Last Updated: 28/09/2026
To obtain a work permit in Tanzania, one must understand the various steps to be undertaken. Without this knowledge, Tanzania immigration can be daunting and IBN Immigration Solutions is here to give you a basic guide on work permits.
As an employer, whether abroad or in Tanzania, these four simple steps are the lifeline of the immigration process most applicable to your expat.
What changed in 2025
Two changes affect employers and investors planning assignments to Tanzania:
- Earlier renewals. The Labour Laws (Amendments) Act No. 4 of 2025 requires work permit renewal applications to be lodged 60 days before the current permit expires.
- 15 business activities closed to non-citizens. The Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025 (Government Notice No. 487A, published 28 July 2025) bars non-citizens from holding business licences in 15 activities. See the section on reserved business activities below.
Step 1: Foreign Awards Assessment System (FAAS) process
The FAAS process is like that of the SAQA process in South Africa. Under this process, the foreign assignee’s university qualifications are evaluated by Tanzania Commission for Universities to examine and determine the equivalence to that of Tanzanian Universities.
This process does not typically influence the granting of the work permit; however it is a mandatory step in order to obtain the work permit.
Step 2: Work permit
Permits in Tanzania are determined by class and each class has specific requirements allowing the applicant to qualify to obtain such permit.
The Non-Citizens (Employment Regulation) Act, 2015 sets out five work permit classes, A to E. Class A covers investors and self-employed non-citizens, Class D covers roles such as religious and charitable work and volunteering, and Class E covers refugees. For employees on assignment, the relevant options are Class B and Class C.
Class B Is issued to non-citizen employees who are prescribed professionals including medical and health professionals, experts in oil and gas and certain professionals in the finance sector, i.e. Chartered Accountants.
Most commonly, a Class C work permit is obtained as it is issued to expat employees who are professionals apart from those in Class B. Employers need to be mindful when assigning a designation under this category as there may already be sufficient locals who are able to fulfill the role in Tanzania.
Since the 2025 amendments, a Class A permit holder who takes up a role in an additional company in which they hold shares no longer needs a separate permit for each company. Instead, they must present a tax clearance certificate from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to obtain written authorisation from the Labour Commissioner.
A local employment contract or assignment contract is often a requirement, however, this depends on the nature of work being conducted in Tanzania and if there are any special agreements with government.
In some cases, companies with large projects or those who are assigned to conduct work gainful to the Tanzania government, may find that there is an alternative to the above permits. This alternative is known as an Exemption Certificate.
The Exemption certificate is a form of work permit which has waived requirements dependent on the agreement between an entity in Tanzania and the government.
Qualifying criteria and requirements, again, is often agreement specific, however there are typical factors which remain the same, i.e. quicker processing times, no payment of government fees etc.
Work permits are issued for up to 24 months at a time and may be renewed, provided the total period of the first grant and all renewals does not exceed eight years (the cap was raised from five years in 2021). Applications and renewals are made online through the Labour Commissioner’s work permit system. Exemption certificates are, in practice, also issued for two years, subject to the terms of the underlying agreement.
Renewals must now be lodged 60 days before expiry. The Labour Laws (Amendments) Act No. 4 of 2025 introduced this requirement to give the authorities time to process renewals. Employers should diarise renewal dates well in advance, as a late application risks a gap in the employee’s authorisation to work.
Once your work permit has been issued, a residence must be obtained as Tanzania differentiates between an activity being carried out in the country and the right to reside or travel.
Step 3: Residence Permit
As with work permits, the residence permits are also categorised by class. The most common are again the Class B and C.
The Residence Permit allows the expat to enter Tanzania and legally reside in country whilst commencing work activity on their respective work permit.
The Residence Permit clearly stipulates place of residence and place of work and therefore, should either of the above change, an application for variation of status must be applied for.
It must also be noted that the permit is issued to a specific employer, therefore the expat may only conduct work for said employer.
Residence Permits are issued for a period of two years and are renewable for like period provided that the work permit is valid.
Step 4: Non-citizen I.D.
Finally, obtaining a Non-Citizen I.D. is the final step to legal immigration status for the purpose of work in Tanzania. Much like its neighbouring country, Kenya, Tanzania also makes use of an I.D. card which is used to identify foreigners.
The National Identification Authority (NIDA) is responsible for the registration and issuance of Non-Citizen I.D. cards. Legal residents are eligible for a NIDA card if they are in possession of valid resident permit and valid passport that are not less than six months.
Business activities reserved for Tanzanian citizens
The Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025 (Government Notice No. 487A, published 28 July 2025) prohibits non-citizens from obtaining business licences for the following 15 activities:
- Wholesale and retail trade, excluding supermarkets and specialised outlets
- Mobile money transfer services
- Repair of mobile phones and electronic devices
- Salon services, unless hotel or tourism based
- Cleaning services for homes, offices and the environment
- Small-scale mining
- Postal and parcel delivery within Tanzania
- Tour guiding within the country
- Establishing or operating radio and television stations
- Operating museums or curio shops
- Business and real estate brokerage or agency
- Clearing and forwarding services
- Purchasing crops at farm level
- Owning or operating gambling machines, except in casinos
- Owning or operating micro and small industries
Non-citizens found in breach face a fine of at least TZS 10 million, imprisonment of up to six months, and revocation of their visa or residence permit. Tanzanian citizens who help a non-citizen operate in a reserved activity face a fine of up to TZS 5 million or up to three months’ imprisonment. Non-citizens already holding valid licences in these sectors may operate until those licences expire, but may not renew them.
The Order governs business licensing rather than employment, so it does not change the work permit process for employees. However, investors applying for a Class A permit, and assignees planning to run a business alongside their employment, should confirm that the intended activity is not on this list before applying.
Of course, if you require a more in depth consultation, have a few questions or simply want to enquire about beginning your work permit process for Tanzania, do not hesitate to contact us.
Written by Andreas Krensel, Senior Director, Africa and Europe
