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

Overview

If your reason to be in Tanzania is not a company job (Class B) or your own business or investment (Class A), the Class C residence permit is the one that fits. The Immigration Department issues it to the other categories of foreigner - including students, retired persons, researchers, missionaries, volunteers, interns, people winding up a former employer's affairs, those attending medical treatment, and parties or witnesses in legal proceedings. Because it covers so many situations, the exact evidence depends on which sub-category you fall into. Like the other classes it is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement, and applications are normally lodged while you are still outside Tanzania. Good to know: pick the sub-category that matches your purpose, because the supporting documents follow from it.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Identify the Class C sub-category that matches your purpose - study, retirement, research, missionary work or similar - on the official page.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather the sub-category evidence, your passport and proof of means to support yourself.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply for the Class C residence permit to the Immigration Department, normally while still outside Tanzania.

4. 04

   After approval

   Keep the permit valid for your purpose and renew before expiry; if your purpose changes to work or business, move to the matching class.

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Related routes

• 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 B (employment)

  For expatriates taking up a job with a Tanzanian company or institution: the Class B residence permit lets you live in Tanzania for your employment, but it sits on top of a work permit, which the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) must grant first.

• Long-tenure Residence (high-value investors, discretionary)

  For investors whose contribution to Tanzania is of great economic value: there is no standard permanent-residence category, but the Commissioner General of Immigration can, at discretion, grant much longer-tenure residence than the usual short renewable permits.