Residence Permits and Permanent Residency in Tanzania

Anyone staying in Tanzania for more than 90 days to do business, work, invest or carry out another lawful activity needs a residence permit from the Immigration Services Department. There are three classes: A (investors and the self-employed), B (employees) and C (retirees, researchers, volunteers and others) [2]. Most applicants must first obtain a work permit from the labour authorities.

Each residence permit runs for up to two years and can be renewed. The immigration guidelines we read contain no permanent residence category; staying long term means renewing again and again, or naturalising once you qualify, which for a Chinese citizen means giving up Chinese nationality.

Issuing authority and how to apply

Residence permits are issued by the Commissioner General of Immigration. Work permits are approved by the Labour Commissioner; both are handled together online through epermit.kazi.go.tz and the immigration e-permit system [1][5]. Companies with a TIC (now TISEZA) certificate of incentive can file Class A and B applications through the TIC window, EPZ companies through EPZA, and Zanzibar companies through ZIPA [2]. Appeals go to the Minister of Home Affairs, lodged from outside the country [2].

Residence permit types at a glance

Fees follow the immigration Residence Permit Guidelines [2]. The MOFCOM guide (2025) and Clyde & Co (2023) give USD 3,050 for Class A and USD 2,050 for Class B [1][3], USD 50 more than the guidelines; pay the amount shown on the control number.

Applications through TIC carry an extra centre fee of USD 305 (Class A) or USD 205 (Class B), according to the MOFCOM guide [1]. The two-year maximum comes from MOFCOM and Clyde & Co [1][3].

Note: since July 2025 non-citizens have been barred from 15 kinds of small business, and violators may lose their visa or residence permit [9]. We found no official word on how this affects Class A-4; if you run a shop or small trade, check with Immigration and a lawyer first. Business rules are on Registering a company in Tanzania.

How work permits and residence permits connect

Except for interns, researchers, people attending court and retirees, every applicant must first hold a work permit from the Labour Commissioner [2]. Work permit classes, documents and the USD 600 Special Pass are covered in Tanzania visas and work permits. What matters for residence:

• Apply from abroad. Class B and C permits should be obtained before entry; Class A can be applied for in the country [2]. Applying for the work permit from inside Tanzania costs an extra USD 600 at the residence permit stage [1].
• The applicant is the company. Except for retirees, medical patients and court parties, applications are made by an institution or employer registered in Tanzania [2].
• Changing company means a new grant. A move counts as a “Re-Grant” and needs a Letter of No Objection from the previous company [2]; MOFCOM says an extra USD 600 is also charged [1].
• There is a total cap. Clyde & Co (2023) says residence permits, including renewals, are capped at eight years in total depending on the work permit [3]; the MOFCOM appendix lists a five-year maximum for Class B and C work permits and more than ten years for Class A investors [1]. The sources differ; the decision rests with the authorities.

Renewals

The guidelines call a renewal after expiry a “Replacement (RPL)” [2]. We found no official guidance on how far ahead to apply; start months before expiry and do not let the permit lapse.

1. Renew the work and residence permits together online, attaching the original previous residence permit [2].
2. Class A renewals need evidence of capital and financial statements, a valid tax clearance, business licence, lease or title; Class B renewals need the employment contract, tax clearance, business licence and so on [2].
3. Pay within 60 days of approval using the control number, or the application is deleted automatically [2].
4. After payment, enrol fingerprints and photo at the nearest immigration office; the permit is issued within about a week and collected at the regional office, headquarters or TIC/EPZA/ZIPA [2].

Missing documents are queried by email through the system [2]. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable; a refused applicant pays again to reapply [1].

Permanent residence and citizenship

The immigration guidelines we read list only Class A, B and C residence permits and no permanent residence category [2]. Chinese who have lived in Tanzania for years usually stay by renewing.

Naturalisation requirements, according to the Tanzanian embassy in Brussels [7]:

• residence in Tanzania throughout the 12 months before applying, and at least seven years in total during the preceding ten;
• adequate Kiswahili or English, good character, a contribution to the economy, science or social welfare, and the intention to live in Tanzania permanently;
• a non-refundable submission fee of USD 1,500;
• filing through the Ward Executive Secretary (Sheha in Zanzibar), a notice in two consecutive issues of daily newspapers, an interview by the District Defence and Security Committee, and a final decision by the Minister.

