Residence Permit Class B (employment)

Overview

If a Tanzanian company or institution is employing you, this is the residence permit that lets you stay - but it is the second half of a two-part process, so it is worth understanding the order. Tanzania splits the job between two authorities: the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) runs the online work permit system and the Labour Commissioner decides your work permit, and only then does the Commissioner General of the Immigration Department issue your Class B residence permit. In practice the two now flow through one integrated online system, but the work permit is still the gate you pass through first. The Class B permit is tied to that employer and is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement. Good to know: applications for a Class B permit are normally lodged while you are still outside Tanzania, and the maximum validity of any residence permit class is set fairly short and renewed rather than indefinite.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm you have a Tanzanian employer and that the work-then-residence (Class B) sequence is the right route on the official channels.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather the employment contract, your qualifications and passport, and prepare the documents both the work permit and the Class B residence permit need.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply for the work permit through the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) system, then for the Class B residence permit to the Immigration Department - typically while still outside Tanzania.

4. 04

   After approval

   Travel and take up the role, keep both the work permit and Class B residence permit valid, and renew before they expire while the employment continues.

Also explored by

Compare United Republic of Tanzania with

• 🇳🇬 Federal Republic of Nigeria
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Related routes

• Work Permit (Prime Minister's Office - Labour)

  For foreigners taking up employment in Tanzania: the work permit is the labour-side authorisation that the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) must grant before the Immigration Department can issue your Class B residence permit.

• Residence Permit Class A (self-employed and investors)

  For self-employed foreigners and investors running their own venture in Tanzania: the Class A residence permit lets you live in the country on the basis of your business or investment, and for registered investors it is usually arranged through the Tanzania Investment Centre.

• Residence Permit Class C (students, retirees, researchers, missionaries)

  For foreigners living in Tanzania for a reason other than local employment or running a business - students, retirees, researchers, missionaries, volunteers and similar - the Class C residence permit is the catch-all residence route for your situation.