Tanzania Citizenship Guide 2026

Under Section 5 of the Tanzania Citizenship Act 1995, a person is a citizen of Tanzania by birth if:

• They were born in Tanzania and at least one of their parents was a citizen of Tanzania at the time of their birth
• They were born outside Tanzania and their father was a citizen of Tanzania at the time of their birth (historical provision — see note below)

Automatic Citizenship at Birth:

A child born in Tanzania to at least one Tanzanian parent is automatically a Tanzanian citizen from birth. No application is required — the child's birth certificate, when registered with RITA (Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency), serves as evidence of citizenship. The child should be registered within 90 days of birth under the Births and Deaths Registration Act.

Foundlings:

A child of unknown parentage found in Tanzania (a foundling) is presumed to be a Tanzanian citizen unless and until proven otherwise (Section 9 of the Citizenship Act).

Tanzanian citizens who give birth to children outside Tanzania can register those children as Tanzanian citizens by descent. This is particularly relevant for Tanzanians living in the diaspora.

Requirements:

• At least one parent must be a Tanzanian citizen at the time of the child's birth
• The birth must be registered with the nearest Tanzanian embassy or high commission
• The parent must provide their own Tanzanian passport or citizenship documentation
• The child's foreign birth certificate must be presented
• An application for citizenship by descent must be submitted

Process:

1. Visit the nearest Tanzanian embassy or high commission
2. Complete the citizenship registration form for the child
3. Submit the child's birth certificate, parents' passports, and marriage certificate (if applicable)
4. The embassy forwards the application to the Immigration Department in Dar es Salaam
5. Once approved, the child can be issued a Tanzanian passport

Foreign nationals may apply for Tanzanian citizenship by naturalization under Section 10 of the Citizenship Act 1995. This is a discretionary process — meeting the requirements does not guarantee approval.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Residence: Must have lawfully resided in Tanzania for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately preceding the application (or 5 years for citizens of East African Community member states)
• Age: Must be at least 18 years old
• Good character: Must be of good moral character and have no criminal record
• Language: Must have adequate knowledge of Kiswahili (the national language) or English
• Intention: Must intend to continue residing in Tanzania
• Renunciation: Must renounce any existing foreign citizenship before or upon naturalisation (as Tanzania does not allow dual citizenship)
• Financial self-sufficiency: Must demonstrate the ability to support themselves and any dependents
• Contribution: Must have made a positive contribution to Tanzanian society

Application Process:

1. Obtain the naturalisation application form from the Immigration Department or a Tanzanian embassy
2. Complete the form with full personal details, residency history, and employment information
3. Gather supporting documents: passport, residence permits (covering the full 10-year period), police clearance certificates, proof of income/assets, language proficiency evidence, character references from Tanzanian citizens
4. Submit the application to the Immigration Department headquarters in Dar es Salaam
5. Attend an interview with the Immigration officer if requested
6. Await the decision — the application is reviewed by the Minister for Home Affairs, who has ultimate discretion
7. If approved, take the Oath of Allegiance to the United Republic of Tanzania
8. Renounce any foreign citizenship (provide evidence of renunciation)
9. Receive your Certificate of Naturalisation
10. Apply for a Tanzanian passport and national ID

Processing Time:

Naturalization applications can take 12 to 24 months to process. The Minister exercises personal discretion, and there is no guaranteed timeline. The process involves background checks, verification of residency records, and review by multiple government departments.

Fees:

Marriage to a Tanzanian citizen does not automatically confer Tanzanian citizenship. However, a foreign spouse may be eligible for naturalisation under a reduced residency requirement.

• A foreign woman married to a Tanzanian man was historically entitled to apply for citizenship after 2 years of marriage (Section 11 of the Citizenship Act)
• A foreign man married to a Tanzanian woman faced the standard 10-year residency requirement (a historical gender disparity that has been subject to legal challenge)
• In practice, the residency requirement for spouses of either gender has been applied on a case-by-case basis, with periods of 3 to 5 years of continuous residence during marriage generally considered

The foreign spouse must still renounce any other citizenship before naturalisation is granted.

