Tanzania
Corporate Guide
What are the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Tanzania?
Application process for work permits
- An applicant is required to register on the Online Work / Residence Permit Application System (OWAIS) using their existing email or create a new email.
- The applicant will then be required to create an account on the OWAIS by filling in their names and the details of the company or institution that seeks to employ them.
- In the same window, the applicant is required to create a password which will be used to log into the OWAIS at any time when applying for a new permit and following up on a submitted application.
- The applicant submits their details by clicking the “Submit” button, and the account will be created.
- The applicant will then be able to log in to the OWAIS and continue filling out an Online Work / Residence Permit Application Form.
- After filling out the application form, the applicant will submit the same electronically by clicking the “Submit” button.
Application process for a residence permit
- Visit the direct link or visit the website
- Then go to “e-services” and select “Online Residence Permit Application”.
- The applicant is advised first to read the Residence Permit Guidelines.
- The applicant must create an account by clicking on the "create account" tab.
- Once the account is created, the applicant fills out the form, attaches all the required documents (all documents should be certified) and submits the application.
- Once an application has been approved for payment, the applicant will be notified, and they will be required to pay the prescribed fee within 60 days. If no payment has been made after 60 days, the application will be automatically deleted.
- After payment the applicant will receive a residence permit enrolment notification, which requires the applicant to report to the nearest Immigration Office for fingerprints and photo capturing (enrolment process).
- Once the enrolment process is done the applicant will wait for their residence permit processing and issuance within one week.
- The residence permit may be collected at the Regional Immigration Office where the company is located or at the Immigration Headquarters, Immigration Head Office Zanzibar, TIC or EPZA.
Documents required for obtaining a work permit
Before filling out the work permit / residence permit application form, the applicant is required to scan and pre-pare all certified copies of the documents highlighted below to be attached / uploaded on OWAIS. The required documents for all classes of work permits are as shown in the table below:
| Sn | Description of required documents | Work permit class |
| 1 | Justification letter | All classes |
| 2 | One recent passport-size photograph with a blue back-ground | All classes |
| 3 | Copy of a valid passport (valid for at least six months) | All classes |
| 4 | Scanned copies of original academic / professional certificates. | B, C and E |
| 5 | Translated documents and scanned copies of certificates before translation | B, C, D and E |
| 6 | Detailed curriculum vitae / resumé | B, C, D and E |
| 7 | Current proof of shares from BRELA ORS or extract from Register | Class A |
| 8 | Proof of transfer or sale of shares (where applicable). This includes a tax clearance certificate to that effect | Class A |
| 9 | Employment / engagement contract | B, C, D and E |
| 10 | Detailed job description | B, C, D and E |
| 11 | Sectoral approvals / permits / registrations (where applicable) i.e. TMDA, TBS, ERB, TCAA, CRB, LATRA, TASAC, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mining Commission etc. | All classes |
| 12 | Certificate of charitable organisation or any related document | Class D |
| 13 | Original work permit (for renewals and change of work permit class) | All classes |
| 14 | Industrial / business / operating licence | All classes |
| 15 | TIC/EPZA certificate (where applicable) | A, B and C |
| 16 | Lease agreement / certificate of occupancy / title deed | Class A |
| 17 | Proof of registration with NSSF and WCF | All classes |
| 18 | Certificate of TIN | All classes |
| 19 | Certificate of value-added tax | All classes |
| 20 | Current tax clearance certificate | All classes |
| 21 | Certificate of incorporation / certificate of compliance / registration of companies, NGOS, religious institutions, universities, schools and other institutions | All classes |
| 22 | Memarts or constitution of the employing organisation | All classes |
| 23 | Recommendation letter from relevant government authority for companies, NGOs or institutions executing government projects / programmes | Class B, C and E |
| 24 | Introduction letter authorising the employee of an organisation to apply and follow up on the work permit application and a copy of such employee's work identity card | All classes |
Documents to be attached / uploaded with a work permit / residence permit application form must have the following specifications:
- be in PDF format except for the passport-size photo of the applicant which is required to be uploaded as part of a residence permit application. This should be in jpeg, jpg and png format; and
- should not exceed 500KB in file size.
Payment for work permit and residence permit fees
An applicant is required to submit the application form electronically to receive an online notification and a bill / control number, which is automatically generated by the OWAIS. After receiving the bill / control number, the applicant:
- pay the work permit fee by depositing money directly into the USD bank account of the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability) using the bill / control number generated or online by using VISA/Master Card; and
- attaches the receipt for payment of facilitation fees for applicants who are registered with the TIC or EPZA, etc.
