SECTION 1: Introduction: Understanding the Basics
Tanzania offers various legal pathways for foreigners to live and work in the country. However, it’s crucial to distinguish between business visas, work permits, and residence permits, as they serve different purposes and come with different legal requirements.
Business Visa: A business visa is typically issued for short-term business activities such asAttending meetings, negotiating contracts, assessing investment opportunities & conductingshort-term technical work (under 90 days). Visa does not allow employment or long-term residence. It’s temporary and non-renewable beyond its limit (30 or 90 days).
Work Permit vs Residence Permit: A work permit gives a foreigner the legal right to work in Tanzania, while a residence permit gives them the legal right to live in Tanzania. In most cases, both are required. The work permit is obtained from the Labor Commissioner, and the residence permit is issued by the Immigration Department. In simple terms: Work permit = authority to work. Residence permit = authority to stay
SECTION 2: Types of Permits and Visas in Tanzania
1. Visa: It should be noted that the possession of Visa is not a final authority to enter the United Republic of Tanzania. The Immigration Officer at the Entry point may refuse a holder of visa to enter, if he is satisfied that the holder is unable to fulfil Immigration entry requirements or if the presence of such person or visitors in the United Republic of Tanzania would be contrary to the National Interests.
Types of visa.
a. Ordinary Visa: issued for a single entry to a visitor for a period not exceeding three months for the purpose of holidays, visiting, leisure, health treatment, studies or any other activity legally recognized by the Law.
b. Multiple Entry Visa: is issued to persons whose nature of their businesses or circumstances require them to make frequent visits to the United Republic of Tanzania for a period not exceeding twelve months. On the other hand, multiple Visa is issued to applicants who are holder of American passports. The Multiple Visa is not intended for those visitors coming on business purposes such as those described under Business Visa category. Multiple Visa may also be issued to Directors of Companies registered in Tanzania who do not reside in the country, Persons engaged in Bilateral Meetings, Spouses married to Tanzanians/Residents, Government Consultants, Representatives of International NGOs and any other person as may be determined by the Commissioner General of Immigration or Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar. However, Non Resident Directors MUST upload proof showing they are Directors of Company registered in Tanzania. The required proof in this regard is a document from BRELA (This is the Competent Authority responsible for registration of companies in Tanzania) and the document name is called BRELA SEARCH. Therefore, the applicant (in this regard Director) should consult his company and obtain this document to be uploaded in his Online Application for multiple Visa.
c. Gratis Visa: may be issued for a single entry or multiple entries to a holder of diplomatic, services or official passport or Travel Document of recognized International Organization who is on official duty and their Dependents. It can be also issued to a holder of ordinary passport or Travel document as it may be directed by the Commissioner General of Immigration and Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar.
d. Transit Visa: This Visa may be issued to a person for the purpose of transiting through Tanzania to another destination outside the United Republic for a period not exceeding seven days.
e. Business Visa: Business visa will be issued once to foreigners so as to allow them to enter in the United Republic of Tanzania for the following purposes.
• To conduct special assignments such as fixing/repairing machines or to run short term training, etc.
• To conduct professional roles such as auditing accounts etc.
• To conduct lawful business according to the laws of the country.
f. Student Visa: is issued to foreigners who wish to come to Tanzania for studying purposes. It is applied Online while a prospective student is still outside Tanzania. Applicant must have an admission from accredited University, college or any approved Institution in Tanzania. The admission and Registration document of such Institution should be joined as a single PDF document and MUST be uploaded online during application. Language teaching institutions are not eligible to provide 2 years visa validity. Applicants who wish to come and learn languages may only apply for 3 months visa. For those who have already entered the country, they are required to apply for Student Pass AND NOT Student Visa.
Upon arrival, the traveller will be responsible for:
• Appearing in person in front of an Immigration Officer with a completed and signed arrival declaration card, and
• Producing their passport or other acceptable document to an Immigration Officer; and
• In the case of foreign nationals, they may be required:
• To show their Visa or apply for Visa on arrival.
• To show Residence Permit/Pass If they are bonafide Residents in Tanzania.
