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Visa Entry Requirements

Tanzania Visa

In Tanzania, visas are required by most foreign nationals whether visiting for a holiday or to conduct business.

Tanzania does permit visa free travel for a period of up to three months to some foreign nationals, mainly those from African and Asian countries however in most cases, with the exceptions of Kenya and Uganda, these visitors will still to obtain entry permit clearance.

Types of Visa for Tanzania

For foreign nationals from countries who do not receive the three-month visa exemption it will be necessary to apply for a Tanzanian visa.

Tanzanian Tourist visa

In Tanzania, tourist visas may be issued as single or multiple entry permits and are valid for a maximum period of three or six months respectively. Three month visas can be obtained upon arrival at the airport. However, the process is time consuming and, if you rush to be first off the plane in order to get your visa processed first, think about the next plane arrival, more passports will be added to the pile, simply ensuring that your passport will be bottom of the list. To ensure that you only have to wait in one queue, organise your visa before entry to Tanzania.

Tanzanian Business visa

Tanzanian business visas are also issued for either a single entry of multiple entries and are granted a maximum duration of three of six months. As with short term business visit visas in most destinations a visa of this kind does not constitute a work permit or employment visa and does not entitle the holder to work in Tanzania whether in paid or unpaid employment. Business visas are a temporary immigration solution designed to allow applicants to engage in a range of business related activities including attending meetings and business conferences and researching potential buyers or suppliers.

Eligibility

All Tanzanian visa applications must be accompanied by a valid passport form the applicant's country of origin. For candidates who are living in a country which is not their country of origin, proof of residence must also be supplied. In all cases, passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the duration of the visa. Where candidates are applying for Tanzanian business visas, a letter from the business contact in Tanzania will be required. The letter must detail the proposed duration and purpose of the trip to Tanzania.

All foreign nationals travelling to Tanzania should be aware that it may be necessary to attend an interview and that supporting documentation may be required.

Spouse Immigration and Dependent Immigration

Short-term visit and business visas for Tanzania do not make specific provisions for family members of the main applicant to travel with them. Short-term visas do not lead to long term or permanent settlement and require their holders to return to their country of residence when their visa expires. If the spouse, common law partner, civil partner, or dependent children wish to travel to Tanzania with the main applicant, they will need to apply for a visa individually.

Processing Times and Fees

Visa fees and processing times are subject to change at short notice and both fees and processing times may vary according to the type of visa you require and your nationality.

Residence Permits

Types of Permit

All people intending to reside in the United Republic of Tanzania for Business or work or for any other acceptable purpose are issued residence permits. There are three types:

• Class A: for self-employed foreigners (investors) • Class B: for foreigners with jobs • Class C: other classes of foreigner such as missionaries, students, volunteers.

The power to issue a residence permit is vested in the Director of Immigration Services. Applicants who are not satisfied by the Director’s decision may appeal to the Minister for Home Affairs while they are outside the country. Applications for Residence Permits should also be submitted while the applicant is outside the country.

Class A Permits

Applicants are required to fill in Tanzania Immigration Form 1, obtainable at any immigration office. The following items must be attached to the application form:

• Certificate of Competence from The Tanzania Investment Centre (T.I.C.) • A covering letter from the applicant • Six photographs • Curriculum vitae • Educational certificates (if appropriate) • Company registration • Memorandum and articles of association • Evidence of business premises • Sectoral approval from any relevant ministry • Share certificate (if needed) • Copy of passport pages authentificating nationality and validity o f passport.

N.B. Those who do not qualify under the T.I.C. should provide a Bank proof of 300,000 USD to be considered for the Class A Permit by the Director of Immigration Services.

Zanzibar Procedures

Specific attachments for the application process in Zanzibar include: • A covering letter from ZIPA, or EPZ • Feasibility study or copy of write up • Interim certificate • Police clearance • Four Photographs

Class B Permits

Applicants for the Class B permit must complete Tanzania Immigration Form I and submit it to the Labour Commissioner for a recommendation. The recommendation will be attached to the form and forwarded to the Director of Immigration Services for further action.

The Class B Permit is intended for applicants who possess rare qualifications or skills, preferably in highly technical occupations, that are not readily available in the local labour market.

The necessary attachments to the application are the following:

• Covering letter or letter of appointment; • Five photographs; • Curriculum vitae; • Academic qualifications (preferably copies of diplomas); • Job description for each individual expatriate; • Organizational structure o f a company showing clearly the number and types of posts filled in or lined up for expatriates; • A letter of clearance from the Government for anyone to be employed in a parastatal organization; • Membership certificates or clearances from local professional bodies for testing and monitoring the professional integrity of expatriates – i.e. doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, pilots, surveyors, accountants and the like; • Employment contract; • Photocopy of passport pages to authentify nationality, validity, and the current immigration status (if the applicant is already in the country); • Evidence to show that the company has tried to fill the position with a Tanzanian by producing copies of advertisements announcing the vacancy as well as the C.V. of a Tanzanian alternative.

