Legal Update – 2 April 2020

Immigration grants relief to immigration status holders

• Allows maximum flexibility
• Residents can continue staying during Coronavirus crisis

In a cordial statement to the Press circulated today, the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Immigration Department has issued a notice to grant relief to would be travelers into Tanzania and those travelers/foreign residents stuck in Tanzania due to the Coronavirus.

The Immigration Department has issued the following guidelines:

1. Prospective visitors who had already been granted Visa Grant Notices but have not been able to travel to Tanzania, have been granted an extension of 3 months from the date of their visa start date.
2. Visitors whose Visa/Visitors passes have expired, or about to expire, and are unable to travel outbound from Tanzania, can report to the nearest immigration offices and will be granted a 1 month extension free of charge. After expiry of the 1 month, if the situation still persists, such holders will be required to go to the Immigration Office- Kurasini in Dar es Salaam for further directives.
3. Holders of Residence Permits, Visitors Pass, Exemption Certificate and Dependent Pass holders which have expired, have been granted a 1 month grace period to stay in the country. After expiry of the 1 month, if the situation still persists, such persons will be required to go to the Immigration Office- Kurasini in Dar es Salaam for further directives.
4. The statement further states that holders of Residence Permits/Passes who have already surrendered their respective documents are required to report promptly to the Immigration Office- Kurasini, Dar es Salaam for further directives.

This is a welcome move by the Immigration Department showing full flexibility due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Immigration Department also becomes one of the first departments/authorities to react by providing relief during this crisis.

To read the Press Statement, click here.