Tanzania Immigration Services Department

Name

Tanzania Immigration Services Department

Legal name

Tanzania Immigration Services Department

Website

https://immigration.go.tz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tanzania Immigration Services Department is a government agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs that issues passports, visas, residence permits, and travel documents, serving citizens, visitors, investors, and workers through 31 regional offices, 50+ embassies, and online e-services portals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Immigration Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928)

akta.pro primary industry

Immigration, Citizenship & Border Administration (Civil) (BPAIAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Immigration Case Management Platforms & Document Workflow (THACAKAD), Customs, Immigration & Border Processing Services (TLAHAEAF), Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL)

Keywords

• Immigration services
• Passport issuance
• Visa processing
• Residence permits
• Border management

Headquarters

HQ city

Dodoma

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passport Issuance Fees: Fees charged for electronic passport issuance: 130,000 TZS (150,000 per fee page) for domestic applications, 90 USD for embassy applications (including 15 USD application fee + 75 USD passport fee). Lost passport replacement costs 265 USD at embassy
2. Visa Fees: Fees for various visa categories: Ordinary Visa 50 USD, Multiple Entry Visa 100 USD, Business Visa 250 USD, Transit Visa 30 USD, Student Visa 50-550 USD depending on duration and type. American citizens required to apply for Multiple Visa at 100 USD for tourism
3. Residence Permit Class A Fees: Fees for investor residence permits ranging from 1,000 USD (Professional Artist/Diaspora) to 3,000 USD (Other sector investors) for non-EAC citizens. EAC citizens pay 500-1,500 USD. Includes 50 USD re-entry pass per applicant
4. Residence Permit Class B Fees: Fees for employment-based residence permits: 2,000 USD for specific employment (non-EAC), 500 USD for EAC citizens and Diaspora. Short-term 6-month permits at 500 USD
5. Residence Permit Class C Fees: Fees for other category permits (researchers, retired, missionaries, volunteers, medical treatment, NGO employees): 200-500 USD for non-EAC, 100-250 USD for EAC citizens, Gratis for refugees. Re-entry pass at 50 USD
6. Pass Fees: Fees for various passes: Dependent Pass 550 USD (300 USD for EAC), Business Pass 200 USD (100 USD EAC), Special Pass 600 USD, Student Pass 1 at 200 USD (Gratis for EAC), Student Pass 2 at 100 USD (Gratis for EAC), Migrant Pass 10,000 TZS
7. Emergency Travel Document Fees: Emergency Travel Document issued at 20,000 TZS domestically or 20 USD for applicants outside the country
8. Certificate of Identity and Convention Travel Document Fees: Certificate of Identity at 10,000 TZS, Geneva Convention Travel Document at 20,000 TZS

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Tanzania Immigration Services Department is the sole government authority that issues electronic passports, visas, residence permits, and passes for the United Republic of Tanzania, and controls entry/exit at 23 designated border points. It also coordinates citizenship applications and provides traveler facilitation services through dedicated online e-service portals (e-Visa, e-Residence Permit, e-Passport, e-Pass) and the KaribuPass mobile application for advance passenger information.

Product overview

Tanzania Immigration Services Department operates a unified e-government immigration platform consisting of four core online service portals: e-Visa Application System for foreign visitors, e-Residence Permit Application for work and investment stays, e-Passport Application System for citizens, and e-Pass Application System for various entry passes. These are supplemented by the KaribuPass mobile application for streamlined border entry, the Emergency Travel Document online portal for citizens abroad, and the internal Government Mailing System. The product portfolio also includes physical travel documents (Ordinary, Service, and Diplomatic passports), visa types (Ordinary, Multiple Entry, Business, Transit, Gratis, Student, Referral), residence permits (Class A for investors, Class B for employees, Class C for other categories), and various entry passes (Business, Dependent, Student, Migrant, Special, Exemption, Interim, Landing, Visitor, Re-Entry, In-Transit). All services are accessible through the immigration.go.tz domain with dedicated portals for each service category.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• e-Visa Application System Online platform for foreign visitors to apply for Ordinary, Multiple Entry, Business, Transit, Gratis, and Student visas for entry into Tanzania, with status tracking and email notifications.
• e-Residence Permit Application Online portal for foreigners to apply for Residence Permits (Class A for investors, Class B for employees, Class C for special categories) to reside legally in Tanzania, with account creation, application management, and payment processing.
• e-Passport Application System Online system for Tanzanian citizens to apply for electronic passports (Ordinary, Service, and Diplomatic), manage applications, and track status.
• e-Pass Application System Online portal for applying for Business Pass, Dependent Pass, Student Pass, Migrant Pass, Special Pass, Exemption Certificate, and other entry passes for foreigners.
• KaribuPass Mobile Application Mobile application authorized by the Immigration Department for travelers to submit advance passenger information and entry data prior to arrival, with end-to-end encryption and border interaction facilitation.
• Emergency Travel Document (ETD) Online Portal Online portal for Tanzanian citizens abroad requiring emergency travel documents for emergency journeys or those stranded overseas without a passport, issued at 20,000 TZS domestically or 20 USD abroad.
• Ordinary Passport Standard electronic passport issued to Tanzanian citizens for international travel, valid for ten years, with pages containing images and drawings of Tanzania's history and tourist attractions.
• Diplomatic Passport Passport issued to citizens entitled under the Tanzania Passports and Travel Documents Act of 2002 for diplomatic purposes, requiring an introduction letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Service Passport Passport issued to government servants entitled under the Tanzania Passports and Travel Documents Act of 2002 for official travel.
• Residence Permit Class A Residence permit for self-employed foreigners including professional artists, diaspora investors, refugee investors, and investors in various sectors, with fees 1,000-3,000 USD for non-EAC and 500-1,500 USD for EAC citizens.
• Residence Permit Class B Residence permit for expatriates with specific employment offers, covering professionals, technicians, and associate professionals, with fees 500-2,000 USD depending on EAC status and category.
• Residence Permit Class C Residence permit for foreigners not eligible for Class A or B, including researchers, retired persons, missionaries, volunteers, interns, medical patients, NGO employees, and real estate buyers.
• Ordinary Visa Single-entry visa for tourism, leisure, holidays, medical treatment, studies, or other legally recognized activities, valid up to three months at 50 USD.
• Multiple Entry Visa Visa for frequent visitors requiring multiple entries, valid up to twelve months with maximum three-month consecutive stays at 100 USD; required for US nationals for tourism.
• Business Visa Visa for expatriates conducting short-term assignments not exceeding 90 days, for professional roles, auditing, machine repairs, training, or business arrangements, at 250 USD.
• Student Visa Visa for foreign nationals studying at accredited universities, colleges, or approved institutions in Tanzania, ranging 50-550 USD depending on duration and level.

