Tanzania faces the Indian Ocean in East Africa and can claim some notable geographical facts, such as Africa's highest and lowest points, and other remarkable natural occurrences. They include:
Mt. Kilimanjaro - highest mountain
Lake Tanganyika - deepest lake
The Serengeti - home to the great annual wildebeest migration
The Zanzibar Archipelago - formerly known as the Spice Islands
While e-commerce remains in its infancy in Tanzania, both e-business and m-commerce (via mobile phones) are growing. On the plus side, the country has been experiencing strong economic activity and English is the language of foreign trade for Tanzanians. So, for Canadian shippers, trade with Tanzania can only improve.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Tanzania through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Tanzania. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking information to Tanzania
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Apr 3, 2023
8:49 am
Tarangire, TA, TZ
Delivered
Apr 2, 2023
7:18 am
Lake Manyara, LM, TZ
In transit
Apr 1, 2023
9:03 pm
Ngorongoro Crater, NC, TZ
International Clearance
Apr 1, 2023
8:14 am
Serengeti, SE, TZ
In transit
Apr 1, 2023
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
Mar 31, 2023
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Disclaimer!
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Tanzania before shipping any goods.
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will require different
paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
Tanzanian authorities do not allow gift shipments to be exempt from duty and taxes. Therefore, all gift parcels shipped to the country will incur fees.
Shipments from Individual-to-Individual
A gift shipment from an individual in Canada to an individual in Tanzania will be charged duty and taxes no matter its value.
Shipments from Business-to-Business
A gift shipment from a business in Canada to a business in Tanzania will incur duty and taxes regardless of the value of the parcel.
Shipments from Business-to-Individual
When a business in Canada ships a gift to an individual in Tanzania, it will be liable to duty and tax fees. There is no value threshold for gift shipments.
Gift Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time
(see sample)
List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
May Balisidya Changanyikeni Rd. Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 241 0700
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Personal Shipment / Gift Shipment
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 31 Mar 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift Shipment: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$79.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $79.99
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Multiple Gifts in One Shipment
If you are sending more than one gift in a parcel, then be sure to tag and wrap each gift separately.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
May Balisidya Changanyikeni Rd. Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 241 0700
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Unsolicited Gift: Consolidated Gift Package
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 31 Mar 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift - Roger: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$39.99
1 Each
Gift - Erica: Handwoven French Canadian Catalogne Blanket
CA
$49.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $89.98
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Duty-free entry of personal effects to Tanzania from Canada is allowed to those taking up residence in Tanzania.
This applies to Tanzanian citizens and Canadians arriving to live in Tanzania for the first time.
The exemption is allowed providing the person:
Is not already living in Tanzania
Has not previously claimed this exemption
Goods allowed entry as personal effects include:
Clothing and footwear
Household items* that are used and belong to the person and his or her family
Tools and instruments required for the importer's trade or profession
*The following are not allowed duty-free entry: bicycles, radios, televisions, and visual and audio recording equipment.
NOTE: Personal effects of a deceased person may be imported duty-free providing they are used, are not for sale, and have been bequeathed to the recipient.
Moving Temporarily
Students
There is no information available at this time regarding students moving temporarily to Tanzania with their personal effects in order to study.
Non-students
For people moving temporarily for a period of no longer than 6 months, personal effects may be imported duty-free if they are in a reasonable quantity and are returned to Canada at the end of the stay.
A shipment may include items such as:
Non-consumable goods
Consumable products and beverages (non-alcoholic)
Moving Permanently
Personal effects of those moving permanently to Tanzania may enter the country exempt from duties providing the individual:
Is either Tanzanian or a Canadian arriving to live in the country for the first time
Is currently NOT living in Tanzania
Has never claimed the exemption before
Personal effects allowed under the exemption provision may be:
Used household* items that were part of their residence in Canada
Equipment such as instruments and tools used for a profession or trade
Footwear and clothing
*Household items NOT allowed to enter duty-free include televisions, radios, bicycles, and audio and visual recording equipment.
