Tanzania customs
Apply for visa
Free import
• For travelers aged 18 or older: spirits (including liqueurs) or wine up to 1 L, or wine up to 2 L.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff up to 250 g in total.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: perfume and toilet water up to 0.5 L in total, of which no more than 0.25 L may be perfume.
• Other goods worth up to USD 2,000 per traveler, carried in accompanied baggage and declared to customs, if you have been outside the East African Community for more than 24 hours. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume above the limits above, fabrics in the piece and goods for sale or business are not covered.
• Clothing and personal effects for your own use. Visitors staying up to 3 months may also bring non-consumable items for use during the visit (to be taken out again when they leave) and reasonable amounts of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Duty-free allowances apply only to goods in accompanied baggage, not to unaccompanied baggage.
Currency
• There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you may bring in.
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveler's cheques and bank drafts) worth USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in Tanzanian shillings or any other currency) must be declared to customs on arrival on the currency declaration form.
• Customs may hold undeclared or falsely declared cash for enquiries and seize it. Failing to declare is an offence punishable by a heavy fine or up to 3 years in prison.
Prohibited
• Narcotic drugs
• Counterfeit money and counterfeit goods of all kinds
• Pornographic and obscene material in any media
• Plastic carrier bags: travelers arriving by air must hand them over on arrival (ziplock bags used for airport security are allowed).
• Soaps and cosmetics containing mercury
• Used tyres for cars and light commercial vehicles
• Worn underwear
• Hazardous waste
Restricted
• Firearms, ammunition and their parts need prior authorization from the Tanzanian authorities.
• Live animals, including pets, and animal products need an import permit from the Tanzanian veterinary services (Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries), applied for online through the MIMIS system (mimis.mifugo.go.tz) before travel.
• Endangered species of plants and animals and products made from them (CITES), including ivory, rhino horn, tortoise shell, coral and animal skins, need a permit. Do not bring animal skin accessories into Tanzania: you risk questioning or detention when you leave.
• Psychotropic medicines under international control, unwrought precious metals and precious stones, genetically modified products and historical artefacts are also restricted.
• Goods above the duty-free allowances and goods for sale or business use must be declared to customs.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: spirits (including liqueurs) or wine up to 1 L, or wine up to 2 L.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff up to 250 g in total.
• For travelers aged 18 or older: perfume and toilet water up to 0.5 L in total, of which no more than 0.25 L may be perfume.
• Other goods worth up to USD 2,000 per traveler, carried in accompanied baggage and declared to customs, if you have been outside the East African Community for more than 24 hours. Alcohol, tobacco and perfume above the limits above, fabrics in the piece and goods for sale or business are not covered.
• Clothing and personal effects for your own use. Visitors staying up to 3 months may also bring non-consumable items for use during the visit (to be taken out again when they leave) and reasonable amounts of food and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Duty-free allowances apply only to goods in accompanied baggage, not to unaccompanied baggage.
Currency
• There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you may bring in.
• Cash and bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveler's cheques and bank drafts) worth USD 10,000 or more (or the equivalent in Tanzanian shillings or any other currency) must be declared to customs on arrival on the currency declaration form.
• Customs may hold undeclared or falsely declared cash for enquiries and seize it. Failing to declare is an offence punishable by a heavy fine or up to 3 years in prison.
Prohibited
• Narcotic drugs
• Counterfeit money and counterfeit goods of all kinds
• Pornographic and obscene material in any media
• Plastic carrier bags: travelers arriving by air must hand them over on arrival (ziplock bags used for airport security are allowed).
• Soaps and cosmetics containing mercury
• Used tyres for cars and light commercial vehicles
• Worn underwear
• Hazardous waste
Restricted
• Firearms, ammunition and their parts need prior authorization from the Tanzanian authorities.
• Live animals, including pets, and animal products need an import permit from the Tanzanian veterinary services (Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries), applied for online through the MIMIS system (mimis.mifugo.go.tz) before travel.
• Endangered species of plants and animals and products made from them (CITES), including ivory, rhino horn, tortoise shell, coral and animal skins, need a permit. Do not bring animal skin accessories into Tanzania: you risk questioning or detention when you leave.
• Psychotropic medicines under international control, unwrought precious metals and precious stones, genetically modified products and historical artefacts are also restricted.
• Goods above the duty-free allowances and goods for sale or business use must be declared to customs.