Tanzania (TZ)
East African expat base with Swahili-English daily life, Indian Ocean access, major safari and NGO sectors, growing mining and energy work, and relatively low local costs offset by permit, insurance, school, and hard-currency housing expenses.
Leaving Tanzania
How to properly exit — protecting your finances, rights and records.
📅 General Timeline
3 months before departure: serve written notice to landlord per your contract terms (typically 1–3 months). Notify international school of withdrawal (one full academic term notice). Begin the NSSF departure refund application process — gather your membership card, employer letter, passport, and immigration documents. Begin selling or donating large household items. 2 months before: notify employer formally of your departure date and confirm work permit/residence permit cancellation process with ISD. Contact TRA to confirm no outstanding tax obligations and apply for TCC if needed. Cancel private health insurance with 30-day notice. 1 month before: cancel TANESCO, DAWASCO, and internet/broadband contracts (30 days notice). Notify bank of departure and update mobile number for OTP authentication. Withdraw mobile money balances (M-Pesa/Tigo Pesa/Airtel Money). Arrange international health cover for arrival at destination. Give notice to security guard / domestic staff per their employment arrangement, ensuring all final wages are paid. 2 weeks before: photograph apartment thoroughly with dated video. Settle all outstanding utility and building service charges. Agree deposit and advance rent reconciliation in writing with landlord. Final week: conduct joint move-out inspection with landlord. Return all keys, access cards, and building passes. Get written confirmation of deposit/advance rent return timeline. Transfer remaining TZS balances via bank SWIFT or Wise. After departure: monitor Tanzanian bank account for NSSF refund proceeds (4–8 weeks processing). File final Tanzania income tax return with TRA if required.
Deregistration
Tanzania has no formal mandatory address deregistration system for departing foreign residents. Required and recommended departure steps: (1) Immigration — Tanzania Immigration Services Department (ISD, immigration.go.tz): surrender your residence permit or work permit. Your employer is responsible for notifying ISD of the end of your employment and work permit cancellation. If you hold a private resident permit, notify ISD directly. Failure to cancel your permit can complicate future Tanzanian visa applications. (2) Employer departure documentation: obtain a formal letter of leaving confirming your employment period, your final payslip, and your NSSF membership number and contribution history — all needed for post-departure claims and home-country tax filings. (3) TRA (Tanzania Revenue Authority, tra.go.tz): if you have a TIN (taxpayer identification number) and filed individual income tax returns, notify TRA of your change of status. (4) Business deregistration: if you operated a registered business or sole proprietorship, dissolve it formally with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA, brela.go.tz) before leaving — inactive registrations generate continued compliance obligations. (5) NSSF (National Social Security Fund): contact NSSF before leaving to get your member statement and understand your refund/benefit options. (6) Schools: notify international schools with the required advance notice (typically one full academic term for Dar es Salaam International Academy, International School of Tanganyika, or similar).
Tax clearance
TRA (Tanzania Revenue Authority, tra.go.tz) governs personal income tax in Tanzania: (1) Tax residency: you are a Tanzanian tax resident if you spent 183+ days in Tanzania in a tax year (July 1–June 30). Residents pay tax on worldwide income; non-residents pay tax only on Tanzanian-source income. (2) Final income tax return (individual): file for the tax year of departure. Tanzania's tax year runs from 1 July to 30 June; the filing deadline is the following 30 June. Contact TRA for guidance on filing a partial-year return if you are departing mid-year. (3) Tax clearance certificate: TRA issues a Tax Clearance Certificate confirming no outstanding tax obligations. Required for: company liquidation, significant asset transfers, and some immigration processes. Apply at your nearest TRA regional office or via the TRA taxpayer portal (traportal.tra.go.tz). Processing: 5–15 working days. Settle all outstanding PAYE, SDL (Skills and Development Levy), and withholding taxes before applying. (4) PAYE final certificate: request your final PAYE deduction certificate from your employer covering all income and tax withheld for the departure tax year. (5) Tanzania has double-taxation treaties with a small number of countries including Canada, Denmark, Finland, India, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Zambia — check whether your home country has a DTA with Tanzania.
Pension portability
Tanzania's NSSF (National Social Security Fund, nssf.or.tz) manages mandatory pension contributions for employees: (1) Contribution rate: employer and employee each contribute 10% of gross salary to NSSF (total 20%). (2) Departure benefit for non-citizens: foreign nationals permanently leaving Tanzania may apply for a refund or early access of their NSSF contributions on departure. The rules governing this are set in the NSSF Act — contact your nearest NSSF regional office (major offices in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza) to confirm your specific eligibility and the current application process. You will need your NSSF membership card/number, passport, immigration documents, and a letter from your employer confirming employment end. Allow 4–8 weeks for processing. (3) Vesting for pension: to receive a full NSSF pension at retirement age (60), you generally need 15 years of contributions (180 months). If below this threshold, a proportional or contribution-based benefit may apply. (4) PSSSF (Public Service Social Security Fund): if you worked for the Tanzanian government or public sector, contributions are held with PSSSF — contact PSSSF for portability options. (5) Tanzania has limited bilateral social security agreements. Check with your home country's pension authority whether any agreement exists with Tanzania for combining contribution periods.
