Tanzania starts Ebola health screening at all entry points on May 19

Ebola screening at every Tanzanian entry point

Tanzania activated Ebola health screening for all arrivals from or transiting through the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda on May 19, under Travel Advisory No. 17 issued by the Ministry of Health on May 18. The measure follows declared Ebola Virus Disease outbreaks in both neighboring countries and runs until further notice.

Screening covers every airport, land border and seaport. Affected travelers must complete a Traveller's Surveillance Form online before arrival or on the spot, then submit to a temperature check and a brief symptom review. Travelers flagged with fever or compatible symptoms can be pulled into secondary assessment or temporary isolation.

The advisory adds no visa changes, no quarantine for asymptomatic arrivals and no government fee for the screening itself, the ministry said.

Who gets flagged at the border

The rule keys on travel history, not nationality or passport. Anyone whose recent routing touches the DRC or Uganda, including transit-only passengers, falls under the surveillance form requirement.

That sweeps in safari clients combining gorilla trekking in Uganda with Serengeti itineraries, regional nomads running Kenya,Uganda,DRC,Tanzania loops, expats doing visa runs through Kampala and NGO, mining and logistics staff crossing in from eastern DRC. Business travelers connecting through Entebbe or Kinshasa are equally covered.

Tourists flying direct to Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro or Zanzibar without any DRC or Uganda leg aren't affected and face no extra paperwork.

What arrivals need to do

Travelers with DRC or Uganda in their recent itinerary should:

• Fill the Traveller's Surveillance Form in advance through the Ministry of Health's Afyamsafiri portal, with accurate contact details, travel history and symptom information.
• Build in extra time at arrival for thermal screening queues, particularly at DAR, JRO and ZNZ.
• Carry documentation of recent movements in case of secondary questioning.
• Expect possible isolation and medical evaluation if symptoms appear on arrival.

Standard Tanzanian visa fees and entry rules apply on top of the health checks. Tour operators handling combined Uganda-Tanzania itineraries are briefing clients to complete the form online before the onward flight or border crossing to limit delays.

Read our full Tanzania guide for the complete picture and check ongoing visa updates for any changes to the advisory.