Tanzania Introduces KSh 11k Levy to Foreigners Travelling in, out of the Country
- The announced plans to introduce a new levy on all international travel into the country
- The new fee under the VI Tax code will affect all foreign travellers moving in and out of Tanzania
- TCAA said the fee will be collected alongside air ticket charges, and passengers who cancel trips will get a full refund
- President Samia Suluhu's administration said the new air travel levy will help vet passengers
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Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Foreigners travelling to Tanzania, including Kenyans, will now pay an additional air travel fee.
Source: Twitter
President Samia Suluhu's administration announced plans to launch the passenger facilitation fee on both international arrival and departure.
How much will passengers pay to Tanzania?
The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) introduced an additional fee of $45 (KSh 5,814) for a one-way ticket and $90 (KSh 11,628) for a return ticket.
According to the East African, TCAA said the new fees have been introduced under the VI Tax code and will take effect on November 1, 2025.
The authority stated that the fees will be exempt for children under two years old and will be collected by airlines at the point of sale.
Passengers who have not travelled or cancelled their tickets will get a full refund of the fee.
Source: UGC
Why Tanzania charges new travel fee
TCAA noted that the passenger facilitation fee is aimed at supporting the governments' installation of Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Electronic Border Control (eBMC) systems.
The system will act as security, transmitting passenger information to the government before flight departure for vetting.
The government will therefore determine whether the passenger should travel into the country or not.
"Based on the cost of installing the system, relying only on government financing will not be sustainable. For this reason, we have proposed that the fees collected from passengers during international arrivals will fund the project," said TCAA.
Airline operators warned that the move would affect the industry, already facing high taxation from the African governments.
Are there other restrictions for foreigners in Tanzania?
The new travel fees came barely a month after the Tanzanian government introduced restrictions on foreigners doing business in the country.
President Suluhu's administration banned foreign nationals from starting and operating 15 types of businesses in the country.
These are the sale of goods on a wholesale and retail basis, excluding supermarkets, specialised product outlets, and wholesale centres for local producers, and mobile money transfers.
Repair of mobile phones and electronic devices, salon business, unless the business is conducted in a hotel or for tourism purposes and home, office and environmental cleanliness, small-scale mining, postal activities and parcel delivery within the country, among others.
Tanzania Industry and Trade Minister Selemani Jafo said the ban is meant to protect locals in business from foreign competition.
Tanzanian citizens raised concerns that non-citizens are driving locals out of business and exacerbating the unemployment problem.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
