Tanzania introduces new passenger tax for international travellers flying to and from the country
Authorities maintain that the VI Tax will help Tanzania modernise its immigration controls and improve the passenger experience.
Tanzania will introduce a new Passenger Facilitation Fee (VI Tax) for all international air travellers starting November 1, 2025, with fees set at $45 (approximately Sh5,800) for one-way tickets and $90 (approximately Sh11,600) for return journeys.
The tax will appear as a separate line item on airline tickets.
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Certain travellers will be exempt from the VI Tax, including infants under two years old, airline crew on duty, and passengers rerouted due to weather or technical issues.
According to The EastAfrican, citizens of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states will be exempted from paying it.
The new levy is aimed at funding the installation of Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, which are intended to enhance airport security, streamline immigration processes, and improve passenger processing efficiency, according to the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA).
API collects basic passenger information such as name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number, while PNR (Passenger Name Record) keeps a detailed digital record of travellers’ itineraries, ticketing details, and preferences such as meal requests.
These systems are widely used in international aviation to improve passenger processing, tighten security, and streamline border checks.
Authorities maintain that the VI Tax will help Tanzania modernise its immigration controls and improve the passenger experience.
Travellers booking flights to or from Tanzania after November 1, 2025, should confirm whether the fee applies to their tickets, especially if they are non-EAC or non-SADC international visitors.
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