Eastern Africa · Immigration

Tanzania

39 immigration routes

Tanzania sits in Eastern Africa. Its immigration system runs 39 distinct routes — led by work, investment and short stay & visit, each set out in official law. All 39 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
39across 15 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
39 of 39cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work5 of the 39 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 39 routes, grouped by purpose — 39 of 39 cite an official government source directly.

Work

5 routes

Investment

5 routes

Business & self-employment

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.

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.

Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Talent & merit

1 route

Study

4 routes

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

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.

Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Family

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

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

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children, parents
Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Independent means

1 route

Free movement

1 route

Cultural, religious & volunteer

2 routes

Short stay & visit

1 of 5 says who you can bring
5 routes

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

Official government source: immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Humanitarian protection

3 routes

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

Official government source: moha.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27 · 2 sources

Ancestry & 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.

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.

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.

Official government source: visa.immigration.go.tz · checked 2026-07-27

Other & special

3 routes

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

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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