Health insurance
Tanzania's NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund, nhif.or.tz) covers civil servants and some private sector employees. Most private sector expats rely on employer-sponsored private health insurance: (1) Employer group health plan: coverage ends on your last working day. Confirm the exact end date with HR. (2) Process all pending insurance claims and referrals before your last working day. (3) International health insurance (Cigna, Allianz Care, AXA): if your policy is international, it may continue in force globally — simply update your country of residence. If it is Tanzania-specific, cancel with the required notice period (typically 30 days). (4) Arrange replacement health insurance from your last day of coverage. Medical facilities in Tanzania charge high rates for uninsured international patients. (5) Medical records: collect all records before departure from Aga Khan Hospital Dar es Salaam, Muhimbili National Hospital, IST Clinic, or your clinic. Request English-language summaries. Allow 5–10 working days. (6) Prescription medications: collect a 90-day supply for essential medications — some medications available in Tanzania require prescriptions elsewhere, and local generic brands may not be available abroad.
Bank account
Tanzanian bank accounts (CRDB Bank, NMB Bank, Stanbic Tanzania, Absa Tanzania, Standard Chartered) can sometimes be maintained after departure, but practical access becomes challenging: (1) OTP and authentication: most Tanzanian banks use SMS OTPs to your registered Tanzanian number — update your registered mobile number to an international number before cancelling your Tanzanian SIM, or arrange an email-based authentication. (2) Keep the account open for 2–4 months after departure to receive: NSSF refund, final salary, rental deposit return, and any remaining employer payments. (3) FX regulations: the Bank of Tanzania has foreign exchange regulations — retain receipts for all FX transactions (cash withdrawals, inward remittances) as these can be needed for documentation purposes. (4) International transfers from Tanzania: SWIFT wire transfers from CRDB, NMB, and Stanbic are available for legitimate transfers. Wise has grown as an option for smaller TZS transfers. For large transfers: work with your bank and present source-of-funds documentation. (5) Mobile money (M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money): withdraw all mobile money balances before SIM cancellation — these wallets are tied to your Tanzanian SIM. (6) Close accounts formally in person with your passport and permit documents before departure if you do not plan to maintain them.
Utilities
Cancel or transfer all utility contracts before your move-out date: (1) Electricity — TANESCO (Tanzania Electric Supply Company, tanesco.co.tz): if you have a metered (LUKU prepaid) account in your name, notify TANESCO to close the account and recover any credit balance. For postpaid accounts, request a final meter reading and settle the balance. Take a photograph of the meter on your last day. (2) Water — DAWASCO (Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation) in Dar es Salaam; regional water authorities in other cities. Notify for final meter reading and account closure. (3) Internet/broadband — TTCL (Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation Ltd), Vodacom/Vodafone, Airtel, Smile: most broadband plans are month-to-month; give 30 days notice. Return any rented routers. Get a cancellation reference number. (4) Mobile phone — Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Halotel: postpaid plans require formal cancellation in store; prepaid can lapse. Retain one SIM for bank OTPs. (5) Security guard / askari: if you employed a private security guard (common in expat housing in Dar es Salaam), give adequate notice per your employment arrangement and ensure all wages and end-of-service entitlements are paid. (6) Building service charges: settle all outstanding management and service charges for your apartment building before handing over keys.
Rental contract
Tanzania's rental market is governed by the Land Act (1999) and contract-specific terms — there is no comprehensive residential tenancy statute with standardised notice periods. Standard practice: (1) Notice period: determined by your lease agreement. Most expat-grade rentals (Oysterbay, Masaki, Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam; Njiro, Sakina in Arusha) require 1–3 months written notice. Confirm your specific contract terms. (2) Advance rent: it is common in Tanzania for expat rentals to be paid 6–12 months in advance. If you are departing before a pre-paid period ends, negotiate a pro-rated refund of the unused advance rent with your landlord — agree this in writing before handing over keys. (3) Written notice: send notice in writing (email with read confirmation; keep records). (4) Move-out inspection: conduct jointly with the landlord or property manager. Photograph and video every room, appliance, fixture, and meter reading on your last day. Compare against your move-in inventory if one was prepared. (5) Deposit return: agree the deposit return date and method in writing before handover. There is no statutory deadline for deposit return in Tanzania — negotiate explicitly. (6) Water, electricity, security, and building charges: settle all outstanding amounts before handover — Tanzanian landlords routinely condition deposit and advance rent reconciliation on confirmed utility clearance.
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