The period before leaving on the holiday expected all year round is one of the most stressful, from at least two points of view. First of all, the days seem to “expand” and the tasks at work seem endless, and secondly, you start to have all kinds of organizational “dilemmas”. For example, if you’re planning a stay on our beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, you may be wondering if you need warm clothes, if you can enter the country only with your ID card (without a passport), or if you need vaccines in Zanzibar.

While the answer to the first two questions above is NO (the weather is warm all year round, and access is only based on a valid passport, no visa, for less than 90 days), the third question has several nuances that need to be discussed in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, even if it’s nearing its end. Thus, reading the article below, you will find out what you need to do to pass checks and be able to start enjoying everything the destination has to offer: spectacular beaches, azure waters, a paradisiacal landscape, warm people, good music, and one of the most unique floras and faunas in the world!

Do you need vaccines in Zanzibar?

Normally, the answer to this question would be NO, as there are no mandatory vaccines for entering Zanzibar (such as those against yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, etc.). However, authorities in Tanzania’s de facto territory still require evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or negative PCR tests, as you will find below. The information comes from the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, through the Ministry responsible for Health:

“1. All travelers (…) are required to truthfully fill in an online Traveler’s Health Surveillance Form, available online, within 24 hours before arrival to the United Republic of Tanzania, through Zanzibar;

2. All passengers (…) who arrive in Zanzibar and are fully vaccinated will be exempted from the requirements for both the presentation (…) of a negative RT-PCR test, as well as the rapid antigen test. Upon arrival (…) they will be asked to present a valid QR code vaccination certificate;

3. All passengers (…) who are unvaccinated, not fully vaccinated, and whose age is not eligible for vaccination from their country of origin must present a certificate with an active QR code, with a negative result of an RT-PCR or NAAT test;

4. All passengers (…) in point 3 arriving from the United Arab Emirates, with the airlines Fly Dubai, Etihad, and Emirates, must additionally undergo non-invasive Exponential Deep Examination (EDE) scans, with a standard fee of $35;

5. Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated travelers who don’t have a negative RT-PCR test (…) will be tested, for $100, and will wait for the results in self-isolation. Minors under the age of 5 (…) are exempt from both the regulations on the RT-PCR test, as well as the regulations on the Rapid Antigen Test”.

In conclusion, now you know what to do to avoid any problems at the Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and to be able to fully enjoy everything the island has to offer! We are waiting for you!