Tanzania removes Nigeria from Referred Visa category

BY DIRAMAKINI

THE Government of Tanzania has officially removed citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the Referred Visa Category, ending years of strict entry restrictions.

The announcement was made September 25, 2026, by the Immigration Services Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to a Public Notice issued by the Chief Spokesperson of the Tanzania Immigration Services Department, ACI Paul J. Mselle, the decision follows published amendments in the Government Gazette Number 246 of 2026.

“The Immigration Department informs the public that citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have been officially removed from the Referred Visa Category,” the statement reads in part.

With immediate effect, Nigerian nationals traveling to the United Republic of Tanzania are no longer subject to referred visa restrictions.

Previously, nationals in the referred visa category were required to undergo a special security clearance process from the Commissioner General of Immigration before a visa could be granted, a process that was lengthy and often restrictive.

Now, Nigerians will follow standard visa application procedures through the official immigration online portal or at designated entry points, just like other non-referred nationalities.

The move is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people ties between Tanzania and Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation.