Business Visitors and Employers Face Tight Deadline to Comply with New Law

Tanzania

Following reports of foreign nationals working without permits and under Carry on Temporary Assignment Permits (CTA) (the business visitor status), business visitors must convert their CTA to a new Short-Term Permit (STP) in Tanzania by December 29, 2015.  The law also requires employers to ensure that all foreign workers have valid work permits by that date.

Background

The Non-Citizens Employment Act of 2015 – implemented September 15, 2015 - prohibits foreign nationals without a valid work permit or certificate of exemption from engaging in work for reward, whether it is for a profit or non-profit company.  It also prohibits a person from employing, engaging or causing to be employed or engaged foreign nationals without a valid work permit or a valid certificate of exemption.

New Short-Term Permit for Business Visitors

The new law eliminates the CTA and requires business visitors in Tanzania to convert their CTA to STP by December 29, 2015. Business visitors must also carry a receipt of their STP application during their stay in Tanzania. The STP is a multiple-entry visa valid for six months.

Penalties for Noncompliance

Breach of these requirements may result in a fine of at least Tsh10,000,000 (approximately USD 5,000) and/or at least two years imprisonment.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Employers should ensure that foreign workers have a valid work permit or STP, where it is applicable.

Business visitors should contact their immigration professional to convert their CTA to STP. 

The government has been made aware of the difficulties the December 29 deadline poses to CTA holders, since it takes over six weeks to obtain a work permit, making it impossible for CTA holders who require work permits to comply with the deadline.  Further information will be communicated once the authorities have made a decision on the timeline for compliance.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

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