Michael Page Africa recruits all over the African continent. Our easy to use guides give you the lowdown on living and working in selected countries in Central Africa.
Our quick reference guides have vital information on pay, benefits, tax and visas - everything you need to work and live in Tanzania:
Working in Tanzania
Pay & Benefits
The minimum wage in the private sector is divided into 8 categories, which vary from 65,000 Tanzanian Shillings (TSH) for manual laborers up to 350,000 TSH for employees in the mining sector. The last change to the minimum wage was made in November 2010.
Taxes
Under the Income Tax Law, income tax is due for each year of income by every person with income from employment, business and/or investments, or who has a domestic permanent establishment that has repatriated income for the year of income. Employees are taxed according to their income group. For the highest income group (540,000 TZS or more per month), 30% is deducted. Taxes are deducted directly from employees' wages.
Visas
A standard tourist/visit visa is normally valid for three months after arrival. Visas are required and can be obtained on arrival at any international airport or land border, although it is possible and recommended to arrange a visa in advance at the Tanzanian embassies or High Commissions. Only a valid passport is required.
Frequent foreign visitors and business people should request multiple-entry visas. Anyone intending to reside in the United Republic of Tanzania for business or work can be issued residence permits. There are three types of visas: for self-employed foreigners (investors), for foreigners with jobs and for foreigners such as missionaries, students and volunteers.
Living in Tanzania
Why live in Tanzania?
This East African country covers a territory of 364,898 sq mi (945,087 km²), with a population of over 37 million people belonging to over 100 different ethnic groups. There is no official language in Tanzania, although Swahili is used for business and formal communications. English is also widely used.
Ninety percent of the people living in Tanzania work in a job related to agriculture. Cities are still underdeveloped, and most of Tanzania's workforce is rural.
The main city, Dar es Salaam, is a bustling metropolis with busy streets, markets and tree-lined boulevards.
Tanzania is home to several major national safari parks as well as the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
Because Tanzania has not suffered the impact of other, more industrialised nations, many of its natural and historical treasures remain undiscovered.
Medical
Medical facilities are limited in Tanzania, and medicines are often unavailable, even in Dar es Salaam. It is therefore advisable to bring along adequate supplies of all medications (in their original containers) and to get health insurance. The main health concern in the country is HIV/AIDS infection and malaria. You should get appropriate treatment prior to departure. Tap water is suspect, but mineral water is widely available.
Information about the organization of healthcare in Tanzania is available on the government portal.
Bank Accounts
Foreign currency and travellers' cheques can be exchanged for Tanzanian shillings at any bank. Most foreign exchange offices, called “Forex bureaux”, are open until 4 p.m. but deal in cash only. Banks are open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays. Credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are found in Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. Outside the main cities, ATMS are limited. You can check the Visa or MasterCard ATM locators page for the location of ATMs in Tanzania. A maximum amount of 400,000 TZS can be withdrawn.
To open an account in Tanzania, you need a valid passport, a bank record, a letter from your former bank stating that the bank account was properly used and a minimum amount of around 500 USD.
Finding a Property
A fairly good selection of accommodation is available in regularly visited urban centres such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar. But in other areas, accommodation does not meet international standards. The monthly rent for standard Western accommodations is around 600 USD (April 2008). Although online ads are available, you should contact various real estate agencies upon arrival. The best time to rent a place is from June to September. Karibu Tanzania lists a few real estate agencies. There are also many ads in shopping centres such as Slipway, Oysterbay, Shoppers Plaza and Transit. Another possibility is to check weekly newspaper such as Advertising Dar, Buy & Sell TZ and Advertise Weekly. Finally, word of mouth is said to be one of the best ways of finding a place in Tanzania.
Here are some of the neighbourhoods in Dar es Salaam that are popular with expatriates:
Oysterbay and La Péninsule are quite expensive neighbourhoods, but they are close to all facilities.
Large colonial houses can be found in Ada Estate and Regent Estate.
Kawe and Mbezi are well known because of their great location (two steps away from the beach and 25 minutes away from the city centre).
Travel
Tanzania's principal, paved highways are confined to the northeast, centre-east and southwest of the country. If you want to drive your own car, you can use an international driver's licence.
When travelling within the country, expatriates tend to use airlines. A good network of domestic flights connects Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, as well as other less-visited towns. Zanair and Coastal Airlines are the two main companies operating in Tanzania. Private airlines also run scheduled flights that connect to most parts of the country, including Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, Serengeti (Grumeti and Seronera), Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Mwanza, Rubondo Island, Kigoma, Selous, Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale.
Cost of Living
The currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). 1 euro = 1991.67 TZS and 1 USD = 1258.80 TZS (April 2008).
The cost of living is quite low. Prices in stores are fixed, but those offered at stalls are highly negotiable.
Here are some prices for common expenditures:
