Document Authentication & Legalisation
Tanzania embassies provide document authentication (legalisation) services to verify documents for use in Tanzania or to authenticate Tanzanian documents for use abroad.
Documents That Can Be Authenticated
Personal Documents
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates
- Death certificates
- Divorce decrees
- Affidavits and declarations
- Police clearance certificates
Educational & Commercial
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Professional qualifications
- Powers of attorney
- Company registration documents
- Trade documents
- Court judgments
Authentication Process
- Notarisation: Your document must first be notarised by a recognised authority in your country of residence (e.g., solicitor, notary public)
- Government attestation: In many countries, the document must be attested by the relevant government department (e.g., Foreign Affairs)
- Embassy submission: Submit the notarised and attested document to the Tanzania embassy with a certified copy
- Fee payment: Pay the authentication fee (typically $20-50 per document, varies by embassy)
- Collection: Collect your authenticated document after 3-5 working days
Some documents may need to be forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dar es Salaam for additional verification, which extends processing time to 4-8 weeks.
Fees & Processing
- Fee: $20-50 per document (varies by embassy location)
- Standard processing: 3-5 working days
- Documents requiring referral: 4-8 weeks
- Payment methods: Check with your specific embassy
A representative may submit documents on your behalf with a signed authorisation letter, valid ID, and the relevant documents. Personal appearance is not always required for document authentication.