Tanzania Immigration Status Checks for Foreign Nationals and PRs

(TANZANIA) Tanzania has launched a nationwide immigration status verification exercise for all foreign nationals working or living in the country, including permanent residents, running from September 11 to October 8, 2025. The Tanzania Immigration Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the campaign and confirmed it is in effect across all regions. Officials say the goal is to check legal compliance, tighten oversight of non-citizens, protect the labor market, and support national security. The verification is mandatory, and the government has urged both individuals and employers to treat the timeline as firm.

The scope is wide. Any non-citizen in Tanzania with a residence permit or another legal immigration status must complete the process. That includes expatriate employees, business owners, students holding long-stay permissions, and permanent residents who have lived in the country for years. Employers who hire expatriates are directly responsible for helping their staff appear for checks before the deadline. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the approach mirrors previous document reviews, but the reach and speed of this exercise make it the most comprehensive nationwide effort in recent years.

Officials have not announced penalties in detail, but the consequences are clear. Foreign nationals who don’t complete immigration status verification by October 8 risk fines, loss of status, or deportation after the campaign ends. Employers face possible sanctions and fines, and authorities may suspend or pull business licenses for repeated failures. People with expired or irregular documents should expect closer review and potential enforcement action. The Immigration Department has asked the public to give maximum cooperation to keep lines moving and reduce wait times.

Verification timeline and who must appear

The exercise runs from September 11 through October 8, 2025. Everyone covered by immigration rules who is not a Tanzanian citizen must take part, including permanent residents. The Immigration Department has confirmed the exercise applies to all regions of Tanzania, from major hubs like Dar es Salaam to smaller regional centers. Employers must organize schedules to allow their foreign staff to appear in person.

Associations of foreign residents are advising members to go early in the window and bring complete paperwork to avoid repeat visits.

People can complete the process at three types of locations:
– Kurasini Immigration Office in Dar es Salaam
– Zanzibar Immigration Headquarters
– Regional Immigration Offices nationwide

Immigration officers will check original documents. Plan to bring:
– Passport
– Valid residence permit or any other immigration documents you hold

The process is simple but in-person. Officials will review your documents and may ask questions about your work or residence history. They may also update records if your work site, address, or employer has changed. You should follow directions from officers on site.

The Immigration Department expects high traffic in the first and last week, so mid-period visits may be faster.

How the verification works

Immigration status verification is a focused document check designed to confirm a person’s identity, legal permission to live or work in Tanzania, and the accuracy of related records.

In practice, officials will:
1. Confirm the passport matches the person presenting it.
2. Check residence permit validity dates and visa conditions.
3. Match the declared employer or activity with the permit type.
4. Note any changes in address, job role, or region.
5. Flag records for follow-up if a permit has expired or conditions appear to be broken.

For foreign nationals whose documents are current and consistent, the visit should be brief. If an issue is found, officers may give instructions to correct it. That could mean filing for a renewal, updating employer details, or addressing a visa condition. If the problem is serious—such as working without the proper authorization—officers may begin enforcement steps.

People who fix small errors quickly can often avoid penalties, but the deadline still stands.

Employer responsibilities and preparation

Employers need to prepare too. Companies that sponsor work-resident permits should:
– Review files and ensure employee lists, job titles, and work sites match permits.
– Circulate the dates, office locations, and document lists to expatriate staff.
– Help rebook travel or arrange an early visit if a worker is traveling during the window.
– Keep attendance records to show good-faith efforts to comply.

Firms with multiple foreign employees should assign a coordinator to track visits and maintain evidence of compliance.

Business groups have mixed feelings. Some worry about time away from work and crowded offices, especially in Dar es Salaam. Others say the checks may clean up gray areas in the labor market and reduce unfair competition from undocumented work. Foreign residents have also shared varied views: many welcome the chance to confirm their status; some fear delays or missing papers. The government’s message remains steady—show up with your documents, and officers will guide you through the process.

Officials have not said whether the timeline could be extended. If compliance is low, an extension is possible, but no decision has been announced. People should not count on more time. After October 8, authorities may increase inspections, audits, and targeted visits to workplaces with a history of non-compliance. Those steps could include detention and removal for people who did not complete the checks and cannot prove their legal status.

Implications for employers and residents

For employers, the stakes are financial and legal. Companies that rely on global talent—engineering firms, mining operators, hotels, telecoms, and NGOs—must keep work permits in line with job duties. A mismatch between the permit and actual role or region can draw attention. Firms should correct such gaps now. A clean, updated file lowers the risk of penalties and business disruptions.

Permanent residents are sometimes overlooked in routine checks. This time, the message is explicit: permanent residents must also complete verification. Even if your card is valid and you passed a check some years ago, you still need to appear. Officials want to confirm identity details and update records for long-term residents too.

People with irregular status face the hardest choices. Recommended steps:
– Appear early and be honest about your situation.
– Follow instructions from officers; early cooperation can sometimes lead to a managed route back to compliance.
– Expect closer scrutiny if your permit has lapsed or you changed employers without notice.

Waiting past the deadline increases the risk of arrest and removal.

For the wider public, officials say the exercise supports accurate data, fair hiring, and public safety. In past years, smaller checks uncovered fake permits and unauthorized work in certain sectors. A nation-scale verification could help close loopholes and build a more predictable system for businesses and residents alike.

The Immigration Department is the final word on official guidance. For updates, locations, and process details, consult the Tanzania Immigration Department. Government notices during the campaign may include extended office hours, crowd control measures, or added desks in high-traffic regions. People should rely on official channels rather than social media rumors about waivers or deadline changes.

Fees, common scenarios, and practical tips

Fees for visas in 2025 remain unchanged. While not directly tied to this verification, they matter for those who must renew or correct status after the check.

Typical fees listed by the government:

• Nationals from certain countries still need a referral visa in advance. Plan extra time if a new application is required as part of a correction.

Workers and students should prepare for common scenarios:
– Changed employers: bring proof of your new job, approval letters, and your updated contract.
– Moved residence: know your current address and bring a utility bill if available.
– Renewed passport: bring both old and new passports so officers can match records.
– Expired permit: appear early; ask about steps to renew or regularize status and be ready to explain any gap.

Employers can reduce risks by:
– Assigning a coordinator to track each foreign employee’s visit.
– Preparing a list that matches each worker to their permit type and job title.
– Checking if any worker falls under special categories (project-based work, multiple sites).
– Keeping copies of all communications with the Immigration Department.

Important: The state has promised firm enforcement after the deadline. People who ignore the process may face the toughest outcomes, including fines, loss of status, or deportation.

While the campaign focuses on compliance, it also sets the stage for longer-term policy choices. The Immigration Department may use the findings to adjust permit categories, tighten checks on sectors with high irregularities, or recommend new data tools. The government has linked the exercise to broader goals: better records, safer communities, and a labor market that rewards legal hiring. Foreign nationals who complete verification on time should be better positioned if rules evolve later.

If you are in Tanzania and hold any non-citizen status, the guidance is simple:
– Appear at a designated office with your passport and valid permit before October 8, 2025.
– If you employ expatriates, treat this as a top-priority compliance task.
– If your documents are not in order, use the window to fix them with the help of immigration officers.

The Immigration Department has asked for cooperation to keep lines moving and reduce wait times. Rely on official updates from the Tanzania Immigration Department.