Tanzania Amends Immigration Visa Regulations: Key Changes for 2025
The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has gazetted the Immigration (Visa) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (Government Notice No. 605), introducing significant changes to the existing Immigration (Visa) Regulations, 2016. These amendments, published on October 10, 2025, impact visa requirements, diplomatic categories, and the list of visa-exempt countries.
This update provides a concise overview of the critical amendments that businesses and individuals should be aware of.
1. Expansion of Regulation 7: Official and Service Passport Holders
Regulation 7 of the principal Regulations has been updated to broaden the category of individuals recognized alongside “staff”.
The phrase “holder of service or official passport” has been deleted and replaced with the more comprehensive wording: “staff of recognized International Organizations, holder of Diplomatic, Service or Official passport”. This clarifies and expands the scope of who may benefit from provisions related to diplomatic and official travel.
2. New Diplomatic Visa Category: Dependants of D
The Second Schedule (Part D), which governs Diplomatic Visas, now includes a new entry:
- Item D7: Dependants of D6.
- The required document is the Biographic data page of the applicant’s passport.
- The visa fee for this category is GRATIS (free of charge).
This addition streamlines the visa process for family members accompanying D6 visa holders.
3. Revised Visa Exemption List (Third Schedule)
The most extensive change is the complete deletion and substitution of the Third Schedule, which lists countries/territories/special administrative regions whose nationals do not require a visa upon entry.
The new list includes 71 countries and territories. Noteworthy inclusions are:
- African States: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, and Zambia
- Other Regions: Hong Kong, Macao, Malaysia, Singapore, Jamaica, Barbados, Cyprus, Malta, and Romania
This comprehensive revision may affect travel planning and procedures for nationals of these jurisdictions.
4. Amendments to the Fourth Schedule
The Fourth Schedule has also been amended:
- The term “Somali Land” has been deleted from item 1912.
- The numbering of the items has been revised, with items 1 to 27 now being re-numbered as items 1 to 26.
Conclusion
These amendments, signed by the Minister for Home Affairs, Innocent Lugha Bashungwa, on September 25, 2025, are now legally binding.
Individuals and entities involved in international business, employment, or diplomatic relations with Tanzania are strongly advised to review the Immigration (Visa) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 to ensure full compliance with the updated requirements. Understanding these changes is crucial for preventing disruptions to travel and operations.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific advice regarding your immigration status or business needs in Tanzania, please contact the author our partner Sunday Ndamugoba at sunday@rive.co.tz
download the law here : https://www.rive.co.tz/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/immigration-visa-amendment-regulations-2025.pdf