Tanzania

TZA

Tanzania, on East Africa's Indian Ocean coast, is one of the continent's most visited nations, home to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and the spice island of Zanzibar. Dar es Salaam is the commercial hub, while Dodoma serves as the official capital. Swahili and English are both official languages, reflecting the country's colonial and trade history. The economy relies on tourism, agriculture, and growing gold and natural gas exports. Tanzania does not permit dual citizenship, and naturalisation requires ten years of continuous legal residence. Foreign property ownership is heavily restricted, with land held under government leasehold. Cost of living remains low outside tourist zones.

Passport Rank

#90

Visa-Free

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Languages: Swahili, English
Population: 63,298,550
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 10 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Tropical along the coast and Zanzibar; semi-arid on the central plateau; highland temperate around Kilimanjaro and the Southern Highlands
English Proficiency Rank: #71

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

Tax Summary

Tax System: Residence Based
Territorial Taxation: No — worldwide income taxed for residents
Naturalisation: 10 years of legal residency
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed

Cost of Living by City

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Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Dar es Salaam	$600	$205	$120	$58	$15
Arusha	$290	$170	$85	$29	$12
Dodoma	$380	$184	$95	$47	$15

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Dar es Salaam

29°J

29°F

28°M

27°A

26°M

25°J

24°J

25°A

26°S

27°O

28°N

29°D

Rainfall range: 23–229 mm/month · Daylight 11.5h (winter) to 12.5h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist eVisa
Business
Multiple Entry
Resident Class A
Resident Class B
Resident Class C
Investor (TIC)
Student
Family

Authority: Tanzania Immigration Services Department
Official Portal: www.immigration.go.tz
Phone: +255 22 211 6990
Email: dg@immigration.go.tz

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 10
Language Test: Yes (Swahili)
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: $1,500
Processing: ~24 months

Safety

GPI Rank

#65

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Overcharging taxi scams at Julius Nyerere International Airport and city centre — agree fare before boarding or use Uber/Bolt
⚠Fake police or authority impersonators demanding fines or confiscating IDs in tourist areas
⚠Street currency exchange shortchanging near ATMs and markets in Kariakoo and Posta areas

Examples of areas to avoid: Kariakoo market district at night — dense crowds and opportunistic bag-snatching, Temeke and Buguruni outer suburbs after dark — limited lighting and higher petty crime rates, Msimbazi Valley informal settlements — limited infrastructure and elevated robbery risk

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-15