Tanzania e-Visa averages 8.6 days as pre-travel checks grow for 2027

Travellers planning a trip to Tanzania should allow well over a week for an electronic visa (e-Visa), which took an average of 8.6 days to process in 2026. That compares with an average of 42 minutes for the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), according to a 2027 travel trends report published on 19 October 2026 by a travel formalities specialist.

Key facts

• Tanzania e-Visa: average processing time of 8.6 days in 2026
• UK ETA: average processing time of 42 minutes; fee rose to £20 in April 2026
• US ESTA: fee increased from US$21 to US$40 in September 2025
• Last-minute filings: applications made less than three days before arrival rose from 6% in April to 16% in October 2026
• Passport issues: 8% of passports checked in 2026 had under six months' validity left when uploaded

How long does the Tanzania e-Visa take?

Processing times for travel authorisations vary sharply, the report found, ranging from an average of 42 minutes for a UK ETA to 8.6 days for Tanzania's e-Visa. The report describes early applications as essential because of this gap.

The report does not state the cost of Tanzania's e-Visa, its validity period or which nationalities must hold one.

Why is visa-free travel getting more complicated?

Even travellers who do not need a visa now often face a document, a fee or an advance authorisation. Seven out of 10 applications handled by the company in 2026 fell into that category, its chief executive said.

Fees have been rising: the UK ETA fee rose to £20 in April 2026, and the US increased its Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee from US$21 to US$40 in September 2025. Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES) and the planned European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) add further complexity, and ETIAS is expected to be a major consideration in 2027.

What problems are being flagged?

Confusion between border registration and pre-departure authorisation could leave travellers unable to board or enter their destination, the report warns. Digital requirements are also expanding, potentially involving passport-chip data, selfies and additional personal information.

Late applications are becoming more common: filings submitted less than three days before arrival climbed from 6% in April to 16% in October 2026. In addition, 8% of passports checked in 2026 had less than six months' validity remaining when uploaded.

What this means for travellers

Because Tanzania's e-Visa averages 8.6 days, travellers should submit an application well before departure rather than in the final days, and check how long the authorisation they need typically takes. Passports should be checked for validity before any application is uploaded, given the share found with under six months remaining.

The report cautions that its projections are assessments, not official government announcements, and that requirements can change quickly.