Inbound Travel Insurance: Travel With Peace of Mind
By Karimu Meshack
Director of Marketing and Communications Unit
Every journey begins with expectation. For someone travelling to Tanzania, it could be a long-awaited safari in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, enjoying the beaches of Zanzibar, attending a business meeting, visiting family and friends, or simply experiencing Tanzania for the first time.
Whatever brings someone here, the expectation is usually the same: a safe, enjoyable and memorable journey.
But travel, like life, does not always go exactly as planned. A visitor may suddenly fall ill, have an accident, lose checked-in luggage or need urgent assistance while thousands of kilometres away from home.
It is at moments like these that insurance matters most.
At National Insurance Corporation of Tanzania Limited (NIC), we see insurance as more than a policy document or certificate. It is a promise of protection and support when something unexpected happens. That is why our message to visitors is simple: Travel with Peace of Mind.
From 1 October 2026, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is implementing Inbound Travel Insurance for foreign visitors entering Mainland Tanzania, subject to the applicable exemptions. The arrangement follows the Insurance (Inbound Travel Insurance) Regulations, 2026, Government Notice No. 256 of 4 September 2026, as communicated by the Ministry of Finance.
Under the arrangement, NIC Insurance and ZIC have been designated to provide Inbound Travel Insurance for Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar respectively.
For us at NIC insurance, being entrusted with this responsibility is not simply about issuing policies. It is about helping visitors understand their protection and, more importantly, being ready to support them when they need us.
One journey should not mean paying twice
One of the practical question visitors may have is what happens when their itinerary includes both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
The Government's Public Notice provides clarity on this.
A foreign visitor whose first point of entry is Tanzania Mainland and who obtains the required Inbound Travel Insurance can subsequently travel to Zanzibar without purchasing another Inbound Travel Insurance, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
Similarly, a visitor whose first point of entry is Zanzibar and who has obtained valid cover there can subsequently travel to Tanzania Mainland without purchasing the mandatory insurance again.
This is particularly important for visitors combining experiences on both sides of the United Republic, for example, a safari in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro followed by a beach holiday in Zanzibar.
The message is simple: know your first point of entry, obtain the appropriate cover and keep your insurance certificate accessible throughout your journey.
What protection does a visitor receive?
The real value of insurance is felt when something unexpected happens. A visitor may fall ill, have an accident, lose checked-in luggage or need urgent assistance far from home. NIC’s Inbound Travel Insurance is designed to provide support in such moments, including medical treatment, medical transportation, evacuation or repatriation, emergency dental care and other covered medical needs, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
The protection goes beyond medical emergencies. It also covers specified risks involving checked-in luggage, personal liability, certain legal expenses and assistance when important travel documents are stolen. In the unfortunate event of death, the cover also provides for repatriation of the insured traveller’s remains, subject to the policy terms and conditions.
For us at NIC, these are more than insurance benefits. Behind every claim is a person sometimes frightened, unwell and far from family who needs practical help and reassurance.
That is the purpose of the cover: to be there when the unexpected happens, so that visitors can Travel with Peace of Mind.
Getting covered before travelling
We encourage visitors who require the cover to obtain it before travelling to Tanzania. The Ministry of Finance Public Notice similarly advises travellers to make the necessary arrangements in advance to facilitate entry procedures and avoid unnecessary inconvenience or delays upon arrival.
For visitors whose first point of entry is Tanzania Mainland, NIC has established a dedicated online platform: https://inbound.nicinsurance.co.tz/
The process is designed to be straightforward. The visitor provides the required personal and journey details, follows the prescribed payment process and receives an insurance certificate, which should be kept readily accessible throughout the journey.
Our advice is simple: check whether the requirement applies to you, obtain your insurance through the official channel before travelling, understand your cover and keep your certificate accessible.
Insurance is a contract, so understanding the policy is important. Not every illness, loss or incident is automatically covered. The policy has defined benefits, limits, eligibility requirements and exclusions, including provisions relating to certain pre-existing illnesses, routine medical examinations and journeys undertaken specifically for medical treatment.
We would rather have a visitor understand these conditions before travelling than discover them for the first time during an emergency.
NIC is preparing for the moment a visitor needs help
Issuing an insurance certificate is only the beginning of our responsibility.
For NIC, the success of Inbound Travel Insurance is not measured only by the number of policies issued. It is reflected in the quality and speed of assistance we provide and, above all, how the visitor feels when they turn to us for support.
That is why our preparations have focused not only on selling the cover, but also on supporting the visitor throughout the insurance journey.
NIC has established a dedicated digital platform to make it easier for international visitors to obtain their cover before travelling. It has also put in place 24-hour customer-support arrangements, with dedicated personnel to respond to visitors who may require information or assistance while in Tanzania.
We are working with relevant Government institutions, entry-point authorities and other stakeholders so that information, insurance verification and visitor support can be coordinated as smoothly as possible.
Our teams are being prepared to answer enquiries, guide visitors when assistance is required and facilitate legitimate claims in accordance with the policy terms and conditions.
The intention is straightforward: when a visitor reaches out to NIC, whether before travelling or during an emergency they should find people who listen, understand the situation and know what to do next.
Because when someone is sick, frightened or facing an emergency far from home, they are not thinking about insurance terminology. Their questions are much simpler: Can I get help? Who do I call? What should I do next?
We are ready with those answers.
That is where “Travel with Peace of Mind” becomes more than a slogan. It means being accessible when visitors need us, communicating clearly, responding with empathy and making sure the protection purchased translates into practical assistance when it matters.
It takes more than an insurance company
Airlines, tour operators, travel agents, hotels and other players across the tourism value chain also have an important role.
Ideally, no visitor should learn about Inbound Travel Insurance for the first time after arriving at an airport, seaport or land border. Providing accurate information while travellers are planning and booking their journeys helps them prepare properly and contributes to a smoother arrival experience.
This is ultimately about the experience we collectively give someone who has chosen Tanzania as their destination.
More than insurance, it is part of the Tanzania experience
Tanzania already has an extraordinary story to tell the world from our wildlife and landscapes to our culture, people and renowned hospitality.
But a memorable destination is not defined only by what visitors see. It is also shaped by how safe, welcomed and supported they feel throughout their journey.
For NIC Insurance, being entrusted to provide Inbound Travel Insurance therefore carries a responsibility that goes beyond business. We are not simply insuring journeys; we are serving people who have chosen Tanzania as their destination.
Behind every passport is a person. Behind every insurance certificate is someone's journey. And behind every genuine claim is usually a moment when that journey has taken an unexpected turn.
That is when our promise must become real.
So, to every visitor preparing to experience Tanzania, our message at NIC Insurance is simple: Come for the adventure. Come for business. Come for our people, culture, wildlife and unforgettable experiences. And wherever your journey takes you, Travel with Peace of Mind. Because good insurance is not simply about carrying a policy. It is about knowing that when the unexpected happens, someone is there to help.