Work Permit (Prime Minister's Office - Labour)

Overview

The work permit is the labour half of Tanzania's two-part system, and it is the step that comes first. It is decided by the Labour Commissioner within the Prime Minister's Office (Labour), which runs the online work permit application and issuance system, typically where the role calls for a foreign hire. Once the work permit fee is paid and the Labour Commissioner approves, the same integrated system forwards the application to the Commissioner General of the Immigration Department, who then processes the matching Class B residence permit. The work permit is tied to the employer and is renewable rather than permanent, so on its own it does not lead to settlement. Good to know: the work permit and the residence permit are separate authorisations from separate authorities - you generally need both, and the work permit leads.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm the role justifies a foreign hire and that the work permit (paired with a Class B residence permit) is the right route on the official channels.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather the employment contract, qualifications, passport and the employer documents the online system asks for.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply through the Prime Minister's Office (Labour) online work permit system; once the fee is paid the Labour Commissioner reviews and decides.

4. 04

   After approval

   The system forwards the case to the Immigration Department for the Class B residence permit; keep both valid and renew before they expire.

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Related routes

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.