Residence Permit to Tanzania

RESIDENCE PERMIT TO TANZANIA

Any foreigner wishing to reside in Tanzania for a period longer than 90 days will need to apply for a residence permit. In most cases, these residence permits are tied to the type of work permit a foreigner has obtained.

Class A residence permits are granted to those who are self-employed, and Class B is reserved for expats who are employed by a company in Tanzania. Class C covers a broad range of categories including students who may be permitted to take up part-time employment, researchers, retired people, missionaries and volunteers.

The required documents and processing times vary according to the type of residence permit a foreigner is applying for.

Types Of Residence Permits in Tanzania

There are three types of residence permits, namely :

Resident Permit Issuance Statuses

Issuance statuses are designed to recognized and differentiate new applicants versus existing holders of residence; and to create uniformity in decision making among Immigration Officers in Residence Permit Section.

Residence Issuance Status Is As Follows

First Grant (FG) – For first application.
Returnee (RT) – For applicant who is re-joining his previous institution/ company after long time absence.
Second Grant (SG) – For applicant changing from one category of residence to another e.g. from Class B to Class A in same institution/company.
Replacement (RPL) – For applicant renewing his application after expiration.
Re-Grant 1(RG1) – applicant changing from one institution to another in the same residence class. From Class A to Class A.
Re-Grant 2(RG2) – applicant changing from one institution to another into different residence class. e.g. from Class B to Class A.

Residence Permit Class A

May be granted to a person who intends to enter or remain in Tanzania and engage on self-employed investment in the field 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, Transport and Linguistics, Construction Industry, Real Estate Industry and other Investments. The applicant can apply electronically to the Immigration headquarters, Zanzibar head office, Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) and Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)

General Requirements For Residence Permit Class ‘A’

Dully filled online application
Application letter
A Copy of National Passport (With validity of not less than six months)
Passport size photograph
One full size photograph
Registration Certificates from Relevant Authorities (in case the Business requires Authorization from specific Regulatory Authority)
Certificate of Incentive (in case the business or project has been registered with Tanzania Investment Centre – TIC or Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority – ZIPA and EPZA)
Board Resolution i.e. Extract of the Board Meeting resolving to appoint the applicant as a Director (where the applicant is not among the first Director)
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
Valid Business license
Tax payment slips
Valid tax clearance certificate
Lease agreement or Certificate of Occupancy
List which shows company assets
Physical Verification Visit Report (PVV) where necessary
Company Current Bank Statement where necessary

Cost For Residence Permit Class A

Residence Permit Class B

Residence Permit Class “B” is issued to a foreigner who possesses qualification or skills, preferably in highly technical occupations, that are not readily available in the local labor market. This covers foreigners with rare professions having specific employment by specific employer and professionals working in Government and Private strategic projects. Application must be made prior to the entry of the prospective employee 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

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Tanzania Immigration Office Location

WORK PERMIT TO TANZANIA

To take up employment in Tanzania, expats will need to obtain a work permit either online or through the Tanzanian embassy or consulate in their home country prior to relocation.

There are three main types of work permit for Tanzania, namely Class A, B and C. The Class A work permit is for entrepreneurs, investors and the self-employed. Class C is reserved for missionaries and students who may be entitled to take up part-time work.

Most expats will need to apply for a Class B work permit. This visa entitles the holder to be employed by a company in Tanzania.

Once a foreigner has received their work permit, they will need to apply for a residence permit through the Department of Immigration. The process can be quite complex and time-consuming, so it is best to start as soon as possible and enlist the services of an immigration consultant where possible.

Types of Work Visas in Tanzania

Like any other country, Tanzania has specific guidelines in place for foreign nationals who plan to travel within its borders. A variety of visas are available to foreigners, and the most common types follow:

Tourist/ordinary visa: This visa allows tourists and other visitors to travel to Tanzania through designated entry points along the border
Business visa: This visa applies to foreigners who intend to invest in Tanzania and need to visit for related purposes, such as establishing professional contacts and conducting feasibility studies.
Multiple-entry visa: Tanzanian officials issue this visa to foreigners who need to travel to the country frequently, typically for business and investment purposes. The validity of this visa ranges from a month to a year.
Transit visa: This visa allows foreigners to travel through Tanzania without visiting on their way to another destination.
Diplomatic visa: The diplomatic visa applies to diplomats and other representatives who plan to travel to Tanzania on official business.

In addition to these visas, Tanzania offers three different categories of work and residence permits:

Class A permits for foreign investors
Class B permits for foreign employees with specialized skills who are filling a position for which there are no eligible workers in Tanzania
Class C permits for missionaries, volunteers, students, researchers, and more

Most employees will need to get a Class B work permit in Tanzania.

Requirements to Obtain Tanzania Work Visas

Visa requirements for foreigners who plan to travel to Tanzania include:

A completed visa application form
A passport that is valid for at least six months after the applicant’s intended date of entry
Five passport photos
Proof of vaccination against yellow fever
Evidence of sufficient financial means

To get a Class B work and residence permit, applicants will need to provide the following:

A signed employment contract
A valid passport
Passport photographs
A copy of the applicant’s CV
Copies of academic records and other qualifications for the job, including referrals from previous employers

Tanzania VISA Application Process

Foreign nationals who need a visa should begin the application process by finding the Tanzanian embassy or consulate in their country of residence. The embassy will be able to provide an accurate, updated list of the visa requirements. After confirming the list of documents needed to support the application, the employee should gather all required items and submit them to the embassy.

If the employee needs a Class B permit, it’s up to the employer to apply for it on their behalf before they can travel to Tanzania. The employee will need to send the necessary documents to the employer in support of the application. The employer will also have to prove the need for a foreign hire to the Ministry of Labor.

In October 2022, Tanzania introduced a shorter, simpler process for work permit applications, and employers can now apply for a worker’s residence and work permits online.

Once the relevant officials issue the work and residence permit, the employee can travel to Tanzania to start working.

Other Important Considerations

Foreign employees can bring spouses and dependents to Tanzania with them on the basis of their residence permit. However, they’ll need to provide marriage and birth certificates along with the other supporting documents.