Residence Permit – Tanzania

In Tanzania, a Residence Permit may be provided to any foreigner seeking to remain in the United Republic of Tanzania for the purpose of investment, business, employment, or any other legitimate activity. Residence Permit Class A, B, and C are the three classes of permits available. However, as detailed in the Residence Permit Matrix, this broad type of Residence Permit has several sub-categories.

The Different Types Of Residence Permits

There are three different types of residency permits:-

Class A: For foreigners who are self employed (investors)

Class B: Expatriates working in companies or private organizations

Class C: Other foreigners, such as researchers, retirees, missionaries, and volunteers.

Issuance Statuses for Resident Permits

Issuance statuses are intended to identify and distinguish new applicants from existing residents, as well as to provide consistency in decision-making among Immigration Officers in the Residence Permit Section.

The following is the current status of residence issuance:

For the initial application, a First Grant (FG) is available.

Returnee (RT) – This category is for applicants who are returning to their prior institution/company after a long period of absence.

Second Grant (SG) – For applicants moving from one dwelling category to another, such as from Class B to Class A within the same institution/company.

RPL – For applicants renewing their applications after they have expired.

Re-Grant 1 (RG1) – a candidate who is transferring from one institution to another within the same residential class. From A to A, from A to A, from A to A, from A to A, from

Re-Grant 2(RG2) – candidate shifting residential classes from one institution to another. For example, moving from Class B to Class A.

Class A Resident Permit

May be granted to a person who intends to enter or remain in Tanzania and engage in self-employed investment in the fields of prospecting and mining, agriculture and animal husbandry, profession and consultancy services, professional arts, manufacturing and processing, larger scale investment and trade, hospitality industry and related activities, information technology and IT activities, transportation and linguistics, construction industry, real estate industry, and other Inv. The applicant can submit an electronic application to Immigration, Zanzibar’s headquarters, the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), the Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA), and the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)

General Requirements for a Class ‘A’ Resident Permit

• Completed online application
• Letter of application
• National Passport Copies (With validity of not less than six months)
• Photograph of passport size
• One picture (full size)
• Certificates of Registration from the Appropriate Authorities (in case the Business requires Authorization from specific Regulatory Authority)
• Certificate of Incentive (if the company or project has been registered with the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) or the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA and EPZA))
• Extract of the Board Meeting resolving to appoint the applicant as a Director, i.e. Board Resolution (where the applicant is not among the first Director)
• Company shareholders, share distribution, and nominal capital are shown in the Memorandum and Articles of Association or an extract from the Registrar.
• Business Name, Certificate of Incorporation, or Certificate of Compliance
• Change of name registration or certificate
• A valid business license is required.
• Taxpayers receive a certificate of registration (TIN)
• Certificate of tax clearance in good standing
• Slips for tax payments
• Certificate of Occupancy or Lease Agreement
• a list of the company’s assets
• Where applicable, a Physical Verification Visit Report (PVV) is required.
• If required, provide a current bank statement for the company.

Cost of a Class A Resident Permit

• USD 3050
• USD 1550 For East African citizens
• USD1000 for Diaspora investors.
• USD 50 for each dependent

Class B Resident Permit

A foreigner who has qualifications or abilities, particularly in highly technical jobs, that are not widely accessible in the local labor market is granted a Residence Permit Class “B.”

This includes specialists working on government and private strategic initiatives, as well as immigrants with unusual professions who have specific employment by specialized employers. The application must be submitted before to the potential employee’s admission into Tanzania.

General Requirements For Residence Permit Class “B” (FG, SG, RT, RG1, RG2 & RPL)

• Dully filled online application
• Application Letter
• Work Permit issued by Labor Commissioner (Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar)
• A Copy of National Passport (With validity of not less than six month)
• Covering letter from the employer
• Passport size photograph
• One full size photograph
• Curriculum Vitae of the employee
• Certified copies of the Academic Certificates
• Job description for the expatriate/employee
• Employment Contract
• Previous Original Class B permit (in case of renewal or replacement)
• Organization structure of the company
• Registration of certificates from professional boards where necessary e.g. NBAA, ERB, PSPTB, Nurses and Midwifery council, medical council etc or qualifications that require registration with authorized Institutions and Certificate, Clearance or Licenses be issued. These include: Accountants, engineers, Architects, Surveyors, Doctors, Teachers, Nurses, Pilots, Employees in Security Companies, Executive Personnel in Financial Institutions such Banks, Bureau De Change etc.
• Business License
• Memorandum and Articles of Association or Extract from Registrar showing Company shareholders, share distribution and nominal capital of the company
• Certificate of incorporation or Certificate compliance or Business Name Registration or Certificate of change of name
• Letter of no objection (if the application has shifted from another company)
• Tax Clearance
• Tax Payers’ Identification Number (TIN) Certificate

Cost For Residence Permit Class B

• USD 2050
• USD 500 For East African citizens

Visa for Business in Tanzania

Foreign nationals who intend to enter the United Republic of Tanzania for one of the following purposes may be granted a business visa for a duration of up to 90 days.

• To conduct special assignments such as fixing/repairing machines or to run short term training, etc.
• To conduct short time professional roles such as auditing accounts, making feasibility studies, establishing professionals and business contacts, making arrangements for investments during the startup period etc.
• To conduct any other short term lawful business-related task recognized by the laws of the country and as may be determined by the issuing authority.

Requirements

• Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page)
• Return ticket of the flight
• 250 USD visa fee.
• A work contract or any proof of the work/assignment to be performed within a period not exceeding three months

Multiple Entry Visa

This Visa may be issued to non-resident directors of Tanzanian companies, persons participating in bilateral meetings, spouses of Tanzanians/Residents, government consultants, representatives of international non-governmental organizations, and any other person as determined by the Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar.

Due to bilateral agreements between the two countries, Multiple Visas are also provided to American nationals who intend to visit for vacation or tourism but are not eligible for Ordinary Visa. These may consist of:

This Visa has a maximum validity of 12 months. The bearer of a Multiple Visa, however, cannot stay in the nation for more than twelve (12) months at a time. They are only allowed to stay in the nation for three months at a time.

Requirements

• Copy of the applicant’s valid passport (biographic data page);
• 100 USD Visa fee;
• Valid passport or national ID of the person to be visited in Tanzania (host) OR;
• A covering letter of the host Institution detailing the reasons and frequency of Visits OR;
• Attached Certificate of marriage of a spouse and a passport/national ID, if the applicant comes to visit a spouse OR;
• Return ticket of the flight;

Special Pass

This Pass may be provided to a foreigner residing in or visiting Tanzania in order to allow him to apply for and get a Residence Permit or Pass, as well as to fulfill any immigration formalities.

A Special Pass can also be utilized to give a foreigner the option to change his immigration status after it has expired.