Tanzania, a country celebrated for its vast wilderness areas, includes the plains of the Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the big five game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. From the bustling markets of Dar es Salaam to the peaceful islands of Zanzibar with their white-sand beaches and historical Stone Town, Tanzania offers an adventure into some of the most iconic African landscapes. Understanding the local cash, use of cash and ATMs in Tanzania, and available payment options is essential. This guide provides the financial knowledge required to navigate Tanzania’s varied terrains with confidence, ensuring a trip filled with natural wonders and cultural insights.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to save money for travelling in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Tanzania?
Common locations for Tanzania’s more than 2,000 ATMs include:
You can find ATMs at:
- Important airports,
- Town plazas and marketplaces,
- Main streets in all big cities,
- Commercial centres,
- Food streets,
- Bank branches,
- Several office complexes.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Regional airports,
- Islands,
- Safari locations,
- Stops for regional buses,
- Rural interiors,
- In small towns, away from the main streets,
- Remote getaways and resorts.
Best ATMs to use in Tanzania for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Tanzania are those owned by popular banks such as:
DTB,
KCB, and
EcoBank.
There are other banks like Stanbic Bank, NBC, NMB Bank, Absa that also accept foreign cards, albeit with a fee.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Tanzania, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in TZS).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in Tanzania, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in TZS’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Tanzania?
Yes, many foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Tanzania. ATMs commonly accept Visa and Mastercards. Some of them also accept Plus and Cirrus cards. Only some accept American Express, Diners, Discover cards. Others like CUP, JCB, Maestro or Rupay cards are usually not accepted.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Tanzania.
What are the ATM opening hours?
ATMs – In most cases, yes, they are open around the clock, every day of the year 24×7. You should have no trouble getting to any of them at any hour of the day or night because many of them are self-contained ATMs. Depending on the location, some bank branches may only be open from 9 am to 3 pm.
What do they call ATMs in Tanzania?
ATMs in Tanzania usually will have the word ‘ATM’ on them or they will be without an ‘ATM’ word with only the bank name.
PIN type
ATM PIN Length: Typically, PINs that are four digits in length are accepted in Tanzania.
Merchant Card Requirements: While chip-and-PIN cards are more commonly accepted, magnetic stripe cards are still the norm.
Languages at ATMs in Tanzania
Money exchanges and ATMs in Tanzania have 2 language options – Swahili and English by default. If you don’t understand any of these languages, take advantage of Google Translate’s built-in camera feature to get real-time translations of the ATM scree. Please take your time and not rush through the transaction because these translations are not always 100% accurate.
If you’re not familiar with these languages, that’s totally fine. Try out Google Translate’s camera feature to instantly translate the text on your phone! Just a heads up – these translations might not always be 100% accurate, so it’s best to take your time and not rush through the transaction.”
Do ATMs in Tanzania work similarly as other countries?
Yes, definitely. ATMs in Tanzania are very much like ATMs everywhere else. Contemporary in design and operation, the ATMs mimic their counterparts in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and India. Make sure to remove your card from the ATM after using it, as some of them may take it entirely during the transaction.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in Africa.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Tanzania?
ATMs in Tanzania dispense only the official currency Tanzanian Shilling (TZS).
ATM withdrawal limits in Tanzania?
ATMs in Tanzania have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of TSH 20,000 to TSH 40,000, with the most common being TSH 40,000 (Tanzanian Shilling). One bank allows to withdraw up to TSH 60,000 in 1 transaction.
ATM Fees in Tanzania?
There are some fee-free ATMs in Tanzania. Majority of the bank ATMs charge between TSH 10,000 to TSH 16,000 (Tanzanian Shilling) per transaction as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders and some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM fees to foreign cards.So, there are some fee-free options in Tanzania for a foreign cardholder.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Tanzania – something every traveller handling cash in Tanzania should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Tanzania?
- Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
- Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Tanzania?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Tanzania. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Tanzania.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Is it safe to use Tanzania ATMs?
Usually, they are safe to use. ATMs have cameras and some ATMs have security guards. However,
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Tanzania takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, it is possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Tanzania. Majority of the bank ATMs charge between TSH 10,000 to TSH 16,000 (Tanzanian Shilling) per transaction as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders and some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM fees to foreign cards.So, there are some fee-free options in Tanzania for a foreign cardholder.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Tanzania?
Yes. The majority of Tanzanian ATMs accept major cards issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Dar es Salaam has a small number of Bitcoin ATMs.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Tanzania
Bank of America: No, Tanzania does not have any Bank of America ATMs.
Citibank: None.
Barclays: In Tanzania, you won’t find any Barclays ATMs.
HSBC: Tanzania does not have any HSBC ATMs.
Standard Chartered: A small number of Standard Chartered ATMs are present in Tanzania.
