Getting your passport in Tanzania

Please read: requirements, fees and steps change. This guide explains the general approach. Confirm the current rules and fees on the Tanzania Immigration Services website (immigration.go.tz) before you pay or travel to an office.

Most scholarships ask for a passport at some point, and many ask for it when you apply. Passports can take time, so do not wait until you have won.

Why to apply early

• Some scholarships ask for a passport copy in the first application.
• Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after you plan to travel. Check the exact rule for your destination.
• If a visa interview is scheduled quickly, you cannot wait for a passport.

The general process

Details can differ, so check each step on the official website:

1. Check the official requirements. Look at the Immigration Services website for the passport type you need (an ordinary adult passport for most students) and the current list of documents and fees.
2. Prepare your identity documents. In general, you should expect to be asked to prove who you are and that you are Tanzanian. Typically that means your national identity (such as your NIDA number or card) and your birth certificate. Confirm what the official list says for your situation.
3. Complete the application as the official instructions say. Use only the official channels.
4. Pay the government fee through the official payment method. Government fees in Tanzania are normally paid using a control number, not by sending money to a person's phone number.
5. Give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at the place the official process tells you.
6. Collect your passport as instructed, and check that every detail is correct before you leave.

What it will probably cost

We are not quoting a fee here because we could not confirm the current amount from the official site. Check the official fee page. If someone quotes a much higher price "for fast service", ask for proof it is official.

Avoid middlemen

• You do not need an "agent" to get a passport.
• Do not pay anyone you cannot verify. Do not give your documents or ID numbers to strangers online.
• Pay official fees only through the official payment method.

After you get it

• Check the name, date of birth and spelling are exactly as on your certificates. A small spelling difference can cause big problems later.
• Make colour scans of the photo page and keep copies in your documents folder.
• Note the expiry date and set a reminder.

Next: student visa basics.