Tanzania Eases Visa Process for Nigerian Travellers, Drops Referral Requirement

Tanzania has eased its visa process for Nigerian travellers, removing Nigerian nationals from the country’s Referred Visa Category and eliminating the additional immigration clearance that previously applied to them.

The change was announced by Tanzania’s Immigration Services Department in a public notice dated September 25, 2026, and subsequently published by the Tanzanian High Commission in Abuja on September 28. It follows amendments contained in Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026.

Under the new rules, Nigerian nationals travelling to Tanzania will now follow the country’s standard visa application procedures, either through the official immigration online portal or designated entry points. The change takes effect immediately. 

What has changed for Nigerians?

Previously, Nigeria was included in Tanzania’s Referred Visa Category. Applicants in this category were required to obtain additional clearance from Tanzania’s Commissioner General of Immigration before their visas could be issued.

The process meant referred applicants were advised to apply well ahead of their intended travel dates — Tanzania’s immigration guidelines recommended submitting applications at least two months before travel and waiting for approval before beginning their journey.

With Nigeria removed from the category, that additional referral clearance is no longer required.

In practical terms, Nigerian travellers can now apply through the ordinary visa process without having their applications subjected to the separate referral procedure.

Nigerians still need a visa

The policy change does not make Tanzania visa-free for Nigerian passport holders.

Nigeria remains outside Tanzania’s visa-exempt categories, meaning Nigerian travellers still need to obtain the appropriate Tanzanian visa before travelling. What has been removed is the additional referral requirement, rather than the underlying visa requirement itself. 

This distinction is important because the change affects the process for obtaining a visa, not the requirement to have one.

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Why the change matters

The removal of the referral requirement could make travel between Nigeria and Tanzania more straightforward for business travellers, tourists, conference attendees and other Nigerians visiting the East African country.

The previous referral system introduced an additional approval stage and longer lead times for affected travellers. Tanzania’s own guidance warned applicants under the system to wait for visa approval before making non-refundable travel arrangements.

The latest decision therefore removes one administrative layer for Nigerian travellers and places their applications under Tanzania’s ordinary visa procedures.

The move also comes as Nigeria and Tanzania continue to deepen commercial and diplomatic ties. Tanzania’s High Commission in Abuja has recently highlighted bilateral relations and investment cooperation between both countries, including a Tanzanian government delegation’s August 2026 visit to Lagos focused on investment partnerships. 

A broader African mobility question

For Africa’s increasingly interconnected business, technology and investment ecosystem, visa requirements remain an important part of how easily people, capital and opportunities move between markets.

Nigeria and Tanzania are two of the continent’s major economic hubs, with growing links across technology, financial services, trade and investment. Reducing additional administrative barriers can make cross-border engagement easier, particularly for businesses and professionals that operate across multiple African markets.

For Nigerian travellers, however, the immediate takeaway is simple: Tanzania has removed Nigeria from its Referred Visa Category, but Nigerians still require a Tanzanian visa.

The change removes the extra referral clearance and returns Nigerian applicants to Tanzania’s standard visa process.

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