Tanzania (TZ)

Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond entry date and have at least 2 blank visa pages. Required for the Tanzania eVisa application, Immigration Department registration, bank account opening, SIM card registration, and work permit applications. Keep certified copies for landlords, employers, and government offices.

Most non-exempt nationalities apply for a visa via the official Tanzania eVisa portal (immigration.go.tz). The ordinary single-entry visa costs USD 50 (up to 90 days). US passport holders typically use the USD 100 multiple-entry visa. East African Community citizens may have different arrangements. Print the approval confirmation and carry it at the border.

Required before commencing employment in Tanzania. The OWAIS (Online Work and Immigration System — owais.go.tz) integrates work and residence applications. Permit classes: A (EAC citizens), B (foreign investors/employees), C (NGO/voluntary workers), D (skilled technical workers), E (religious workers). The employer typically initiates the Class B application. Processing time: 4–8 weeks.

Issued by the Immigration Department of Tanzania (Idara ya Uhamiaji) for stays beyond the visitor period. Categories: Class A (EAC nationals), Class B (work/investor), Class C (NGO/religious), Class D (student), Class E (retired/investor visa). Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are captured after approval and payment. Required for banking, tenancy, school enrolment, and multiple re-entries.

Required for dependent family residence permits, school enrolment, inheritance planning, and consular/embassy services. Tanzania is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — foreign-issued civil certificates require full consular/embassy legalisation (apostille is not accepted): documents must be legalised by the Tanzanian High Commission or Embassy in the issuing country. If not in English or Swahili, certified English translation is required.

Required for Class B work permits, long-stay residence applications, regulated profession registrations, and some NGO/school positions. Tanzania is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — consular/embassy legalisation required (apostille not accepted). Must be obtained from your home country and each country where you have lived for more than 1 year. Certified English translation required if not in English.

Required for Class B/D work permits and regulated-profession registration. Higher education recognition is handled by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). Professional bodies include the Engineers Registration Board (ERB), Medical Council of Tanganyika (MCT), and Law Society of Tanzania. Tanzania is NOT a Hague Apostille Convention member — full consular/embassy legalisation required for foreign documents. Certified English translation required if not in English.

Required for Class B residence/work permit applications, NSSF (National Social Security Fund) registration, and bank account KYC. Must specify employer name, job title, salary (in TZS or agreed currency), start date, and work location. Ensure details match the OWAIS permit filing precisely. Employer must be registered with TRA and NSSF.

Issued by the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA — tra.go.tz). Required for employment income tax, business registration, TRA filings, banking, and property transactions. Apply in person at a TRA office with your passport and residence permit. TIN certificates and registration screenshots should be kept for employer payroll and banking compliance.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) covers salaried workers in Tanzania's formal sector. Employers must register employees with NSSF and make monthly contributions. Resident employed expats are typically enrolled by their employer. Your NSSF membership number is needed for social security benefit access.

Required if arriving from or transiting through a yellow-fever-risk country (most of Sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Americas). Carry the original ICVP/WHO international vaccination card (the yellow card). Airline check-in staff and border immigration officers enforce this requirement inconsistently — always have the original on hand.

A valid home-country licence alongside an International Driving Permit (IDP) is accepted for short-term driving. For residents, the TRA (Tanzania Revenue Authority) handles vehicle registration; the LATRA (Land Transport Regulatory Authority) oversees transport operators. Long-term residents should obtain a Tanzanian driving licence from the Traffic Police. Drive on the left.

Written tenancy agreement required for bank KYC, utility setup, employer HR records, school admissions, and proof of address for residence permit applications. Ensure the landlord's identity is documented and obtain payment receipts. Note: Zanzibar has its own separate land tenure and tenancy rules from mainland Tanzania.

Private international health insurance is strongly recommended — Tanzania's public health system has limited capacity for expats. Keep policy details, direct-billing numbers, and insurer's emergency line accessible for hospital admissions. Childhood immunisation records are required for school enrolment. Malaria prophylaxis documentation is useful for healthcare providers.