Tanzania removes Nigerian Nationals from Referred Visa Category Listing

Tanzania has just removed Nigerians from the list of foreign nationals under the ‘Referred Visa’ category, thus throwing open its doors to travelers from Abuja and Lagos.

An official public notice Number 246 of 2026, which was issued from the Tanzania Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Immigration Services Department stated that the people from the Federal Republic of Nigeria have now been removed from the Referred Visa Category.

The new immigration developments in Tanzania come after the recently published amendments in the official Government Gazette and among the new changes after the review, is the ‘Removal of Nigerian Nationals from the referred visa category.

Now following the amendments and with immediate effect, Nigerian nationals traveling to the United Republic of Tanzania are no longer subject to referred visa restrictions.

The Chief Spokesperson of Tanzania Immigration Services Department, ACI Paul J. Mselle, said the Nigerian citizens will now only follow the standard visa application procedures.

In fact, they can therefore apply for Tanzanian visas from wherever they happen to be, or file for the same through the official immigration services’ online portal or at any designated entry points.

Referred Visa restrictions apply to Nationals of specific countries who require special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration before entering Tanzania.

These are usually not eligible for a visa on arrival.

With Nigeria now out of the list, the countries that remain on Tanzania’s Referred Visa restrictions are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Chad and Djibouti.

Others include, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan), Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Referred Visa restrictions also apply to Pakistan, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia (despite sharing East African Community Membership with Tanzania), Somaliland, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

The same restrictions go to stateless persons or persons with refugee status who before traveling to Tanzania are advised not to book airlines or make reservations at non-refundable hotels or book before confirming their respective visa approvals.

They are also required to make early applications by submitting their requests at least 2 months before the planned travel dates.

Also helpful should be an official invitation letter from a local host or sponsor in Tanzania which may strongly support applications.