SIM card for short stay
I am a lifestyle online content creator based in Dubai and intend to travel to Tanzania for a celebrity wedding. I understand that I may have to buy a SIM card to access the internet and continue posting content online. My host informed me that it is difficult to buy a sim card due to legal restrictions in the country. Please guide me on these restrictions.
DL, Dubai
It is true that there are legal requirements when it comes to buying a SIM card in Tanzania. One of these requirements is that a SIM Card must be registered for it to be used. According to Regulation 4 of Electronic and Postal Communications (Sim Card Registration) Regulations, 2020 (GN. No. 112 of 2020) (the Regulations), any person who owns, controls or intends to use a detachable SIM Card, built-in SIM Card mobile telephone or SIM enabled mobile communication equipment or device must- (a) register biometrically the SIM Card or built in SIM Card mobile telephone or SIM enabled mobile communication equipment or device with the respective licensee or authorized distributor, agent or dealer in manner set out in these Regulations; (b) ensure that PIN of his SIM Card is not shared with any other person; and (c) notify the service provider on the change of user or usage for each SIM Card under his possession.
The Regulations recognize various categories of biometric SIM Card registration. These include a company, diplomat, individual, institution, foreigner, minor, refugees, visitor or any other categories as may be determined by the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority from time to time. You have not informed us the duration of your stay in Tanzania. However, since you are coming for a wedding, we presume that this will be a short stay. According to the Regulations, you will be regarded as a visitor, which means a non-citizen who is not a diplomat and intends to stay in the United Republic for a period of not more than 4 months. For that reason, you will fall under the visitor biometric SIM Card registration category, which is the biometric registration of SIM Cards to be used solely by a visitor.
The procedure for registration of SIM Cards relevant to your category is provided under Regulation 5(1)(f). The Regulation states in summary that where a customer is a visitor, SIM Card will be registered under visitor biometric SIM Card registration category at customer centres, service providers’ shops or agents’ shops in the following manner- (i) visitors will be required to present certified copies of valid passports with valid visa; (ii) visa exempt visitors will be required to present a certified copy of valid passport; (iii) service provider will conduct fingerprint verification of visitors with NIDA or Immigration Department for biometric SIM Card registration; (iv) service provider will keep the details of the visitors; and (v) registered SIM Card shall bear the name of the visitor. The process is not difficult and you should be able to get a sim card easily. Welcome to Tanzania.
