇬Egypt
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇰🇷South Korea
• 🇹🇼Taiwan
• 🇲🇳Mongolia
• 🇳🇵Nepal