oluwatosin oyeniyi DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Tanzania has removed Nigerian nationals from its referred-visa category, eliminating an additional immigration clearance requirement that had made travel to the East African country more complicated for Nigerian visitors.
The change, announced by Tanzania’s Immigration Services Department in a notice dated September 25, took immediate effect under Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026. Nigerian travellers can now apply through Tanzania’s standard visa process without first obtaining additional approval from the Commissioner General of Immigration.
The decision could simplify travel between two of Africa’s largest economies, particularly for tourists, business travellers, students and other visitors.
What has changed?
Previously, Nigerians were among nationalities subject to Tanzania’s referral visa system.
Under that arrangement, applicants were required to submit their visa applications online and wait for approval before beginning their journey. Tanzania advised applicants under the referral system to apply at least two months before their intended travel date.
With Nigeria removed from the category, that additional approval stage no longer applies.
Nigerian travellers can use Tanzania’s ordinary visa application procedures through the country’s online immigration system or designated entry points, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
Nigerians still need visas
The change should not be interpreted as visa-free access.
Tanzania’s official immigration guidance continues to list Nigeria among the Commonwealth countries whose citizens require visas to enter the country.
The difference is that Nigerian applicants no longer face the extra referral clearance that previously applied to them.
The Tanzania High Commission in Abuja continues to publish visa requirements for Nigerian citizens, including passport validity, application forms, photographs, travel documentation and applicable fees.
What it means for travellers
For Nigerian tourists, the policy change removes an additional layer of uncertainty from planning a trip to Tanzania.
Previously, the referral process could require travellers to begin applications weeks in advance because approval had to be secured before departure. Removing that requirement could make it easier to plan holidays, business trips and other visits around more conventional visa-processing timelines.
Tanzania is home to major tourism destinations including Zanzibar, Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro, while Dar es Salaam is an important commercial centre.
The simplified process could therefore benefit both leisure and business travel.
A potential boost to Nigeria-Tanzania ties
The change also comes against the backdrop of broader economic engagement between Nigeria and Tanzania.
The two countries have significant populations, commercial networks and expanding interests in trade, investment and tourism. Easier movement of people can support those relationships by reducing administrative barriers for legitimate travellers.
For businesses, simpler visa procedures can make short-term meetings, conferences, investment visits and commercial activities easier to organise.
For Tanzania, attracting more Nigerian visitors could also support the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Regional mobility remains a wider issue
The decision highlights the continuing debate over how African countries can make movement across the continent easier while maintaining immigration and security controls.
The African Continental Free Trade Area seeks to deepen economic integration, but the movement of people remains governed largely by individual national immigration policies.
Reducing unnecessary administrative barriers can support tourism, trade and professional exchanges, but countries also need clear systems for screening travellers and enforcing immigration rules.
Tanzania’s decision therefore removes one specific barrier without eliminating its broader visa requirements for Nigerian citizens.
What travellers should do
Nigerian travellers planning to visit Tanzania should continue to check the country’s official immigration system and Tanzanian diplomatic missions for the latest requirements before booking or travelling.
Tanzania’s online visa platform allows applicants to submit applications, make payments and track their application status electronically.
The immediate effect of the new policy is straightforward: Nigerians still need a Tanzanian visa, but they no longer need the additional referral clearance that previously applied to them.
That distinction could make the visa process more predictable and reduce the administrative burden for Nigerians travelling to Tanzania for tourism, business, education and other legitimate purposes.
