By Emmanuel Nduka
Tanzania has removed Nigerians from its list of nationals subject to the country’s Referred Visa Category, easing the immigration process for Nigerian travellers seeking to enter the East African country.
The development means Nigerians will no longer require the additional immigration clearance previously attached to applications under the referral visa system.
The Tanzania Immigration Services Department announced the change in a public notice issued on September 25, 2026, following the publication of Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026.
The notice, signed by the department’s Chief Spokesperson, ACI Paul J. Mselle, confirmed that Nigerian nationals travelling to Tanzania would no longer be subjected to the referred visa restrictions.
Under the previous arrangement, Nigerians were required to undergo additional screening before their visa applications could be approved.
Applicants were also expected to provide details of a host or contact person in Tanzania, including a physical address and contact information, as part of the referral process.
The system required affected travellers to submit their applications well ahead of their proposed travel dates and await clearance from Tanzania’s immigration authorities before making travel arrangements.
With Nigeria now removed from the referral category, travellers can access Tanzania’s regular visa process without the additional referral approval.
The change is expected to make travel arrangements less cumbersome for Nigerians visiting Tanzania for tourism, business, conferences and other legitimate purposes.
However, the new arrangement does not amount to visa-free entry for Nigerians.
Travellers will still be required to obtain the appropriate Tanzanian visa and satisfy the country’s applicable immigration requirements before entry.
The policy shift comes against the backdrop of longstanding economic, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Tanzania.
Stakeholders have welcomed the development, with some describing it as an opportunity to deepen commercial and diplomatic engagement between both countries.
Adeniran Timothy, Director-General of the International Forum for Peace & Diplomacy, welcomed Tanzania’s decision and urged Nigeria to consider a reciprocal approach.
He argued that easing movement between both countries could encourage greater interaction among businesses, investors and professionals while opening new opportunities for bilateral trade.
The removal of Nigeria from Tanzania’s referral visa list therefore represents a significant easing of the entry process, even as Nigerian travellers remain subject to the country’s normal visa requirements.
