Tanzania has removed the additional visa clearance requirement for Nigerian nationals, ending a process that once took up to two months and signalling a new openness to one of Africa’s largest sources of outward investment.
The Immigration Services Department announced the change in a public notice issued on September 25, 2026, and signed by Chief Spokesperson Paul Mselle. Under Government Gazette No. 246 of 2026, Nigerian citizens have been removed from the list of nationalities subject to the referral visa requirement .
The change took effect immediately.
What the Referral Visa Requirement Meant
Under the previous referral system, Nigerian travellers had to apply for clearance in advance and wait for immigration approval before travelling to Tanzania. The process could take longer than ordinary visa applications, with applicants advised to submit their requests at least two months before their planned travel .
The referral rule dates back to September 2018, when Tanzania added Nigeria alongside Ethiopia and Djibouti to a list of countries requiring special clearance from the Commissioner General of Immigration before a visa could be issued . At the time, the change ended Tanzania’s visa-on-arrival arrangement for Nigerian citizens, forcing travellers to apply well in advance and avoid booking non-refundable flights until approval was granted .
The immigration department later dismissed claims that the measure was a blanket ban on Nigerians, clarifying that it was a procedural requirement rather than a prohibition .
That additional layer of bureaucracy has now been eliminated. Nigerian nationals can apply for a Tanzanian visa through the immigration online portal or at designated entry points without undergoing the extra approval process .
Why This Matters for Investors
For investors and business leaders, the timing and significance of this change are hard to overstate.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies. More importantly, it is already a major investor in Tanzania. According to Tanzania’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Selestine Kakele, Nigerian investment in Tanzania stands at over $1.3 billion, driven largely by Dangote Industries and United Bank for Africa Data from the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority indicates Nigeria has invested approximately $1.37 billion between 1997 and January 2025, creating over 2,200 jobs across agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport, finance, and tourism .
Bilateral trade, however, remains strikingly low. Tanzania’s exports to Nigeria stand at about $21.5 million, while Nigeria’s exports to Tanzania are valued at approximately $881,000 . That imbalance $1.3 billion in investment against under $30 million in two-way trade suggests significant untapped potential.
The Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) has actively courted Nigerian capital. In 2024, TIC Board Chairman Dr. Binilith Mahenge told a Lagos investment forum that Tanzania was already home to 28 Nigerian companies employing approximately 1,990 people, and offered a direct appeal: “We’ll prefer somebody from Nigeria coming to invest in Tanzania than somebody from Europe” .
The removal of the referral requirement is expected to:
- Reduce travel friction for Nigerian executives, entrepreneurs, and investors exploring opportunities in Tanzania.
- Shorten lead times for business trips from roughly two months to standard processing times, making it easier to respond to time-sensitive deals.
- Build on recent diplomatic momentum, including a March 2026 Tanzania–Nigeria Business and Investment Forum in Lagos .
- Signal openness to African investors at a time when intra-African trade is expanding under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A Step Toward Deeper Intra-African Integration
The decision aligns with broader efforts across Africa to remove barriers to movement and trade. Nigeria’s removal follows Tanzania’s July 2026 visa exemption list covering 21 African nations, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe .
For Nigerian investors considering Tanzania, the path to exploring opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and financial services has just become significantly smoother The TIC does not offer a blanket, automatic five-year corporate tax waiver (tax holiday) for all direct foreign investments.
- Standard TIC Certificates: The standard TIC Certificate of Incentives is valid for up to 5 years, but it primarily provides customs duty exemptions (0% import duty) on capital goods and machinery, alongside VAT deferments. It does not automatically cancel corporate income tax (which stands at a standard 30
- Sector-Specific Exceptions: A 5-year reduced corporate tax rate (e.g., 10% or 20%) is only given to very specific sectors, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, textiles, or motor vehicle assembly.
- Where 5 to 10-Year Holidays actually exist: If an investor wants a full corporate tax holiday, they must register under the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) or Export Processing Zones (EPZ) framework of ten integrated with TISEZA which can offer up to a 10-year corporate tax holiday for export-oriented businesses.
What to Do Next
Nigerian nationals planning to travel to Tanzania can now:
- Apply for a visa through the Tanzania immigration online portal.
- Alternatively, apply at designated entry points upon arrival.
- Proceed without waiting for the additional referral approval that was previously required.
The Bottom Line
Tanzania’s removal of the extra visa clearance for Nigerians is more than a procedural update. It is a strategic move that lowers barriers, builds bridges, and reinforces the country’s reputation as a welcoming destination for all African investors.
For those looking to invest in Tanzania, the door just got a little wider
