Tanzania - Business Travel Tanzania - Business Travel
Business Customs
General international business customs apply. Tanzanians strongly value face-to-face meetings with an exchange of business cards. Formal written letters of introduction and requests for meetings are also highly regarded as well as the development of a personal relationship. Patience and flexibility are essential for success in Tanzania. Conferences rarely start on time, especially when being opened by senior GOT officials.
Travel Advisory
Please see the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet for Tanzania.
For current information on travel warnings and advisories, please see the Department of State’s Travel website.
Visa Requirements
Tourist VisasMultiple Entry Business Visa can be granted for up to one year. Businesspeople can apply for a 6-month or 1-year multiple-entry business visa. A letter from an established company in the country of application will be required to introduce the applicant, the nature of the trip and the business contact in Tanzania. For more details contact the visa section at Tanzanian missions abroad.
The current fee for a multiple-entry tourist visa is $100 for 12 months.
Residence / Work Permits
From October 2015, Tanzania introduced a draconian non-citizen employment law, laying down stringent conditions for investors to import skilled labor; the process involves application for work permit from the labor commissioner and thereafter the residence permit from the Immigration department, both of them individually reserve the right to deny permit regardless of approval from other government departments. The new law limit the original duration of the work permit to only two years, this period can be renewed but only to an aggregate limit of five years. While permits for investors are issued for 10 years and may be extended if proved that the investors are contributing to the economy and well beings of Tanzanians.
Updated information can be found at the Directorate of Immigration website: http://immigration.go.tz/ or from the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington DC: https://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/?page_id=76#residencePermits
U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following links:
State Department Visa Website
US Embassy Consular Section
Telecommunications/Electric
The national telephone network and mobile telephone networks reach most parts of the country including all major towns. Most business travelers rent a cell phone or bring their own smartphone and use roaming for e-mails and purchase a pre-paid SIM card for calls. Major hotels have business centers with Internet access, and wireless Internet cafes of varying quality can be found in most cities.
Transportation
The national telephone network and several mobile telephone networks reach most parts of the country including all major towns. Most business travelers rent a cell phone or bring their own smartphone and use roaming for e-mails and purchase a pre-paid SIM card for calls. Major hotels have business centers with Internet access, and wireless Internet cafes of varying quality can be found in most cities.
Language
Swahili and English are official languages in Tanzania. Over 126 indigenous languages are also spoken in various parts of the country. Swahili is the most widely used language, but English is widely used in government administration and business, especially in Dar es Salaam. In general, business can be conducted in English.
Health
Food and waterborne diseases are the number one cause of illness in travelers. Travelers’ diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout the region and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis). Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. (See below.)
Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter the Tanzanian mainland and Zanzibar. Malaria is a serious, but preventable, infection that can be fatal. Your risk of malaria may be high in Tanzania, including in cities. Prevent this deadly disease by seeing your health care provider for a prescription anti-malarial drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites (see guidance). Most travelers to East Africa, including infants, children, and former residents of East Africa, are at risk for malaria and dengue. All travelers at risk for malaria should take one of the following drugs (listed alphabetically): atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, or primaquine (in special circumstances). For detailed information on malaria-risk areas and anti-malarial drugs, see the following links to the Center for Disease Control:
Malaria Information for Travelers to East Africa
Preventing Malaria in the Pregnant Woman (Information for the Public)
Preventing Malaria in Infants and Children (Information for the Public)
Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
Tanzania is on East Africa Time, GMT + 3 hours. Tanzania does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Government offices are generally open 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Businesses often remain open later, up to 5:00 pm. In Zanzibar, business and government are closed Friday afternoons.
The American Embassy is open 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday – Thursday, and 7:30 am to 11:30 am on Fridays.Below is the Holiday schedule for 2019
| Day | Date | Holiday | Country |
| Tuesday | January 1 | New Year’s Day | U.S. |
| Saturday | January 12 | Zanzibar Revolution Day | TZ |
| Monday | January 21 | Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | U.S. |
| Monday | February 18 | Washington’s Birthday | U.S. |
| Sunday | April 7 | Karume Day | TZ |
| Friday | April 19 | Good Friday | TZ |
| Sunday | April 21 | Easter Sunday | TZ |
| Monday | April 22 | Easter Monday | TZ |
| Friday | April 26 | Union Day | TZ |
| Wednesday | May 1 | Worker’s Day | TZ |
| Monday | May 27 | Memorial Day | U.S. |
| Tuesday & Wednesday | June 4 & 5* | Eid-El-Fitr (Two days) | TZ |
| Thursday | July 4 | Independence Day | U.S. |
| Sunday | July 7 | Int’Trade Fair Day(Saba Saba) | TZ |
| Thursday | August 8 | Peasants’ day (Nane Nane) | TZ |
| Sunday | August 11* | Eid- El -Hajj | TZ |
| Monday | September 2 | Labor Day | U.S. |
| Monday | October 14 | Columbus Day | U.S. |
| Monday | October 14 | Nyerere Day | TZ |
| Saturday | November 9* | Maulid Day | TZ |
| Monday | November 11 | Veteran’s Day | U.S. |
| Thursday | November 28 | Thanksgiving Day | U.S. |
| Wednesday | December 25 | Christmas Day | U.S |
| Thursday | December 26 | Boxing Day | TZ |
The holiday(s) marked with an asterisk* are based on the lunar calendar and are estimates only.Holidays falling on Saturday and Sunday will not be officially observed.
Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
Rebate of customs duty may be given to a traveler on certain imports in their baggage. A rebate is given on goods that are not meant for resale under the following conditions:
The value of the goods should not exceed Tanzania shillings equivalent to USD 500 on full declarations of goods.
A full rebate (concession) is allowed on the following:
- Portable spirits one (1) liter.
- Perfumed spirits not exceeding one (1) liter.
- Tobacco not exceeding 250 grams.
- Cigarettes not exceeding 200 sticks.
- Microbuses of seating capacity not exceeding capacity ten (10) passengers.
A resident leaving Tanzania with domestic articles such as cameras, binoculars, music systems, video, TVs, radios, etc. must register them with the customs office at point of exit. The registration is done on the Entry for Exportations of Domestic Goods (Form No.C.31).
Web Resources
State Department Travel SiteState Department Visa Website
Center for Disease Control Travel Site
Tanzanian Revenue Authority (Customs)
Tanzania Embassy in the U.S
Tanzanian Immigration Services
U.S. Embassy in Tanzania
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