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Services for Foreigners

Services for Foreign Nationals

Foreigners seeking to enter the United Republic of Tanzania should be in the possession of valid passports or any other travel document. The passport or any other travel document is to be presented to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point, such as Border station, Airport or Harbour. The travel document must be presented along with one of the following: 

1. Entry Requirements
Foreigners seeking to enter the United Republic of Tanzania should be in the possession of valid passports or any other travel document. The passport or any other travel document is to be presented to the Immigration Control Officer at any entry point, such as Border station, Airport or Harbour. The travel document must be presented along with one of the following: 

  • A valid visa or 
  • A residence permit or 
  • A pass

N.B: A visitor must also present an onward or return ticket together with proof that he/she has sufficient funds to support himself or her self while in Tanzania. 

2. Visas 
A visa is a permission granted to a foreigner who intends to enter into Tanzania for business, holiday, studies or conduct research or any other approved activities. Visas should be obtained at Tanzania Embassies/High Commissions abroad or at the entry point. 
After entering the country, a visitor with a visa may then obtain from the Immigration Control Officer, a pass or any other authority to stay in the country. 

3. Who Requires a Visa?

  • All foreigners from Non-Commonwealth Countries are required to have a valid visa unless their countries have a visa abolition agreement with Tanzania. 
  • Citizens of Commonwealth countries are not required to obtain visa, unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, India, Pakistan or The Republic of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. However, the list may change from time to time.

4. Types of Visas 

There are five types of visas valid for entry into Tanzania: 

i. Ordinary Visa
An Ordinary Visa is issued at any Tanzania Mission abroad or at any official entry point into Tanzania boarder.

ii. Carrying on Temporary Assignment (CTA) 
CTA is issued to prospective visitors who intend to visit Tanzania for purposes of making feasibility studies, establishing professional and business contacts, and making arrangements for investments during the start-up period. The validity of this visa is two months. This type of visa is issued at the entry point.

iii. Multiple entry Visa 
Foreigners who, because of the nature of their business or investments, need to make frequent visits to the United Republic of Tanzania may be issued with Multiple- entry visa. The validity ranges from 

(3) months to one year. Applications for multiple-entry visa are usually submitted to the Director of Immigration services by local contacts on behalf of the applicant 

iv. Referred Visa

There are some countries which their nationals require special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration or the Commissioner of Immigration (Zanzibar) prior to issuance of the Visa. These countries fall under the Referral Visa Category. Applicants whose nationals fall under this category are not advised to book flight tickets or make payments for any reservations in Tanzania before they get approval for their Visa. Applicants of Referral Visa are advised to apply at least two months before their date of travel.

Note: Refugees who hold Vienna Convention documents are also required to obtain referral visa prior to coming to Tanzania.

List of Countries which their Nationals require Referral Visa.

  • Afghanistan
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bangladesh
  • Chad
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Eritrea
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Iran
  • Kazakhstan Republic
  • Kyigten Republic
  • Lebanon
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Palestine
  • Senegal
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Somali land
  • Sierra Leone
  • Syria
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Yemen and
  • Stateless persons or persons with refugee status.

COUNTRIES WHICH THEIR NATIONALS DO NOT REQUIRE VISA

  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Anguilla
  • Ashmore & Certie Island
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Belize
  • Brunei
  • British Virgin Island
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • Botswana
  • Cyprus
  • Cayman Island
  • Channel Island
  • Cocoas Island
  • Cook Island
  • Christmas Island
  • Dominica
  • Falkland Island
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guernsey
  • Guyana
  • Heard Island
  • Hong Kong
  • Isle of man
  • Jamaica
  • Jersey
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Montserrat
  • Malaysia
  • Madagascar
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Macao
  • Mozambique
  • Nauru
  • Naue Island
  • Norfolk Island
  • Namibia
  • Papua new Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Romania
  • Ross Dependency
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Swaziland
  • Solomon Island
  • St. Kitts&Navis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Vicent
  • St. Helana
  • South African Republic
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos
  • Tokelan
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

v. Transit Visa
A Transit Visa is a permission to pass through Tanzania from one entry point to the exit point. It is for the people whose purpose of their entry into Tanzania is simply to pass through to the other destination abroad without visiting. This type of a visa is only issued to persons with onward tickets, sufficient funds for transit, and an entry visa to the country of destination or any proof that prior arrangements have been made that satisfy this requirement. There is no special clearance for transit visa, except for those specified in paragraph 4.4 above.
 
5. Visa Issuing Centres and Authorities
Visas are issued by the following: 

  • The office of the Director of Immigration Services, Dar es Salaam, and the Office of the Assistant Director of Immigration Services Zanzibar. 
  • Tanzania Missions abroad 
  • Entry points to the United Republic of Tanzania, i.e. Namanga, Tunduma, Sirari, Horohoro, Kigoma Port, Julius.K. Nyerere International Airport (JKNIA), Kilimanjaro International Airport, Zanzibar Harbour and Zanzibar International Airport (ZIA) and other gazetted entry points.

6. Visa Fee Rates
Visa fee for Holiday and Ordinary visa is US $. 50. Multiple visa 6 months to 1 year is US $ 100, while 3 months multiple visa fee is US $.50. 
You can download the following forms, fill in then return to our offices by clicking here : www.immigration.go.tz  

Note:
Possession of a Visa for United Republic of Tanzania does not provide automatic right of entry for the holder into the Country. The Immigration Officer at the port of entry may refuse entry to any person, if he is satisfied that such a person is unable to fulfil the immigration requirements or that such person's presence in the United Republic of Tanzania would be contrary to national interests or security.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Residence Permits
Residence permits are not issued by Tanzania Missions but rather the Immigration Department.  Application for residence permits must be done and obtained prior to arriving in Tanzania.  

The requirements are as follows:

Work Permits

Work permits are not issued by Tanzania Missions but rather the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Development.  Application of work permits must be done and obtained prior to arriving in Tanzania.

The requirements are:

  • Znz Min Labour, youth, women and children dev

Filming License
Filming licenses are required must and permits to import filming equipment must be obtained prior arrival in the country.

For more information contact:

The Principal Commissioner of Immigration Services,
P.O. BOX 512, DAR ES SALAAM.
Tel. +255222850576
Fax: +255222850584
Website: https://www.immigration.go.tz / https://www.moha.go.tz
e-mails: admini@immigration.go.tz  and or  consular@immigration.go.tz

Also to:
Commissioner of Immigration Services - Zanzibar
P.O. BOX 1354, ZANZIBAR.
Tel. +255242239148/+255242239149
Fax +2552422239149