Moving to a new country can be a challenge that requires careful planning to avoid unwanted surprises while clearing customs. If you’re going to relocate to Tanzania in the near future, you’re probably wondering what paperwork, regulations and import duties will be involved. To help you gain a clearer understanding of the fees and documentation required when importing your household property and vehicle, let’s cover the specifics in more detail below.
Import Duty For Household Goods
Fortunately, according to this link you can avoid paying import duties on your household items, provided you meet certain conditions. First, customs requires that your permanent residence be located in a country other than Tanzania for at least the last 12 months. You also must have owned these belongings for a minimum of six months, and been personally using them during that time. Last of all, the shipment must arrive within a specified timeframe after you enter the country, with one source asserting that the allowable window is six months (1).
However, the well-respected International Association of Movers disagrees, stating that the deadline is just 90 days (though an extension can be requested). In order to be eligible for an import duty exemption on your household goods, a valid Work Permit must also be presented to customs. If you don’t have this document during clearance, your items won’t be released until you obtain it - meaning you’ll have to pay additional storage fees along with penalties. Customs also advises that longer than usual clearance times will occur, if all of your paperwork isn’t submitted a minimum of two weeks before your shipment arrives.
Keep in mind that new household goods aren’t eligible for duty exemption, and customs will request a commercial invoice for these items. The current duty rate for non-exempt household belongings is 20% to 25%, with value-added tax (VAT) of 18% also imposed (2).
Paperwork Required For Household Goods
You must supply the necessary paperwork to process your shipment, including your passport and a complete packing list. A valid Work Permit Certificate and the Original Bill of Lading or Air Waybill for the goods are also mandatory documentation. You’ll need to obtain a TIN (taxpayer identification number) Certificate from the TRA office too (3). In addition, customs will ask to see a Certificate of Change of Residence, Immigration Permit and C-41 form during clearance. An inventory which includes cash values for all items on the shipment is also required, plus an International Health Certificate and Residence Visa (4).
Import Duty For Vehicles
Though it seems possible to have import duty waived on your vehicle, the guidelines aren’t entirely clear. It is certain that your vehicle must be no more than seven years old, in order to be eligible for exemption. You must have purchased it at least one year ago, been personally using it during that time and have documentation to verify these facts. Also, you’ll need to give customs an endorsed VAT 220 form, along with a valid Exemption Certificate (5). Bear in mind that Tanzania only permits right-hand drive vehicles to be imported, and if you wish to avoid paying duty the vehicle’s title must be in your own name (6).
Paperwork Required For Vehicles
A slew of documents will be requested by customs during clearance, including the sales invoice and your driver’s license. The vehicle’s title and registration must also be shown, plus proof of valid international insurance coverage (7). Your passport and a Certificate of Non-Sale are necessary paperwork as well (8).
In addition, a TIN Certificate and the Original Bill of Lading are required, and the OBL must include details like the vehicle’s engine and chassis numbers. You also must obtain a Pre-Export Inspection Certificate from a mechanic that’s been approved by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards. However, documents provided by the organization overseeing transport in your country of origin are also acceptable. If you’re importing the vehicle from Africa, then an Interpol Certificate (or SARPCCO) must be submitted to customs as well (9).
Be sure to check the full documentation requirements before proceeding, as this is not a complete list of the paperwork you’ll need during processing. Also, it’s an excellent idea to work with a competent international moving company like A1 Auto Transport, to ensure that no vital regulations are overlooked during your relocation to Tanzania.
SOURCES:
(1)
Found on Atlas Int’l “Importing Personal Property Into Tanzania” page.
(2)
http://www.iamovers.org/ResourcesPublications/CountryGuides.aspx?ItemNumber=3517
(3)
Ibid.
(4)
Found on Atlas Int’l “Importing Personal Property Into Tanzania” page.
(5)
http://www.iamovers.org/ResourcesPublications/CountryGuides.aspx?ItemNumber=3517
(6)
Found on Atlas Int’l “Importing Personal Property Into Tanzania” page.
(7)
Ibid.
(8)
https://www.a1autotransport.com/ship-car-to-Tanzania/
(9)
http://www.iamovers.org/ResourcesPublications/CountryGuides.aspx?ItemNumber=3517
10 Important Items To Remember When Moving To Tanzania:
1. Exemption is available for used household goods that meet certain conditions
2. Items must be imported before the deadline after moving to receive exemption
3. Be sure to have your Work Permit ready, otherwise you’ll incur extra storage fees
4. Don’t forget BOTH a full packing list and an inventory with monetary values
5. Remember that only right-hand drive vehicles can be imported
6. Duty can’t be waived on vehicles more than seven years old
7. Duty exemption isn’t available if you’ve owned the vehicle for less than one year
8. A valid Exemption Certificate is required, plus a good deal of additional paperwork
9. Hiring a transport company that will handle the full clearance process is recommended
10. COVID-19 may have impacted customs procedures - so verify directly with them