When payment for the work permit is made, the OWAIS automatically forwards the application to the Labour Commissioner, who will review and make an appropriate decision.
The OWAIS forwards the application to the Commissioner General of Immigration for approval.
The Commissioner General of Immigration will process the application for the residence permit based on the documents submitted by the applicant and the decision made by the Labour Commissioner.
The Commissioner General of Immigration will process the application for the residence permit and make an appropriate decision.
If the application is granted, the applicant will receive a notification.
OWAIS will generate a control number for payment of residence permit fee.
The applicant is required to download the payment bill and make payment by using the control number provided as per instructions given in the bill of payment.
Enrolment process and issuance of e-Permit
- After making payment for residence permit fee, the applicant will receive a notification that requires them to report to the nearest Immigration Office for fingerprints and photo capturing (enrolment process).
- An e-Permit Smart Card will be issued to an applicant whose application has been approved. The cards contain details for both work permits, and residence permits. The smart cards are collected at Immigration Offices.
Please take note that:
- Applications are to be submitted through the official website of the Prime Minister's Office – Policy, Parliament, Coordination, Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability or Immigration Department only.
- Applicants should make sure that they choose the right class of work permit and residence permit.
- Applicants for residence permits are advised to read the Residence Permit Guidelines before starting to fill out the work permit / residence permit application form.
- Payments for both work and residence permit applications should be made through the respective bill / control numbers given.
- Payment of the application fee for the work / residence permit is non-refundable and / or non-transferable.
Documents required for obtaining a residence permit
| Class A Residence Permit | Class B Residence Permit | Class C Residence Permit |
| Duly filled online application | Duly filled online application | Duly filled online application |
| Application letter | Application Letter | Covering letter from institution, school or mission |
| Work permit issued by Labour Commissioner (Tanzania) | Work permit issued by Labour Commissioner (Tanzania Mainland) | Work permit issued by Labour Commissioner (Tanzania Mainland) or exemption letter from relevant authority (for missionaries, volunteer and NGO employees) |
| A copy of national passport (valid for at least six months) | A copy of national passport (valid for at least six months) | A copy of national passport (valid for at least six months) |
| Passport-size photograph | Covering letter from the employer | Passport-size photograph |
| One full-size photograph | Passport-size photograph | One full-size photograph |
| Registration certificates from relevant authorities (in case the business requires authorisation from specific regulators) | One full-size photograph | Registration certificates from relevant authorities (in case the activity requires authorisation from specific regulators) |
| Certificate of incentives (in case the business or project has been registered with TIC or EPZA) | Curriculum vitae of the employee | Curriculum vitae of the applicant |
| Board resolution i.e. Extract of the board meeting resolving to appoint the applicant as a director (where the applicant is not among the first director) | Certified copies of academic certificates | Job description |
| Memarts or extract from Registrar showing company shareholders, share distribution and nominal capital of the company | Official translation of documents / certificates in case they are written in languages other than English or Swahili | Certified copies of academic certificates |
| Certificate of incorporation or Certificate compliance or business name registration or certificate of change of name | Job description for the expatriate / employee | Official translation of documents or certificates in case they are written in languages other than English or Swahili |
| Valid business license | Employment contract | Certificate of registration of institution, school or mission |
| Certificate of registration for TIN | Previous original Class B permit (in case of renewal or replacement) | Pages of constitution of an organisation showing signatories, objective and members of organisation |
| Valid tax clearance certificate | Organisation structure of the company | Previous original Class C permit (in case of renewal or replacement) |
| Tax payment slips | Registration of certificates from professional boards where necessary e.g. NBAA, ERB, PSPTB, Nurses and Midwifery Council, Medical Council etc. or qualifications that require registration with authorised institutions and certificates, clearance or licences be issued. These include accountants, engineers, architects, surveyors, doctors, teachers, nurses, pilots, employees in security companies, executive personnel in financial institutions such banks, bureaus de change etc. | Letter of no objection for holders of resident permits shifting to new institution |
| Lease agreement or certificate of occupancy | Business license |
Special requirements: Specific documents for intern students:
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| List of company assets | Memorandum and articles of association or extract from Registrar showing company shareholders, share distribution and nominal capital of the company |
Specific documents for volunteers:
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| PVV where necessary | Certificate of incorporation or certificate compliance or business name registration or certificate of change of name |
Specific documents for missionaries:
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| Company current bank statement where necessary | Letter of no objection (if the application has moved from another company) |
Specific documents for retired persons:
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| Tax clearance certificate |
Specific documents for sick persons:
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| TIN certificate |
Specific documents for those attending cases before the court:
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Specific documents for researchers:
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