Immigration, residence permit, permanent residence
Any foreigner who wants to stay in Tanzania for investment, business, employment or other legal activity can apply for a residence permit or receive a passport. Initiation (registration) of the application HERE:
Important information for applicants
With the exception of retirees, applicants must always be an institution, company or employer registered in Tanzania. Applications for residence permits of classes “B” and “C” should be submitted and approved (residence permit) before entering the country. Applicants should receive an appropriate registration certificate or license from the relevant institutions.
According to allcitycodes, all applicants for residence permits should first obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labor in Tanzania, with the exception of those coming for other purposes such as study, research, participation in legal proceedings and for retirees. The following are the types of residence permits:
Residence Permit Class ‘A’
A class A residence permit can be issued to a person who intends to reside in Tanzania and be involved in trade, business, occupation, agriculture, animal husbandry, mineral exploration or industry. Requirements for residence class ‘A’:
- Completed application forms (TIF1)
- valid workpermission
- resume
- Copy of the valid passport (valid for at least six months)
- Write to
- Certified copies of academic certificates (if any)
- Proof of the company’s capital – this includes:
account statement, balance sheet, list of the company’s assets with their value, proof of ownership of assets / real estate (e.g. vehicle registration cards, title deed / certificate of right of use), proof of import of company goods (waybill) - Proof of the company’s premises – this may include:
lease agreement (if it is a rented property) or
deed of title (if it is company property), articles of association (for a public company), deed of incorporation, company compliance or registration / the company - Extract from the register for companies that are not registered as limited liability companies
- Business licenses (these may contain special licenses given to some companies such as industrial license, mining license, casino license, tourist agent license) etc.
- Approval certificates from the relevant supervisory authorities (other companies require the approval of certain supervisory authorities)
- VAT certificate (for companies authorized to pay this type of tax)
- Taxpayer Certificate (TIN)
- Business License Tax Release Certificate
- Incentive certificate (if the company or project is registered with the Tanzania Investment Center – TIC, export license from the Export Processing Zone or the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority – ZIPA for Zanzibar)
- Share certificate (if the applicant is a registered company owner)
- Transfer of shares / share certificate (in case the applicant is a shareholder due to the transfer of some shares to him)
- Decision of the board, i.e. excerpt from the board meeting in which the applicant is appointed director (if the applicant is not one of the first directors)
- Return of share grant (Form No. 55 (a)) of the firm of companies in case the applicant has been granted some shares and it should contain a resolution of the board of directors resolving to increase the capital of the company and give the applicant a number of shares to allot
- Six passport photos
The application for a Class “A” residence permit can be submitted to the Headquarters of the Department of Immigration Services or in the Economic Processing Zone (EPZA), to the Tanzania Investment Center-TIC or to the Headquarters of Zanzibar Immigration or to the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA). The fees are between 1,000 (A4 / 5) and 3,000 (A1-3) US dollars, depending on the subcategory.
Residence Permit Class ‘B’
The residence permit class “B” is issued to a foreigner who has received a specific job in Tanzania and who has been granted a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Requirements for residence class ‘B’:
- Completed application forms (TIF 1)
- Employee’s CV
- Copy of the valid National Passport (at least six months)
- valid workpermission
- Certified copies of academic certificates
- Testimonial from the previous employer or letter without objection (if available)
- Employment contract duly signed by the employer or his representative and the employee
- job description
- Official translation of documents / certificates if they are written in a language other than English or Kiswahili
- Registration certificates, approvals or licenses from the competent authorizing bodies depending on the applicant’s occupation
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- Certificate of establishment or fulfillment (as the case may be)
- Business Licenses (this may include other licenses given to some companies such as industrial license, mining license, casino license, tourist agent license, etc.)
- VAT certificate (for companies that are entitled to pay this type of tax)
- Taxpayer Certificate (TIN)
- Business License Tax Release Certificate
- Cover letter from the employer
- Six passport photos
- Prior residence permit if the residence permit is extended
- Copy of subordinate’s passport (if any)
- Marriage certificate for dependent wife
- Copy of birth certificate for dependent children
The application for a Class “B” residence permit can be submitted to the Headquarters of the Department of Immigration Services or the Department of Economic Processing (EPZA), the Tanzania Investment Center-TIC, the Zanzibar Immigration Center or the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA). The fees range from 0 (B2) to 2,000 (B1) US dollars, depending on the subcategory.
Residence Permit Class ‘C’
The residence permit class “C” can be issued for the following groups of people (the fees are between 200 and 500 US dollars, depending on the subcategory):
- students
- Researcher
- Volunteers
- Individuals who participate in legal proceedings
- Individuals who were previously resident and about to leave the country (i.e., liquidation matters)
- People undergoing medical treatment in hospitals
General requirements
- Duly completed application forms (TIF 1)
- Valid work permit (for those who receive the same)
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Valid copy of National Passport (valid for more than six months)
- Certified copies of academic certificates
- Certificate of employment from a previous employer / institution (if available)
- Six passport photos
Specific requirements
Students:
- School / college registration certificate
- Admission instruction form and letter of admission from the school or college
- A letter from the ministry responsible for education (for students doing an internship or an internship abroad)
- Proof of residence of the host in Tanzania (i.e. residence permit, certificate of exemption for foreigners or a copy of a passport for a Tanzanian citizen)
- Cover letter from college or school
Researcher:
- Research permit
- Cover letter from the Science and Technology Commission (COSTEC)
- Letter from a responsible ministry depending on the proposed research area (for the case of Zanzibar)
Religious Missionaries:
- Ordination certificate for pastors and priests
- Constitution of the religious institution
- Certificate of registration from a religious institution
- Letter of appointment / service contract from the religious institution
- Cover letter from the religious institution
Other people:
- Prior residence permit (if the applicant was resident in Tanzania)
- Letter of limitation from the previous employer
- Proof of income This includes bank statements and pension receipts
- Proof of residence in Tanzania, i.e. title deed, rental agreement, etc.
- letter of application
Medical treatment:
- Admission letter from the hospital
- Doctor’s report
- Applicant / hospital cover letter
Validity of the stays
The validity of the residence permit is between four and twenty-four months, depending on the period.
Submission of the documents
All application documents should be submitted to the following address:
The Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania (Visa Section)
Eschenallee 1
14050 Berlin (Charlottenburg, Westend)
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0) 30-3030 800
Fax: +49 (0) 30-3030 8020
E-Mail: berlin@tzembassy.go.tz
Internet: tzembassy.go.tz
Consultation hours: (Mon – Fri) from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Visa hours: (Mon – Fri) 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
