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Doing business
Doing business in Tanzania
The official bodies a foreign company, investor or professional deals with in Tanzania – linked to their own websites – plus the treaties that matter for contracts and disputes, and law firms there that list business work.
Key facts
Key facts for business in Tanzania
The short answer
Company registry in Tanzania: Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). Tax authority: Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Tanzania before you act.
| Legal system | Common law (with customary and Islamic law) |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Kiswahili, English |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling (TZS) |
| Regional blocs | East African Community, SADC |
| OHADA business law | No |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Ratified (instrument deposited) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Party – in force since 1965 |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Contracting state – in force since 1992 |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Not a party – documents usually need legalization |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Tanzania
| What for | Official body | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Registering a company | Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) | brela.go.tz |
| Investment promotion | Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) | tiseza.go.tz |
| Tax | Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) | tra.go.tz |
| Central bank, currency and foreign exchange | Benki Kuu ya Tanzania | bot.go.tz |
| Work and residence permits | Immigration Service Department | immigration.go.tz |
| Courts and justice | Judiciary of Tanzania (Mahakama ya Tanzania) | judiciary.go.tz |
| Official business procedures portal | TISEZA eRegulations portal | procedures.tiseza.go.tz |
Each link was opened and checked as the body’s own website in October 2026. Links to official sites only – never to agents or look-alike sites.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by national company law.
- Register the business. Company registration: Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA).
- Register for tax. Tax registration: Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA).
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: Immigration Service Department.
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (Benki Kuu ya Tanzania) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Tanzania is a party to the New York Convention, so arbitral awards made in other member states can be recognized there under it.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Tanzania for business matters
ALN Tanzania | A&K Tanzania
Dar es Salaam
Breakthrough Attorneys
Dar es Salaam
FB Attorneys
Dar es Salaam
IMMMA Advocates (DLA Piper Africa, Tanzania)
Dar es Salaam
NexLaw Advocates
Dar es Salaam
Rex Attorneys
Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Sai Attorneys
Dar es Salaam
Victory Attorneys & Consultants
Dar es Salaam
8 firms in Tanzania list corporate, tax, employment or other business work on their own websites. See every firm in Tanzania.
Checking a lawyer in Tanzania
Who admits lawyers: Chief Justice / High Court of Tanzania (admission and Roll of Advocates via the Judiciary's e-Wakili system), with the Tanganyika Law Society (mainland) and Zanzibar Law Society
Professional title: Advocate
Official roll: ewakili.judiciary.go.tz
Use the Judiciary of Tanzania's e-Wakili system ('Mjue Wakili') to confirm the advocate is on the roll and holds a current practising certificate.
We could not confirm every detail from official sources, so use this as a starting point.
Sources: ewakili.judiciary.go.tz, tls.or.tz. Checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Questions
Doing business in Tanzania: questions
Where do you register a company in Tanzania?
With Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) (brela.go.tz). Requirements change, so confirm them with the registry and a lawyer admitted in Tanzania.
Is Tanzania a party to the New York Convention?
Yes – in force since 1965 (UNCITRAL status table, checked October 2026).
Does Tanzania accept apostilles?
Tanzania is not a party to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table, checked October 2026), so foreign public documents usually need legalization – typically through the issuing country’s foreign ministry and Tanzania’s embassy or consulate. Confirm with the authority that will receive the document.
What currency is used in Tanzania?
Tanzanian shilling (TZS).