Nigeria Removed From Tanzania Referred Visa Category:What it means for travellers?
Tanzania has changed its visa rules for Nigerian passport holders, removing Nigeria from the country’s referred visa category with immediate effect.
The development means Nigerians travelling to Tanzania will no longer be subjected to the additional clearance process attached to referred visa applications.
However, the change does not mean Nigerian passport holders can now enter Tanzania without a visa.
Here is what Nigerian travellers need to know about the new rule.
What changed in Tanzania’s visa rules?
Tanzania has removed Nigerian nationals from its list of countries whose citizens require a referred visa.
The change was announced through Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026, with the new arrangement taking effect immediately.
Under the previous system, Nigerian applicants fell under Tanzania’s referred visa category. Applications from people in that category required additional approval from Tanzania’s immigration authorities before a visa could be issued.
With Nigeria removed from the list, Nigerian travellers can now apply through Tanzania’s regular visa process.
The change therefore concerns the procedure for obtaining a visa, rather than eliminating the visa requirement altogether.
What was the referred visa process?
A referred visa is a type of visa application that requires additional clearance from Tanzania’s immigration authorities.
Tanzania’s High Commission in Abuja previously listed Nigeria among countries whose nationals were subject to this requirement.
Applicants under the referred category were advised to submit their applications well ahead of their intended travel because approval could take considerably longer than the normal visa process.
The High Commission also advised applicants not to make travel bookings before receiving approval.
The additional procedure could make travel planning more complicated for Nigerians visiting Tanzania.
What does the new rule mean for Nigerians?
The immediate change is that Nigerian travellers no longer need the special referral clearance that previously applied to them.
Instead, they will use Tanzania’s standard visa application procedure.
This should make the process more straightforward for Nigerians who need to travel to the country for tourism, business, family visits or other purposes.
The Tanzanian immigration authorities, however, will still determine whether an applicant meets the requirements for the relevant visa.
Removing Nigeria from the referred category should therefore not be interpreted as automatic approval for every Nigerian visa applicant.
Can Nigerians now travel to Tanzania without a visa?
No.
Nigeria’s removal from Tanzania’s referred visa category does not amount to visa-free travel.
Nigerian passport holders still need a visa to enter Tanzania unless they qualify for an exemption under another applicable rule.
The important distinction is that Nigerians have moved from the referred visa process to the standard visa process.
In other words, the new policy changes the level of clearance required when applying for a Tanzanian visa, but it does not remove the requirement to obtain one.
How did the old process affect Nigerian travellers?
Before the change, Nigerian applicants faced additional requirements because of their inclusion in the referred category.
Tanzania’s visa information for referred nationals stated that approval had to be obtained from the Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration in Zanzibar.
Applicants were also required to provide information about their host in Tanzania where applicable, including details such as the host’s address and contact information.
The High Commission warned that referred visa applications could take several weeks to process.
The removal of Nigeria from the category means those additional referral requirements no longer apply simply because an applicant is Nigerian.
What should Nigerians do before travelling to Tanzania?
Nigerians planning to visit Tanzania should still apply for the appropriate visa before travelling and check the latest requirements through Tanzania’s official immigration channels.
Travellers should also ensure that their passports and supporting documents meet the requirements for their particular visa category.
The change is particularly important for Nigerians who previously had to account for the additional waiting period associated with referred visa applications.
They can now use the standard visa process instead.
What has Tanzania actually changed?
In simple terms, Tanzania has made a procedural change for Nigerian travellers.
Nigeria has been removed from the referred visa category, meaning Nigerian nationals are no longer subject to the additional clearance process attached to that category.
But Tanzania has not announced that Nigerian passport holders are now visa-free.
So, Nigerians planning a trip to Tanzania should understand the new rule as follows:
Before: Nigerian travellers required a visa and were subject to the referred visa process.
Now: Nigerian travellers still require a visa, but they are no longer subject to the referred visa process.
The new arrangement is therefore a change in visa processing requirements, not the introduction of visa-free entry for Nigerians.