Short answer: Canadians need a passport valid at least six months beyond the date they leave Tanzania, and a visa. A three month single entry tourist visa is available on arrival, or you can apply for an eVisa in advance. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required only if you are arriving from, or have transited through an airport in, a country where yellow fever occurs. Malaria precautions and travel insurance with medical evacuation cover are both strongly advised.
This is the unglamorous part of planning a safari and the part people most often leave too late. Everything below is drawn from the Government of Canada's official travel advice for Tanzania. Requirements change, so check the live page before you travel and speak to a healthcare professional about your own situation.
Your passport
The Government of Canada states plainly: "Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Tanzania."
Count forward from your return date, not from today. If your passport expires within six months of the end of the trip, renew it before you book anything else. Renewal timelines vary through the year and this is the single most common reason a traveller cannot go.
Your visa
A visa is required for Canadian tourists. There are two routes:
- On arrival. A three month single entry tourist visa can be obtained at main ports of entry.
- eVisa in advance. Required if you plan to stay longer than 90 days or need multiple entries. Applying ahead also removes any queue on arrival, which some travellers prefer after a long flight.
For a standard two week safari, either route works. Applying in advance is the lower stress option.
Yellow fever, and the detail people get wrong
Yellow fever is where most confusion happens, because the requirement depends on your route rather than your destination.
Official wording: "Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country where yellow fever occurs."
In practice this means your connection matters. A routing through Europe or the Middle East is treated differently from one that transits a country where yellow fever is present. Confirm your exact routing before deciding whether you need the certificate, and if you do need it, note that it is issued at designated vaccination centres, not by every clinic.
Other vaccinations
Government of Canada guidance for Tanzania:
- Routine vaccinations. "Make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel, no matter where you're going."
- Hepatitis A. "Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present."
- Hepatitis B. Recommended for all travellers.
- Meningococcal disease. Advised for travellers spending time in crowded conditions.
Malaria
Official guidance: "There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this destination," and "antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling."
Whether you need prophylaxis depends on which parks you visit and when, so it is a conversation with a travel health professional rather than a yes or no answer. Book that appointment about six weeks before departure, since some courses need to start before you fly.
Prevention matters as much as medication. Long sleeves at dawn and dusk, repellent, and sleeping under a net where one is provided.
Travel insurance
The Government of Canada is specific: "Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays."
Medical evacuation cover is the part that matters on safari. The parks are remote, and the distances that make the wildlife spectacular are the same distances that make getting to a hospital slow and expensive. Most tour operators require proof of insurance before departure in any case.
Current travel advice
At the time of writing, the Government of Canada's risk level for Tanzania is "Exercise a high degree of caution", with higher level regional advisories for specific areas including near the Mozambique border. Standard safari itineraries in the northern circuit and Zanzibar sit well away from those regions, but you should read the current advisory yourself before travelling.
A simple countdown
- Six months out or earlier. Check passport expiry against your return date. Renew if it is close.
- Six to eight weeks out. Travel health appointment. Discuss malaria, routine vaccinations, hepatitis A and B, and whether your routing needs a yellow fever certificate.
- Four weeks out. Arrange travel insurance including medical evacuation. Apply for an eVisa if you are not doing visa on arrival.
- Two weeks out. Re-read the current government advisory. Photograph your passport, insurance policy and vaccination certificate and email the images to yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Do Canadians need a visa for Tanzania?
Yes. A three month single entry tourist visa is available on arrival, or you can apply for an eVisa in advance.
Do I need a yellow fever certificate?
Only if you are arriving from, or have transited through an airport in, a country where yellow fever occurs. It depends on your routing, so confirm your connections first.
How long must my passport be valid?
At least six months beyond the date you expect to leave Tanzania.
Do I need malaria tablets?
Possibly, depending on your itinerary and the time of year. Speak to a travel health professional about six weeks before you go.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
The Government of Canada advises insurance covering medical evacuation and hospital stays, and most tour operators require proof of cover before departure.
Sources and a caution
All requirements above are quoted from the Government of Canada travel advice for Tanzania, read on 19 August 2026. Entry rules and health advice change without notice. Always check travel.gc.ca yourself before you travel, and treat the health guidance here as general information rather than medical advice for your own circumstances.
Planning a trip to Tanzania
Travel Gal Suz runs an escorted small group trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar, capped at twelve travellers. Details are on the Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar page, and every open departure is on the trips page. Travellers on her trips are walked through the paperwork personally.
Questions about any of the above? Message Suz on Facebook Messenger.