Tanzania generally does not allow dual citizenship, and applicants must renounce other nationality [8]. China does not recognise dual nationality either: a Chinese citizen settled abroad who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality (Nationality Law, articles 3 and 9) [10].

Spouses and children

The Immigration Act lets the Director endorse the names of the holder’s wife and dependent children on the residence permit; the endorsement generally expires about a month after the holder dies or the family member stops qualifying [6]. In practice a dependant pass is issued: Clyde & Co (2023) lists a USD 550 fee and documents including a security bond form with TZS 500 stamp duty, passports, photos and marriage or birth certificates [3]. Every residence permit application also asks for the dependants’ passports [2]. Chinese marriage and birth certificates usually need notarisation and authentication; see Notarization, Apostille and Consular Legalization.

If a permit lapses, is revoked or the job ends

• Winding up. A Class B employee whose contract ends can apply in the country for a Class C-4 “winding up affairs” permit (USD 200) with the termination letter, previous permit and a letter explaining the reasons [2].
• Revocation. A holder notified of revocation must leave within the time set by the Director; revocation takes effect on the date in the notice, at least three days after it is served [6].
• Unlawful presence. Entering or staying unlawfully is an offence under the Immigration Act, and a convicted non-citizen may be deported by order of the Minister [6]. We cite the 2002 version; fines have since been amended, so check the current law.

For immigration and police checks see Tanzania safety guide; if detained, contact the Chinese embassy, see Consular protection for Chinese citizens.

Huaqiao (overseas Chinese) status

Under the 2009 rules of the State Council Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, a huaqiao is a Chinese citizen settled abroad; “settled” means holding long-term or permanent residence in the host country and having lived there for two continuous years with at least 18 months of actual stay within those two years [11]. A two-year Tanzanian residence permit plus that much actual stay generally meets the test, subject to recognition by the overseas Chinese affairs authorities in China. The status is used for some overseas-Chinese matters in China; ask the office where your hukou is registered. Huaqiao remain Chinese citizens and must keep their passports valid; see Renewing a Chinese passport in Africa.

Common mistakes

• Starting work on a business visa and planning to “sort out the permit later”.
• Filing through unofficial websites or middlemen; applications should go only through epermit.kazi.go.tz or immigration.go.tz [1].
• Changing company without a no-objection letter and new permit.
• Assuming a dependant pass allows work.

Compare the rules next door in Residence Permits and Permanent Residency in Kenya; for chambers of commerce see Chinese community in Tanzania.

References

1. 对外投资合作国别（地区）指南·坦桑尼亚（2025年版） (MOFCOM, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, 2025)
2. Tanzania Residence Permit Guidelines (Tanzania Immigration Services Department; copy hosted by IBN, uploaded Jan 2023)
3. Work and residence permit application process for investors and other foreign nationals in Tanzania (Clyde & Co, 6 Apr 2023)
4. 坦桑尼亚移民局官网 (Tanzania Immigration Services Department, accessed Oct 2026)
5. 工作许可在线申请系统 (Prime Minister’s Office (Labour), accessed Oct 2026)
6. Immigration Act, 1995 (Act No. 7 of 1995) (TanzLII, version of 31 Jul 2002)
7. Citizenship by Naturalization (Embassy of Tanzania in Brussels, accessed Oct 2026)
8. Tanzanian nationality law (Wikipedia, citing Manby 2016 and Nalule & Nambooze 2020, accessed Oct 2026)
9. Tanzania bans foreigners from 15 small businesses (The Star (Kenya), 29 Jul 2025)
10. 中华人民共和国国籍法 (National People’s Congress, adopted 1980; text reposted by 12371.cn)
11. 华侨、归侨身份认定依据（引国务院侨办《关于界定华侨外籍华人归侨侨眷身份的规定》，2009） (Northwest University United Front Dept., reposting Shaanxi provincial guidance, 2019)