How to Apply for a Tanzania Mineral Dealer Licence: Class Before Stock

As of September 2026, this page is the dealer-application sequence: forms and class, not a mining right. Confirm live Mining Commission forms before you file. What a dealer licence is sits on the dealer-licence class guide.

A complete, legally accurate guide on how to obtain a Mineral Dealer Licence in Tanzania—covering requirements, documents, fees, shareholding rules, import and export compliance procedures, and full step-by-step instructions for gold, copper, diamonds, nickel, and coloured gemstones.

1. Introduction: Why You Need a Mineral Dealer Licence

Under the Mining Act, Cap. 123, no person or company may buy, sell, store, or export minerals in Tanzania without a valid Mineral Dealer Licence issued by the Mining Commission.

This licence is mandatory for anyone involved in:

• Gold trading & export
• Copper concentrate export
• Nickel, cobalt & other metallic minerals
• Diamond trading
• Tanzanite & coloured gemstones
• Coal & industrial minerals

Whether you are:

• A gold exporter
• A copper trader
• A gemstone dealer
• A refining company
• An international buyer sourcing directly from Tanzania you must follow this regulated process.

This article gives you every detail, backed strictly by law, to help you become a compliant mineral dealer.

2. Legal Framework (What the Mining Act Actually Says)

The Mineral Dealer Licence is established under Part V of the Mining Act (Sections 73–79). Key points include:

You MUST have a Mineral Dealer Licence to buy, store, sell, or export minerals

No mineral may be handled commercially without this licence.

Tanzanians must hold at least 25% shares in any trading company

This is a legal requirement for all mineral trading activities.

Licence must specify the type of minerals you will deal in

This includes:

• Gold
• Metallic minerals (copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, etc.)
• Diamonds
• Coloured gemstones
• Coal
• Industrial minerals

Licence is valid for 12 months and expires on 30 June

Regardless of date of issue.

Quarterly reporting is mandatory

All dealers must maintain:

• Official dealer registers

• Royalties payment records

• Quarterly submissions to the Zonal Mines Office

Export requires special permits

Every export consignment must be licensed and cleared.

3. Categories of Dealer Licences

A Mineral Dealer Licence may cover:

1. Gold Dealer Licence

For bars, nuggets, dore, processed or semi-processed gold.

2. Metallic Minerals Dealer Licence

Includes copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, silver, iron, lead, zinc, etc.

3. Gemstone Dealer Licence

Covers emerald, ruby, sapphire, spinel, garnet, moonstone, tourmaline, etc.

4. Diamond Dealer Licence

5. Industrial Minerals Dealer Licence

6. Coal Dealer Licence

You may apply for one category or a combined licence depending on your business model.

4. Step-by-Step: How to Get a Mineral Dealer Licence in Tanzania

Below is the exact, legal, step-by-step pathway.

STEP 1 — Register a Company in Tanzania

You must incorporate a company through BRELA with:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• TIN Certificate
• Tax Compliance
• Business Licence
• Registered physical address

Mandatory:

Company must have at least 25% Tanzanian ownership for trading activities.

Zatra coordinates the shareholding evidence the Mining Commission currently requires. It does not issue the dealer right. Fast Track seven does not apply to that licence.

STEP 2 — Prepare All Required Documents

Standard documents required:

Application Form (prescribed by Mining Commission)

Business Licence (showing trading in minerals)

ongoing TRA compliance support Certificate

Certificate of Incorporation

Company Profile

Directors’ IDs (passports/NIDs)

Shareholder structure

Police Clearance (for key staff where required)

Premise layout plan & storage plan

Bank statement or proof of financial capacity

Passport-size photos for directors

Board resolution authorizing licence application

For gemstones:

Statement showing capacity to perform lapidary (cutting & polishing)(This is a legal requirement under the Act.)

STEP 3 — Submit Application to the Zonal Mines Office

Tanzania is divided into multiple mining zones including:

• Dar es Salaam Zone
• Mwanza Zone
• Arusha Zone
• Geita Zone
• Shinyanga Zone
• Kahama Zone
• Mpanda Zone
• Dodoma Zone
• Others depending on region

During submission:

• Specify mineral categories (gold, metallics, diamonds, gemstones).
• Pay the prescribed application fee.
• Attach all documents.
• Provide details on storage and security.

A physical site inspection may follow.

