Procedures And Requirements 

If you are a non-Tanzanian who has just secured employment or looking to start a business in Tanzania- you need a work permit. The work permit in Tanzania is issued by the government of Tanzania under the ministry of labor and employment.       

QSOFT BUSINESS CONSULTANTS we can easily help with the tedious work involved in attaining a work permit in Tanzania.  We make sure that all the required procedures are followed, preparing documents and submitting them to the relevant authorities.   

Who Qualifies for the Work permit?

If you are a foreign national residing in Tanzania and aiming to initiate a business venture, invest in the country, or have recently obtained employment, you are eligible to acquire a work permit in Tanzania. Possessing a valid work permit grant, you the authorization to engage in employment activities and navigate within Tanzania's borders legally and without restrictions, allowing you to work and move freely within the country.  

Who Can apply for a Work permit?

In Tanzania, individuals who are not citizens are not permitted to directly seek a work permit. Instead, only locally registered companies and foreign companies that possess certificates of compliance and established permanent business premises in Tanzania or Zanzibar have the authority to apply for a work permit on behalf of their employees or directors. Consequently, the responsibility lies with the company to initiate the application process for the work permit, and upon issuance, the work permit remains the property of the company.  

Work permit requirements in Tanzania

One thing to note when applying for a work permit in Tanzania is that each work permit class has its special requirements, which is different from the other. However, there are general requirements that apply to all the work permit classes. Below is a list of documents required to be submitted for work permit application in Tanzania.  

Documents required for the work permit application - class A

• Justification Letter (Application letter)  
• Application Form TFN 901 (2 Forms)   
• Two recent passport size photographs of the applicant with blue background   
• Photocopy of a valid passport   
• Sectoral approval (Where applicable)   
• Previous work permit (for renewal application)   
• Industrial/Business/Operating license   
• Certificate of Value Added Tax (Where applicable)   
• Certificate of Incorporation/Business name   
• Memorandum & Article of Association/Extract from the Registrar of Companies/Constitution/ any legal document   
• Certificate of Incentives (if any)   

NOTE:  

• Work permit application forms TFN 901, TFN 903 are available at : www.kazi.go.tz  
• Work permit application forms TFN 901, TFN 903 are available at : www.kazi.go.tz   
• Work permit application forms TFN 901, TFN 903 are available at : www.kazi.go.tz   
• All documents accompanied by Application forms must be certified as true copy of original.   

Documents required for work permit application for classes B, C, and D

• Justification Letter (Covering Letter)  
• Application Form TFN 901 (2 Forms)   
• Contract of employment or engagement, as the case may be duly signed by relevant parties   
• Job or engagement description   
• Curriculum Vitae   
• Two recent passport size photographs of the application   
• Accreditation certificate, if any, from respective professional entities   
• Academic/professional certificates   
• Certified translation of certificates/documents by competent Authority or Embassy or Consular office (If they are in a language other than English and Swahili)   
• Photocopy of a valid passport)   
• Industrial/Operating /Business license   
• Certificate of Incorporation, Business name and Extraction from the Registrar of Companies   
• Memorandum & Article of Association   
• Succession plan (for renewals) and   
• Letter of no objection (if any) from previous employer   
• Sectoral approval (where applicable)   
• Certificate of Incentives (if any)   

The work permit in Tanzania can be applied for and filed with the commissioner for the labor of Tanzania, through its online permit application system ( e-permit) . The application for a work permit can be made any time when the employment contract is finalized, or it is for self-employed after the business is set up and secure the business license from relevant authorities.  

The work permit in Tanzania is not permanently valid. After being granted, the work permit stays valid for two years only, after which it has to be renewed again to a maximum of 5 years for employed persons and  undefined time for self-employed (Directors and Shareholders of the company) for as long as the business is running in Tanzania.  

At the moment, the person who has been granted a work permit in Tanzania has to also file a separate application for a Residence Permit with the Commissioner General of Immigration.