Tanzania residence by property purchase (Class C-11)

Tanzania does not run a citizenship or residence-by-investment programme under the name golden visa. The residence permit matrix includes category C-11, buyer of a real estate, for persons who buy houses in the real estate business but are not entitled to the other permit categories. In practice this is a residence permit linked to owning property: it allows the buyer and listed dependants to live in Tanzania, but not to work or run a business, which would require a work permit and a Class A or Class B residence permit.

Besides the general Class C list (online form, covering letter, passport valid for six months, photo, passports of dependants and current immigration status), a buyer of real estate submits a police clearance from the country of origin or place of residence, a letter of recommendation or qualification from the Tanzania Investment Centre (Mainland) or the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (Zanzibar), proof that the property is worth at least USD 100,000, the certificate of occupancy or title deed, and tax clearance. All documents must be certified copies.

The specific requirements set a minimum property value: proof that the value of the purchased property is not less than USD 100,000. The applicant also needs the certificate of occupancy or title deed and tax clearance from the relevant institutions. Ownership of land by foreigners in Tanzania has its own rules outside immigration law; the immigration guidelines only state what must be shown for the permit, so buyers should check the property title before relying on it for residence.

Category C-11 costs USD 500, or USD 250 for East African Community citizens and diaspora applicants, plus a USD 50 re-entry pass for the applicant and each dependant. The fee is payable within 60 days of the approval notice.

The Residence Permit Guidelines list buyers of real estate among the subcategories filed under the Individual entity type on the immigration residence permit portal, with no work permit from the Labour Commissioner. Create an account, choose Individual, select the processing centre, upload the certified documents and submit; queries are raised online. Class C applications are generally to be made before entering Tanzania. After approval and payment you enrol fingerprints and a photo, and the permit is issued in about a week.

The permit is valid for at most two years and can be renewed as a Replacement with the previous original permit. Holding it does not lead automatically to permanent status. Citizenship by naturalisation requires residence in Tanzania for the full 12 months before the application and at least seven years in total during the ten years before that, sufficient Kiswahili or English, good character and an intention to live in Tanzania permanently; the submission fee is USD 1,500.