Immigration Laws during COVID-19

TANZANIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXTENDS THE VALIDITY OF VISAS, PASSES AND PERMITS AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC OUTBREAK.

The Immigration Department in Tanzania on the 2^nd April, 2020 through its Chief Spokesman, implemented flexible and accommodating directives to prospective foreign visitors, holders of residence permits and immigration passes who could not travel to and from the country during the global outbreak of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The directives are as follows:

1. Prospective visitors who have been issued with a Visa Grant Notices but are not able to travel to Tanzania, have been granted an extension of three months from the date of their visa start date.
2. Visitors whose Visa/ Visitors Passes have expired, or about to expire, whilst they cannot leave the country, are advised to report to the nearest Immigration Office for one-month extension (free of charge).
3. Holders of Residence Permits, Visitors Pass, Exemption Certificate and Dependant Pass which have expired, have been granted one-month grace period to stay in the country.
4. Foreigners are advised and required upon expiration of the period stipulated in the Directive 2 and 3 above mentioned to report to the Immigration Office – Kurasini in Dar es Salaam for further directives.
5. Holders of Residence Permits/Passes who have already surrendered their respective documents are required to report promptly to the Immigration Office, Kurasini- Dar es Salaam.

The above stated directives will provide a temporary relief to all visa and permit holders and allow those inside the country to have a legal status to continue staying within the country, whilst the government closely monitors the state of the COVID-19.

Mandatory quarantine at the point of entry

The government through the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children has imposed a mandatory quarantine at the first International Point of Entry in Tanzania for all travelers from countries which are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The quarantine will be for a period of 14 days at government designated facilities. The travelers will bear the quarantine costs where they will be subject to intensive screening and testing for COVID-19. After the stated period if the traveler is cleared from the disease are to provide their intended address and immediate contact in Tanzania for easy tracing.