Tanzania’s immigration services department has lowered the residence permit charges for East African community (EAC) citizens seeking to live in the country by three quarters, reports the Daily News.
Investors from the region have also had their charges reduced by a half as well. These changes came after complaints by foreigners over the excessive fees that Tanzania charges on residence permits for foreigners intending to live in the country for investment, business, employment or any other legal activity.
Kenyans, Ugandans, Burundians, Rwandese and South Sudanese will pay a residential fee of 500 US dollars, a reduction from 2,000 US dollars. Investors from the region will pay 1500 dollars, from a previous amount of 3000 dollars. Tanzania hopes to attract investors from the EAC members states with this incentive.
Tanzania new fee structure from the government is an attempt by the East African nation’s commitment in implementing the EAC protocol.
“These changes seek to provide preferential treatments to citizens of the EAC member countries, as compared to those coming from other countries,” said Immigration Services Commissioner for Border Control and Management Abdullah Khamis
Students under the age of 18 years from EAC countries have been exempted from paying any fees and allowed free access to the country.
Tanzanian men who have been previously been paying 500 US dollars to have their foreign wives live in the country, have received a reprieve and will now be paying 46 dollars .