STEP 4 — Mining Commission Compliance Review

The Mining Commission will assess:

• Shareholding structure (min. 25% Tanzanian)
• Financial capacity
• Compliance history (if renewal)
• Security of the trading premises
• Lapidary preparedness (gemstones only)

If approved, the licence is issued with:

• Licence number
• Mineral category
• Validity period
• Trading & export privileges

STEP 5 — After Approval: Maintain Mandatory Registers

A Mineral Dealer must maintain:

Mandatory official documents:

• Mineral Dealer Register
• Purchase & sales records
• Export registers
• Royalties receipts
• Monthly & quarterly reports

These must be submitted to the Zonal Mines Office and kept for inspection at any time.

STEP 6 — Export Permits & Documentation

To export gold, copper, nickel, gemstones, diamonds, etc., the dealer must secure:

• Export Permit for each consignment
• Payment of royalties/inspection fees
• Assay reports (for gold, copper, nickel)
• Valuation certificates (for gemstones & diamonds)
• Customs clearance documentation
• Supporting invoices & packing lists

Export without these is a criminal offense.

STEP 7 — Licence Renewal

Your licence:

• Expires on 30 June each year
• Must be renewed 1 month before expiry
• Requires submission of:
  • Quarterly reports
  • Turnover evidence
  • Royalty receipts
  • Updated compliance documents

Dealers who fail to meet minimum turnover for 3 consecutive years may be denied renewal.

5. Costs, Taxes & Royalties (Official Rates)

Royalty rates (Mining Act + Regulations):

• 6% — gold, metallic minerals, diamonds, gemstones
• 1% — cut & polished gemstones
• 3% — industrial minerals
• 1% (local) / 3% (export) — coal

Inspection Fee

• 1% of gross value(Required before export authorization.)

Dealer Licence fees

Prescribed by the Mining Commission (official fees vary per category).

6. Special Rules for Specific Minerals

Gold Dealers

• Must trade through Mineral & Gem Houses for ASM gold
• Exports require assay and verification
• Security infrastructure must be strong
• High regulatory scrutiny

Copper & Nickel Dealers

• Export of copper concentrate requires:
  • Verified chemical assay
  • Export permit
  • Haulage documentation
  • Royalties & inspection fee
• Copper processing inside SEZs encouraged by TISEZA

Gemstones

• Lapidary commitment statement required
• Tanzanite must be traded under stricter controls
• Valuation required before export

Diamonds

• Controlled process with valuation
• Export subject to Kimberley Process requirements

7. Common Mistakes that Cause Rejection

Insufficient Tanzanian shareholding (<25%)

Incomplete documents

Applying under the wrong mineral category

Uninspected premises

Missing lapidary plan (gemstones)

Poor compliance history for renewals

Lack of financial capability proof

A strong professional submission avoids these issues.

How Zatra coordinates a dealer-licence file

Zatra coordinates the Tanzanian company, the shareholding evidence the Mining Commission currently requires, and the dealer-licence pack. Fast Track’s seven working days apply to the core Standard company-setup route after complete documents — not to a dealer right. Zatra does not issue the licence, does not buy or sell minerals, and does not run offtake or a refinery. Confirm the live class and local-ownership rules on the Commission portal. Multi-Agency from USD 12,500 applies when several authorities share one project.

9. Ready to Become a Licensed Mineral Dealer in Tanzania?

Zatra coordinates the dealer-licence pack with the Mining Commission. Fast Track’s seven working days apply to the core Standard company-setup route after complete documents — not to a dealer right. The Commission decides.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 788 466 212 · WhatsApp: +255 747 912 965

Sinza A, Sam Nujoma Road, First Floor, Mwenge Tower, Opposite Mlimani City, Dar es Salaam.

Class before stock

Name the minerals the live certificate will list. Gold is not gemstones. Buying before the class issues is dealing without authority. BRELA and TIN come first. Export of a lot is the export-chain keeper, not this application. Confirm the live Commission card on tumemadini.go.tz. No fee table here. As at 11 September 2026, the class still has to exist before the first lot.

Documents the Commission actually matches

The person on the application, the BRELA extract, the premises the live dealer rule names, and the mineral list must be the same story. A copper dealer application with tanzanite in the storeroom is two classes. Export, when you need it, is a further instrument — the gold-export keeper is not a copper packing list.