Eastern Africa · Immigration

Tanzania

37 immigration routes

Tanzania sits in Eastern Africa. Its immigration system runs 37 distinct routes — led by work, investment and starting a business, each set out in official law. All 37 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

2 further routes are recorded for Tanzania but not shown here — their details are still under review.

Immigration routes
37across 15 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
37 of 37cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work5 of the 37 routes — see them under Work below
Region
Eastern Africa
Capital
Dodoma
Population
70,545,865
Official language
English, Swahili
Currency
TZS
Time zone
UTC+03:00
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 37 routes, grouped by purpose — 37 of 37 cite an official government source directly.

Work

5 routes

Investment

5 routes

Starting a business

4 routes

Short assignment pass for a national of a visa-exempt country conducting auditing, repairs, feasibility work, business contacts or start-up investment arrangements.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 3Report facts: 6
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Single-entry short professional assignment or temporary business activity for no more than three months.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 9
Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Talent and merit

1 route

Study

4 routes

Student entry pass used by visa-exempt nationals for a qualifying academic program.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 5
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Visa for study, research, internship, volunteering, exchange or prospective study at a registered Tanzanian institution.

Eligibility: 2Documents: 2Process & costs: 3Report facts: 8
Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Family

1 route

Dependent residence pass for a dependent wife, child or near relative of a Tanzanian citizen or qualifying resident.

Documents: 2Process & costs: 1Report facts: 9
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Living from your own income

1 route

Free movement

1 route

Culture, faith and volunteering

2 routes

Short stays and visits

4 routes

Single-entry tourism or private/meeting visit for up to 90 days, except where the Multiple Visa rule applies.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 3Report facts: 9
Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Entry pass for a visa-exempt or otherwise pass-eligible visitor coming for holiday, travel, court, medical treatment or another sufficient reason.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 1Report facts: 7
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Humanitarian protection

2 routes

National asylum procedure beginning with reporting to a government office and referral to the Refugee Department or an authorised officer.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 4
Official government source: moha.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Ancestry and return

1 route

Legacy residence pass for a person of African descent from a bordering country, or another prescribed person, who migrated before 1972 and remains without another nationality document.

Eligibility: 1Documents: 2Report facts: 5
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Medical treatment

1 route

Transit

2 routes

Entry pass for a visa-exempt or pass-eligible traveller transiting Tanzania to a destination outside the country.

Documents: 1Report facts: 5
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Visa for direct transit through Tanzania to another country for no more than seven days.

Documents: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 6
Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Special cases

3 routes

Temporary discretionary pass while Immigration determines eligibility to remain or allows a reasonable period to apply for another permit/pass.

Eligibility: 1Process & costs: 2Report facts: 4
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

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