Quantifiable outcome

• Online visa processing within 10 days (standard), 2 months for referral cases
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC)coreTechnology or IntegrationTIC provides a dedicated window within the e-Residence Permit system for investors registered with Tanzania Investment Centre holding certificate of incentive. These investors can submit Class A and B residence permit applications online through TIC's window for streamlined processing.
• Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA)coreTechnology or IntegrationEPZA provides a dedicated window for online residence permit applications (Class A and B) for investors registered under EPZA who hold an EPZA license, enabling integrated processing of immigration services.
• Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA)coreTechnology or IntegrationZIPA provides a dedicated window for online residence permit applications for investors registered with Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority holding certificate of incentive, enabling streamlined immigration services for Zanzibar-based investments.
• Ministry of Home AffairscoreOthersParent ministry overseeing the Immigration Services Department as one of the security organs under the Ministry.
• Ministry of LabourcoreOthersWork permit issuance required for residence permit applications (except for research, court cases, retirement, and studies purposes) through the Ministry of Labour Commissioner for both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African CooperationcoreOthersIssues introduction letters for diplomatic passport applications and handles bilateral agreements relevant to immigration matters. Also involved in referral visa cases requiring clearance.
• Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)minorOthersProvides stamp duty services for security bond forms required for dependent pass applications (worth 500 TZS stamp duty).
• e-Government AuthoritycoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides government mailing system infrastructure (mail.immigration.go.tz) with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, secured by NGAO platform.
• NGAOcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides security infrastructure for the Government Mailing System operated by e-Government Authority.
• Ministry of HealthminorOthersIssues health guidelines for travelers including yellow fever and COVID-19 requirements that interact with immigration entry requirements.
• Tanzania Regional Immigration Training Academy (TRITA)coreOthersTraining academy for immigration personnel located at Rapheal Kubaga in Boma Kichakamiba, Tanga, providing foundational and ongoing training for immigration officers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• VFS Global: Private-sector outsourced visa service provider partnered with governments worldwide to operate visa application centres and biometric enrollment. Adjacent comparator — relevant as a potential technology/operations partner for TISD given its outsourced service delivery model for embassy-based immigration processing.

Broad incumbents

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): Canadian federal department processing visas, permanent residence, citizenship, and refugee claims. Operates as a digitally-forward government immigration agency with online portals for all major services — directly comparable to TISD's e-services portfolio and digital transformation approach.
• Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA): Singaporean statutory board handling immigration, citizenship, and border checkpoint operations. Comparable as a digital-first immigration authority with online application portals (e-Visa, e-Passport renewal via MyICA) and strong technology adoption — relevant benchmark for TISD's digital transformation trajectory.
• India Bureau of Immigration: Indian government body managing immigration, visas, and border control with integrated online platforms (e-Visa, FRRO). Comparable as a high-volume immigration authority operating online portals and mobile services across entry points.
• South Africa Department of Home Affairs (Immigration Services): South African government department administering immigration, citizenship, and refugee affairs across the continent. Comparable as a major African immigration authority with permits, visas, and travel documents — broader portfolio than TISD but same core function.
• UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): UK Home Office unit handling visas, settlement, citizenship, and asylum. Comparable as a major national immigration authority with tiered visa categories, residence permits (ILR), and online application systems — serves a comparable function to TISD at significantly larger scale.
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): U.S. federal agency under DHS administering immigration benefits including visas, green cards, naturalization, and citizenship — directly comparable as a national immigration services authority issuing passports-equivalent (immigration benefits) and residence permits (green cards). Larger scale and broader mandate but same core function.

Direct peers

• Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration: Rwandan immigration authority issuing passports, visas, residence permits, and border management services. Direct regional peer with strong digital focus and visa-on-arrival policies — comparable mandate within EAC framework.
• Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control: Ugandan government agency issuing passports, visas, residence permits, and citizenship certificates. Direct regional peer within EAC with overlapping mandate, similar fee-based model, and shared border processing responsibilities with Tanzania.
• Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services: Kenyan government agency under the Ministry of Interior handling passports, visas, residence permits, and citizenship. Most direct regional peer given shared EAC membership, similar permit classes (investor, employment, special categories), and comparable fee structure with EAC preferential treatment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uhamiajitz
• Facebookfacebook.com/uhamiajitz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/immigration-service-department-tanzania

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tanzania Immigration Services Department