This is one of the most important aspects of Tanzanian citizenship law and a frequent source of confusion for the Tanzanian diaspora.

What This Means:

• Voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship: If a Tanzanian citizen voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country, they automatically and immediately lose Tanzanian citizenship (Section 7(1))
• No exceptions: There are no exceptions for any country, any circumstance, or any category of person. The rule applies universally
• Children with dual nationality: Children born abroad who acquire another citizenship by birth must choose one citizenship upon reaching the age of 18. They cannot hold both
• No secret dual citizenship: Holding two passports without officially renouncing one is a violation of the law. If discovered, the Tanzanian citizenship may be revoked

Impact on the Diaspora:

Many Tanzanians living abroad face a difficult choice. Taking citizenship in their country of residence (e.g., UK, US, Canada, Australia) means losing Tanzanian citizenship. This affects property rights, inheritance, business ownership, and the right to vote in Tanzania. As a result, many Tanzanians in the diaspora maintain permanent residency in their host country rather than taking citizenship, specifically to preserve their Tanzanian citizenship.

Reform Efforts:

There have been periodic calls to reform the dual citizenship policy, particularly from the Tanzanian diaspora community. The 2014 Proposed Constitution (Katiba Mpya) included provisions for dual citizenship, but the constitutional referendum was never held. As of 2026, the policy remains unchanged, and there is no active legislation before Parliament to introduce dual citizenship.

For Former Tanzanian Citizens:

If you have lost Tanzanian citizenship by acquiring another nationality, you may still:

• Visit Tanzania on an e-Visa (treated as a foreign national)
• Apply for a residence permit to live in Tanzania
• Own property (with some restrictions on land ownership for non-citizens)
• Apply to regain Tanzanian citizenship by renouncing your foreign citizenship and applying for naturalisation

A Tanzanian citizen may voluntarily renounce their citizenship under Section 8 of the Citizenship Act. This is typically done when acquiring citizenship of another country (which requires formal renunciation of Tanzanian citizenship).

Process:

1. Obtain the Renunciation Declaration Form from the Immigration Department or a Tanzanian embassy
2. Complete the form, stating your intention to renounce Tanzanian citizenship and the reason (e.g., acquisition of another citizenship)
3. Submit the form with your Tanzanian passport and national ID
4. Pay the renunciation processing fee
5. The Immigration Department processes the renunciation and issues a Certificate of Renunciation
6. Your Tanzanian passport is cancelled and surrendered

Important Considerations:

• Renunciation is irreversible unless you later apply for naturalisation (a lengthy process)
• You will need a visa to visit Tanzania after renunciation
• Land ownership rights as a non-citizen are more restricted
• You may lose inheritance rights under customary law
• Ensure you have obtained your new citizenship before renouncing — being stateless is a serious legal situation

Former Tanzanian citizens who lost their citizenship (whether by voluntary renunciation or automatic loss through acquiring another citizenship) may apply to regain it under Section 12 of the Citizenship Act.

Requirements to Regain Citizenship:

• Must first renounce your current foreign citizenship
• Must demonstrate a genuine connection to Tanzania
• Must be of good character
• Must apply to the Minister for Home Affairs
• The decision is discretionary — there is no automatic right to regain citizenship

This process is similar to naturalisation and can take 12 months or more. You must be prepared to surrender your foreign passport and live as a Tanzanian citizen only, with no other nationality.

While Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of the United Republic of Tanzania with its own government (the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar), citizenship is a Union matter. There is no separate "Zanzibar citizenship." All citizens of Zanzibar are citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania, and all citizens of mainland Tanzania have the right to reside and work in Zanzibar.

However, Zanzibar has its own residency requirements for certain purposes (e.g., land ownership, voting in Zanzibar elections), which are administered by the Zanzibar government separately from mainland Tanzania.