Zanzibar Procedures

Applicants in Zanzibar are required to produce some additional attachments as follows:

• A covering letter from ZIPA, OR EPZ • Four Photographs passport size. • Police clearance

Operational Requirements for Class B Permits

Tanzania Immigration Form 20, “Return on employment of Non-citizens” must be submitted annually between January 1 and March 31. There is no processing fee for this form.

Expatriates are advised to remain with one employer during the contract and complete an understudy programme for jobs they occupy in order to allow the position to be taken over by local personnel in compliance with localization policy.

However, if under special circumstances an employee is obliged to terminate the contract prematurely and the expatriate would with to cross to another employer, her or she will be required to leave the country and while outside the country apply by producing the following documents, before a second grant Class B Permit is issued:

• A letter of no objection (clearance) by the previous employer authorizing the expatriate to work in the other organization. • Other documents as enumerated at in the list above • Surrender of the previous permit in respect of the former employer in order that it be cancelled.

Exemptions from Labour Commissioner’s Recommendations

Foreigners intending to perform certain short-term assignments may be exempted from the requirement that they obtain recommendations from the Labour Commissioner. Examples include artists, entertainers, journalists, hunters, etc. The short-term permits are determined by the Director of immigration Services.

The period of validity for short-term permits ranges from one month to a year. Applications must include the following documents:

• Personal curriculum vitae • Availability o f contract, among other basics, conditions governing such invitation or assignment • Covering letter • Clearance letter from the relevant ministry • Copies of passport pages to authentificate the nationality and validity of passport • Six photographs • Professional certificates • Hunting permit (in the case of hunters) from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism

N.B. For non-governmental short-term assignments, clearances from inviting organizations are essential.

Class C Permits

Expatriates who are not eligible for class A or B permits are required to apply for a Class C Permit. The category of people granted such permits and the documentation requirements are as follows:

Students:

Curriculum vitae Copies of passport pages showing nationality, validity, and evidence of present immigrations status Joining instruction/admission letter Covering letter signed by authorities of the admitting institution; Six photographs

Zanzibar Procedures

Some specific attachments for applicants in Zanzibar include:

His/Her personal letter to Principal Immigration Office Zanzibar A letter from the local administrator (Sheha) (in case he/she is staying in particular Sheha not boarding) Four Photographs.

Researchers:

Curriculum Vitae Copies of passport pages showing nationality, validity, and evidence of present immigration status Permit to conduct research activities obtainable from Commission for Science and Technology, in the Kijitonyama area of Dar es Salaam Covering letter

Researchers in Zanzibar

Additional attachments for applicants in Zanzibar include:

Permit to conduct research activities obtained from the Ministry of State (President’s Office) for Regional Administrative and special Departments Zanzibar Research Programme 4 Photographs

Missionaries:

Covering letter signed by authorities from the religious organizations Photocopy of passport pages as above Academic and professional certificates Ordination Certificate (if appropriate) Testimonials Six photographs Curriculum vitae Police clearance (for Zanzibar)

Retired Persons:

Curriculum vitae Previous residence permit Release authority from previous employer (or letter of retirement) Personal covering letter Six photographs Four photographs (for Zanzibar)

Dependant’s Passes

Dependent passes are issued to people who would like to stay in Tanzania while depending on their relatives with residence permits. These include children less than 18 years old, spouses, the aged, and people unable to support themselves.

The required documentation is as follows: - Submission of Tanzania immigration Form 2 A covering letter Five photographs Legal authenticity of relationship to the resident: birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.

Decision-Making

A part from submitting the necessary documents and fulfilling conditions for the issuance of-residence permits and other documentation, the issuing officer shall consider each case on its own merits.

An incomplete application package will not be considered. Applicants are advised to lodge their applications in person, or by mail through their bonafide employers so as to avoid deceit or any other malpractice by staff styled “agents.”

Renew ability of permits

Non-Renewable/Single/Final Issues

If the Director of Immigration Services does not renew a residence permit, the holder shall be required to return to his or her country of origin. The holder may however lodge an appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs, P.O. Box 9223, Dar es Salaam (Telephone 112034-9) in case of discontent section 23 of the Immigration Act, 1995.

Grace Period

Resident permits have a grace period of one month, following their expiry. The holder is therefore obliged to make arrangements for renewal within this period to avoid inconveniences related to staying in the country unlawfully.

Special Pass

A special Pass of two months may be issued to applicants who are inside the country and who have already submitted their applications for permits while they wait for the decision. The Special Pass is issued at the discretion of the Director of Immigration Services.