• Return ticket or evidence of onward travel arrangement; and
• Evidence of funds for maintenance (upkeep budget
Note: Apart from the above immigration formalities, a traveller is supposed to observe health guidelines as provided by Ministry of Health in Tanzania from time to time. Currently there are special conditions imposed for yellow fever and Covid-19. Prospective visitors are advised to read respective guidelines from the Ministry of Health.
REFERRAL VISA : There are some countries which their nationals cannot obtain Visa on arrival. These countries fall under the so called Referral Visa Category. The list of these countries is available on our website (in the Visa Information Section), and may be reviewed from time to time
There are some countries whose nationals may not obtain visa on arrival. Applicants from these countries require special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration (Zanzibar) prior to arrive to Tanzania. Countries which fall under this category are referred to as Referral Visa Category.
Applicants whose nationals fall under referral visa category are advised to submit their applications Online at least 2 months before their travel date. Further, they are advised NOT to book flight tickets or make any reservations before they get their visa.
Applicants from this category MUST submit their Visa applications Online, and should wait until their applications are approved before starting their journey. These applicants are further advised to submit their applications at least 1 month before their travel date. Having an invitation letter or a request letter for visa from the Host is an added credibility of their application. This letter, if available MUST be uploaded in the Online Visa Application and NOT to be sent by email as a separate document. The letter may be uploaded separately or merged with the Itinerary of the Trip and uploaded in the Return ticket field. If the Visa is approved, the holder MUST come with the actual return ticket upon arrival. If the Host wishes to write a request letter to support his guest’s application, the letter should be addressed to the Commissioner General of immigration, If the guest will visit mainland Tanzania, or addressed to Commissioner of Immigration, Zanzibar, if the guest will be visiting Zanzibar. If the guest wishes to visit both, then the address of the letter should regard the first destination.
LIST OF COUNTRIES WHOSE NATIONALS REQUIRE REFERRAL VISA.
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Chad
Eritrea
Ginea Conakry
Guinea Bissau
Iran
Iraq
10.Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan)
11.Lebanon
12.Mali
13.Mauritania
14.Niger
15.Nigeria
16.Pakistan
17.Palestine
18.Somalia
19.Sri Lanka
20.Syria
21.Sierra Leone
22.Tajikistan
23.Turkmenistan
24.Uzbekistan and
25.Yemen
NATIONALS AND PASSPORT HOLDERS WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO
APPLY FOR VISA TO ENTER THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA.
Antigua & Barbuda
Anguilla
Ashmore & Cartia Islands
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
Belize
Brunei
British Virgin Islands
10.British Indian Ocean Territory
11.Botswana
12.Burundi
13.Cyprus
Cayman Islands
Channel Islands
Cocos Islands
Cook Islands
18.Christmas Islands
19.Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
20.Dominica (Commonwealth of Dominica)
21.Falkland Islands
22.Gambia
23.Ghana
24.Gibraltar
25.Grenada
26.Guernsey
27.Guyana
Heard Island
Hong Kong, China
Isle of Man
31.Jamaica
32.Jersey
33.Kenya
34.Kiribati
35.Lesotho
36.Malawi
37.Montserrat
38.Malaysia
39.Madagascar
40.Malta
41.Mauritius
42.Macao,China
43.Mozambique
44.Nauru
45.Niue Island
46.Norfolk Island
47.Namibia
48.Papua new Guinea
49.Rwanda
50.Romania
51.Samoa
52.Seychelles
53.Singapore
54.Swaziland
55.Solomon Island
56.St. Kitts & Nevis
57.St. Lucia
58.St. Vicent
59.St. Helena
60.South Africa
61.South Sudan
62.Trinidad & Tobago
63.Turks & Caicos
64.Tokelau
65.Tonga
66.Tuvalu
67.Vanuatu
68.Uganda
69.Zambia
70.Zimbabwe
TYPE OF VISA
VISA FEE
ORDINARY VISA
50 USD
MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA
100 USD
BUSINESS VISA
250 USD
TRANSIT VISA
30 USD
STUDENT VISA
50-550 USD
GRATIS VISA (DIPLOMATIC)
GRANTIS
IIN SUMMAY: All visitors wishing to come for tourist purposes are required to apply for Ordinary Visa EXCEPT American nationals (USA Passport holders) who are required to apply for Multiple Visa
