Tanzania will stop the sale and use of physical airtime scratch card vouchers from December 31, 2026, according to The Tanzania Times. The change means phone users across the country will need to recharge their balances through digital channels rather than buying cards from shops.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) issued an official statement confirming the move. The regulator said the decision is part of broader efforts to reduce cash transactions and push the country toward a cashless payment system.
The shift will begin in major cities including Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mbeya, and Mwanza, along with their surrounding suburbs. Other areas of the country are expected to follow gradually after the initial phase.
Why it matters
The removal of scratch cards changes how millions of Tanzanians top up their phones. For years, the cards have been a familiar way to add airtime and data bundles, sold in shops, pharmacies, and by bank agents. Once they disappear, users will depend on USSD quick codes, mobile wallets, or bank agents to complete the same transactions.
The TCRA says the move supports several goals at once. Beyond building a cashless society, the regulator says it will help lower the country's carbon footprint and cut the costs tied to importing, printing, and distributing the cards.
For local users, the transition may be less disruptive than it first appears. Most mobile network operators and internet providers in Tanzania have offered digital top-up services for years, so many customers are already familiar with the process.
How users will recharge instead
Under the new system, phone owners will use Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes — often called feature codes — supplied by their mobile network operators. These codes let users buy airtime or data bundles directly from their handsets without needing a physical card.
Users can also visit a shop, drug store, or bank agent and ask them to add airtime or internet data to their phone or tablet. The TCRA additionally points to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) on bank walls as another option for buying airtime and bundles, though The Tanzania Times notes that this route has so far produced mixed results in practice.
Mobile telecom services in Tanzania are provided by Bharti Airtel, Halotel, Vodacom (Vodafone), and Yas, as well as the state-owned TTCL. Each operator will need to ensure its digital top-up systems can handle the full volume of recharges once cards are gone.
A harder adjustment for visitors
The change is expected to pose fewer problems for Tanzanians than for foreigners. The Tanzania Times reports that visitors, including tourists and other foreigners, will find the shift highly inconvenient. The outlet points to the country's long-standing difficulty with foreign language support in public service centers, which could make it harder for non-local speakers to navigate digital top-up options or get help from agents.
Travelers arriving from January 2027 who expect to buy a scratch card at an airport or border entry will find none available. They will need to rely on mobile wallets, bank agents, or USSD codes instead — methods that may require a local mobile money account or assistance from someone who speaks the language.
What to watch
The phase-out is set to take effect on December 31, 2026, with major cities leading the way and the rest of the country following gradually. The key question in the months ahead is whether digital top-up infrastructure — including agent networks and ATM services — can absorb the demand once physical cards are no longer an option.
