Tanzania makes health declaration mandatory for all travelers entering the country

All travelers entering mainland Tanzania must now complete an online health form through the AfyaMsafiri portal, expanding a requirement that previously applied only to arrivals from the DRC and Uganda

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health announced on October 17, 2026, that all travelers entering mainland Tanzania must complete the Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form, an online health declaration, regardless of where they are traveling from. The directive, Travel Advisory No. 18, was signed by Permanent Secretary Dr. Grace Maghembe and took effect immediately, according to the Ministry of Health.

Before October 17, 2026, the health declaration was required only for travelers arriving from or transiting through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or Uganda, under health guidelines issued on May 18, 2026. The expanded directive now applies to every international arrival into mainland Tanzania, including tourists flying directly from the United States, Europe, or other regions with no active Ebola transmission.

The measures are being implemented under the International Health Regulations (2005), as amended in 2024, and Tanzania’s Public Health Act of 2009. Tanzania has not reported any confirmed Ebola cases.

Why has Tanzania expanded the health screening to all travelers?

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health linked the expanded screening to the evolving Ebola situation in East Africa. The directive cites two developments: the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the emergence of cases in neighboring Kenya, initially involving a traveler who had arrived from the DRC.

Kenya’s situation escalated rapidly over the weekend of October 16-17, 2026. Three cases had been confirmed as of October 16, before Kenyan health authorities reported four additional infections the following day, including several healthcare workers who had treated the initial patient. By October 18, Kenya had recorded 8 confirmed Ebola cases, including 1 death, according to Reuters.

All confirmed infections in Kenya were linked to the same chain of transmission, with no evidence of widespread community spread at that point. Tanzania’s directive extends preventive measures to all international arrivals as a precaution, even though no cases have been detected within the country.

In addition to the online health declaration, travelers entering mainland Tanzania are now subject to health screening at all ports of entry, including airports, seaports, and land border crossings. Screening includes temperature checks and assessments for possible symptoms of infectious diseases. Anyone presenting suspected symptoms may undergo additional medical examinations under national health protocols.

What is the 21-day health monitoring requirement?

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health has introduced mandatory 21-day health monitoring for travelers classified as being at high risk of Ebola infection. Those individuals may receive daily automated messages or other communications to track their health status.

Travelers subject to this monitoring must respond throughout the 21-day period, even after leaving Tanzania. The Ministry of Health’s directive states that cooperation is mandatory for the duration of the follow-up window.

This enhanced monitoring applies only to travelers assessed as high-risk based on their travel history, potential exposure, or symptoms. The 21-day monitoring is not a blanket quarantine requirement and does not automatically apply to every visitor entering mainland Tanzania.

How do travelers complete the AfyaMsafiri health declaration?

Travelers entering mainland Tanzania must submit their health declaration through the Ministry of Health’s official portal at afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz. The website is available in several languages. The declaration can be completed before departure or upon arrival, though the AfyaMsafiri homepage currently advises travelers to complete the form within 24 hours before arrival or upon entering the country.

The form is completed in four steps. Travelers first enter their passport or identity document number, select their point of entry, and provide their expected arrival date. Entry points are organized by category, including airports (such as Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro International Airport), land borders, seaports, and lake ports.

The second step collects personal information, including name, sex, date of birth, nationality, flight or vehicle number, purpose and duration of stay, accommodation details, contact information, and country of departure. A separate declaration must be completed for each traveler, including children.

The third step is a health questionnaire covering countries visited during the previous 21 days, symptoms experienced (including fever, headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and unusual fatigue), and whether the traveler has visited an outbreak-affected area, cared for a sick person, or attended a funeral.

After submission, the portal generates a confirmation document containing a QR code and a Unique Health Code (UHC) with the traveler’s identity details, passport number, arrival date, and point of entry. Travelers must save or screenshot this document and present it upon arrival. Health authorities may check the QR code during entry screening.

Does Zanzibar have a separate health declaration?

Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar have separate health authorities that may issue different travel health requirements. Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health published its own Ebola-related travel advisory on October 9, 2026, which specifically targets travelers arriving from or transiting through the DRC, Uganda, or Kenya.

Travelers covered by Zanzibar’s advisory must complete a health declaration through Zanzibar’s dedicated portal at healthtravelznz.mohz.go.tz. However, the portal’s general instructions more broadly state that electronic health declarations are mandatory for arriving travelers, without limiting the requirement to the three countries named in the October 9 advisory.

Travelers flying directly to Zanzibar should complete the declaration through Zanzibar’s portal rather than the mainland’s AfyaMsafiri system. Those entering through the mainland first, such as through Dar es Salaam or Kilimanjaro, must use the AfyaMsafiri portal. Visitors combining a mainland safari with a stay in Zanzibar should check the health requirements at each point of entry, as the two systems are administered separately.

What other entry requirements apply to Tanzania?

The AfyaMsafiri health declaration is separate from Tanzania’s other entry formalities. Since October 1, 2026, mainland Tanzania has required mandatory travel insurance from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC), with a standard fee of USD 44 per adult. Zanzibar has required its own mandatory insurance from the Zanzibar Insurance Corporation (ZIC) since October 1, 2024.

The health declaration is also separate from any applicable visa or eVisa requirements. Travelers who require a visa must still obtain one through Tanzania’s official eVisa portal.

The AfyaMsafiri homepage has not yet been fully updated to reflect the October 17 directive and still displays instructions referring only to travelers from Ebola-affected countries. Travelers should rely on the terms of Travel Advisory No. 18 as the current rule in force, complete the declaration before departure to avoid delays at the border, and keep an accessible copy of their QR code throughout their stay.

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health has stated that these guidelines may be reviewed and updated as the regional Ebola situation evolves. Travelers who develop symptoms or suspect infection should report to the nearest health facility or contact Tanzania’s toll-free health line at 199.