The paperwork looks complicated before your first trip, but in reality it is simple. Here is what you need for Nepal and Tanzania, from my own experience. Rules can change, so check them before you go on your foreign ministry’s website and on the official immigration websites.
Your passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date, and for Tanzania it also needs at least one blank page. You do not need passport photos or copies of your documents.
Visas
- Nepal: the tourist visa is issued on arrival at Kathmandu airport and costs USD 50 for 30 days. Take the dollars in cash, so you do not depend on cash machines.
- Tanzania: Romanian citizens need no visa for stays of up to 90 days. Instead, since 1 October 2026 an entry medical insurance from the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) is compulsory. It costs USD 44, you buy it online on the NIC portal, and you show the QR code you receive when you enter the country. The current rules are on the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs page on Tanzania.
Yellow fever
I was never asked for a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Tanzania does, however, ask for one from travellers coming from a country with a risk of yellow fever, or who have been in transit in such a country, usually for more than 12 hours. Two common stopovers on the way to Tanzania that are on this list are Kenya and Ethiopia. If your flight has a long stopover there, talk to your doctor about the vaccine in good time.
The list of countries at risk is published by the World Health Organization, and you will find the current rules on the CDC’s health page for Tanzania.
Vaccines
Decide on your vaccines with a travel medicine doctor, 6-8 weeks before you leave. As an example, I had the vaccines for yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A and B and the Adacel booster (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough). It is not a list to follow, just what was right for me.
Malaria
For malaria prevention in Tanzania, always see a doctor. That is where the decision is made, not on the internet and not from other travellers’ advice.
Insurance
For the high-altitude tours, medical insurance covering trekking at the altitude you are going to and helicopter evacuation is compulsory. I took mine through the Austrian Alpine Club (Österreichischer Alpenverein). For Island Peak, which is 6,189 m high, you need a separate mountaineering policy covering at least 6,200 m, because most trekking insurance stops at 6,000 m. For the safari, insurance is strongly recommended. The NIC entry insurance, compulsory in Tanzania, has basic cover and does not replace your travel policy. Insurance is not included in the tour prices, but I help you choose the right cover and buy it.
Trekking permits
Everything to do with the arrangements at the destination, including the trekking permits in Nepal and the park fees in Tanzania, is handled by the local partner agency. You do not have to deal with them yourself.
At customs and immigration
Nothing odd has ever happened to me. As long as you follow the rules and your documents are in order, there is nothing to worry about.