NOTE: The shipment must arrive within 2 months of the individual entering Tanzania.
Personal Effects Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
A detailed description of each item is provided, including invoices to show length of ownership of the goods
For those moving permanently, provide a resident permit
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
May Balisidya Changanyikeni Rd. Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 241 0700
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 31 Mar 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Equipment and goods for repair may enter Tanzania from Canada exempt from duty charges as a temporary import. The items may only stay in Tanzania for a maximum of 12 months.
Items Under Warranty
Equipment repaired under warranty in Canada, and at no charge, may be returned to Tanzania without incurring duty.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
Equipment that is no longer under warranty and repaired in Canada will be liable to duty when it returns to Tanzania.
Sending Product for Repair to Tanzania
Equipment requiring repair may be shipped to Tanzania without incurring any duty. This is subject to the goods being re-exported to Canada within 12 months of their entry to Tanzania.
Returning Repaired Product to Tanzania
Providing equipment repaired in Canada was done under a warranty without any charges, it may re-enter Tanzania without incurring any duty.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return
(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Tanzania or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
May Balisidya Changanyikeni Rd. Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 241 0700
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 31 Mar 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Temporary imports are allowed into Tanzania duty-free providing the goods stay no longer than 12 months in the country, and are NOT prohibited items.
Be aware that a deposit is required in the amount of duty owed on the importation.
Goods that qualify for temporary importation include:
Equipment for an entertainment event
Items for display at exhibitions
Commercial samples
Promotional or advertising material
ATA Carnets
Tanzania does not accept ATA Carnets for temporary imports.
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods.
(see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
May Balisidya Changanyikeni Rd. Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 241 0700
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2020
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 31 Mar 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
Shipments of sold goods with a small value (less than $5,000 USD - about $6,000 CAD) may enter Tanzania without undergoing a Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity assessment.
Occasional Shipper
For goods sold and shipped to someone in Tanzania via e-commerce, the Tanzanian government has simplified the process for small parcels of relatively low value.
Therefore, shipments of sold goods with a value of less than $5,000 USD (about $6,000 CAD) may enter Tanzania without undergoing a Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity assessment.
Regular shipper
If you regularly ship sold goods in large, high-value quantities, we recommend that you consult a licenced Tanzanian customs broker.
This is because the goods may require a Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) assessment.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
May Balisidya Changanyikeni Rd. Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Phone: +255 22 241 0700
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 31 Mar 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This process alone can be confusing and time-consuming.
So we’ve narrowed down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.). Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels).
These are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a controlled good
and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Tanzania. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Tanzania, it will incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters of credit for the goods. Otherwise,
it is generally your choice whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process and
ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties and taxes.
No specific form required, but generally includes information regarding:
The exporter, importer and transport company
Date of issue
Number of freight invoice
Type and number of packages
Contents of each package
Marks and numbers
Net weight, gross weight and measurements of each package
Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Goods deemed prohibited by the Tanzanian authorities will not be permitted entry to the country. However, if an item is declared a restricted good, its entry may require a special permit or licence, or be limited to a specific quantity.
Tanzanian customs authorities calculate the amount of duty and taxes on a shipment by using its CIF value. CIF is the sum of the customs value plus insurance costs plus freight fees.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
If you were to calculate the CIF value of your shipment to Tanzania, you will be able to predict the amount of duty and taxes owed by the recipient.
Thresholds
Goods shipped to Tanzania will incur duty and tax regardless of their value. This means that there are no threshold values, i.e. a value below which no duty or tax is charged.
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling TZS
Duty Exemption (De minimis Value)
N/A
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
18%
Tax Exemption(De minimis Value)
N/A
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
Excise Duties
Excise duty is collected on a number of goods such as:
You can purchase
insurance
through Secureship and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment our system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable, if it doesn’t meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Tanzania from Canada can take between 3-5 business days through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform.
More economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2 months to complete the delivery.
