To all ILRI researchers intending to work in Tanzania,

I circulated this information about two years ago but now need to re-circulate it, with some updates, because some ILRI researchers have recently gotten into problems with Tanzania immigration. This is partly because the ILRI country office had no information about the visits so could not offer advice.

1. Any foreigner intending to undertake research in Tanzania must have a valid work permit. A research work permit is particularly recommended if you intend to spend time in the field. If short visits, then stick to ‘meeting’ as the purpose of your visit. However ‘meeting’ with villagers, as in focus group discussions, may be difficult to defend if it goes on for extended periods. So it is advisable to have a work permit.
2. Officials may follow leads from what you fill in the immigration forms and visit you in your hotel. Remember to fill the right purpose for your visit on entry and hotel registration forms. When the officials knock on your hotel door to enquire the purpose of your visit, you can respond in two ways with different consequences or pre-emptive action on your part.
3. If your response is ‘meeting’ then they normally do not pursue the matter. Research clearance is not required for this. A field visit as part of a ‘meeting’ is also ok. And a tourist or business visa allows for this. It is however recommended that you carry an invitation letter stating the purpose of your visit, or be able to refer them to your hosts.
4. If your response is ‘research’, then they will demand a work permit. A visitor’s or business visa is not adequate for this. A fee of $350 is needed for a work permit issued by the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), usually for one year. Once the research permit is approved IITA then forwards the documents to immigration for endorsement. This will cost you $550. You will also incur an admin cost of $100 to IITA. IITA (Neema Lazaro <n.lazaro@cgiar.org>) of can facilitate issuance of the permit before you travel.
5. You do NOT need to pay these costs if you are working under any of the Collaborative Research Agreements (CRAs) we have with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). These are protective because SUA has the same mandate as COSTECH.
6. Besides COSTECH or SUA clearance, additional ethical clearance through National Health Research Ethics Committee (NatHREC) is required when undertaking human health or nutrition research.

Regards,
Amos

Amos Omore, Country Representative in Tanzania| ILRI (www.ilri.org/Tanzania)
C/o IITA, East Africa Hub, P. O Box 34441, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Email: A.Omore@cgiar.org | Tel: +255 22 2700092 (Landline); +255 758560452 (mobile)| Skype: a.omore