Tanzania Company Registration FAQs

Standard Business Setup (USD 999) covers company-registration coordination, initial tax-structure review and tax-registration pathway, ordinary municipal business-licence support, bank-readiness documents, notarisation support for agreed package documents, eligible investor invitation-letter support and a post-registration handover. Fast Track Business Setup (USD 1,500) is the same core route on a priority desk with a 7-working-day target for the core Standard route, plus .tz domain, professional email, digital stamp, BAKITA coordination, and NSSF/WCF/OSHA and TBS/TMDA professional support where applicable. Executive Investor & Regulated Setup (from USD 2,500) includes Fast Track professional scope plus agreed work/residence permits, named sector-licence applications, TISEZA support where applicable, nominee support subject to KYC/law/terms, enhanced bank KYC, a named advisor and a 90-day plan. Invitation-letter support is not a visa guarantee. Foreign ownership alone does not require Executive. Capital-intensive files that need several authorities or an EIA pathway use the Multi-Agency Mandates Desk from USD 12,500 (a floor, not an all-in price). Sector-permit, government, bank, immigration, regulator, TISEZA and notarisation official charges stay separate. Approvals are not guaranteed. See live pricing.

The Standard package targets 14 working days after complete documents are received, subject to authority processing. The Fast Track package targets 7 working days for the core Standard route, subject to authority processing. Bank KYC, government systems, immigration, regulator approvals and sector permits can extend the timeline. Approvals are not guaranteed.

No. Published Zatra professional fees (USD 49 / from USD 199 / from USD 499 / USD 999 / USD 1,500 / from USD 2,500 / from USD 12,500) cover listed desk work only. Government fees, bank fees, notarisation, translation, courier costs, regulator charges, VAT/WHT treatment, immigration outcomes and sector-specific permit fees are separated before work starts. See live pricing.

Foreign investors can register and own a Tanzanian company, subject to the correct structure, sector restrictions, tax registrations, licensing, immigration status, local content rules and regulator approvals where applicable.

TISEZA is the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority. Distinguish four concepts: (1) TISEZA investor registration before commencing operations under the Investment and Special Economic Zones Act No. 6 of 2025, including where fiscal incentives are not sought; (2) Certificate of Incentives eligibility, which is separate and not automatic; (3) SEZ/EPZ arrangements; and (4) ordinary BRELA/TRA/licensing company setup. Confirm live procedures on tiseza.go.tz.

For ordinary company setup, capital depends on the structure, sector and commercial plan. For TISEZA certificate or incentive eligibility, public guidance states a minimum investment value of USD 500,000 for projects wholly owned by foreign investors or joint ventures, and USD 50,000 for projects wholly owned by Tanzanian citizens. Strategic, SEZ, EPZ and regulated-sector routes may have different thresholds.

For mineral dealer licence structures involving Tanzanians and foreigners, Tanzanian participation must be reviewed before filing. Mining Commission guidance states that Tanzanians must have at least 25% share of licence possession, which is why investors commonly describe the structure as 25% Tanzanian and up to 75% foreign participation, subject to current legal review.

Yes. A foreign-owned company can use Zatra as one coordinated advisory desk for company setup, tax, licence, bank-readiness, document control and post-registration handover. Eligible projects may also require TISEZA or sector-regulator routing depending on activity.

No. Regulated-sector permits are assessed and quoted separately because additional regulators, capital evidence, policies, technical documents, inspections or approvals may be required.

Common documents include a passport bio-data page, passport-size photo, foreign address, phone, email, proposed company names, business activity, shareholder and director details, source-of-funds information, proof of premises and bank KYC information. Gather them in order on the foreign investor document checklist.

Yes. Mineral trading and mining advisory can include opportunity screening, licence-route mapping, counterparty due diligence, JV/MOU review, offtake structuring, tax exposure review and banking coordination.

Post-registration support may include annual returns, tax compliance, payroll, NSSF or WCF coordination, business licence renewals, corporate governance, statutory filings, board resolutions and bank documentation updates.

The Market-Entry Assessment (from USD 199) is a written feasibility and regulatory brief before you commit capital. It is not a company-registration package. If you only need a conversation, the Senior Advisory Session (USD 49) is a 30–45 minute senior-advisor call, credited toward a setup package within 30 days. Neither includes government fees. See live pricing.

If you are still deciding, book a USD 49 Senior Advisory Session or a Market-Entry Assessment from USD 199. A straightforward local or foreign-owned company with an ordinary municipal licence may use Standard (USD 999) or Fast Track (USD 1,500). Executive Investor & Regulated Setup (from USD 2,500) is for immigration, nominee, enhanced KYC, multi-party, regulated activity or named sector licences — foreign ownership alone does not require it. Projects that need several authorities or an EIA pathway use the Multi-Agency Mandates Desk from USD 12,500.

From USD 12,500 professional fee for capital-intensive or multi-regulator files. The figure is a floor, not an all-in project price. Zatra coordinates EIA liaison with an independent NEMC-registered expert and does not conduct the EIA study. Approvals are not guaranteed. Zatra does not buy, sell or value metals, gemstones or livestock. See live pricing.

Work permits, visas and residence status are immigration overlays. Sequence them with company registration, licences and bank KYC — they do not replace formation. Start with the work-permit investor route and the foreign investor setup hub.

Book Onsite Supplier or Asset Verification (from USD 499) when you need physical verification of a supplier, site or facility before capital moves. You get an onsite visit and a written findings report. It does not replace counsel, and it does not include government fees. Broader or multi-entity mandates are Custom Mandates. See live pricing.

Non-standard or ongoing mandates are Custom Mandates, scoped after assessment — Zatra does not publish a monthly retainer band. See live pricing or brief the setup desk.

Bank KYC readiness means the company can present a coherent identity, ownership, activity, premises and source-of-funds pack that matches filings. Banks decide approval; incomplete beneficial ownership, inconsistent addresses or weak activity narratives commonly delay accounts. See corporate bank account opening.

No. An ordinary business licence supports general trading or services after company and tax setup. Mining, mineral dealing and mineral export usually need a separate sector licence map, authority sequencing and often stronger counterparty and payment-route controls before capital moves.

No. Company registration creates the legal entity (typically via BRELA and related tax setup). TISEZA investor registration is a separate investment-authority step. Certificate of Incentives eligibility and SEZ/EPZ arrangements are further distinct. Registration alone does not create incentive eligibility.

Screen before deposits, exclusivity, JV/MOU lock-in or offtake commitments. For physical supplier or site verification, book Onsite Supplier or Asset Verification (from USD 499). Broader legal, sanctions or payment-route screens are Custom Mandates. Neither includes government fees. See live pricing.

Send investor type, ownership, activity, sector overlay, structure question, capital band, document readiness, banking/immigration needs and urgency. Use the desk intake brief checklist or WhatsApp template so the file can be scored and routed faster.