How to Get Tanzania CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 7 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically.
- Available routes
- Region
- Africa
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Tanzania, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
- Residence
- 7 years
Person has been resident for 12 months prior to the application and at least 7 years during previous 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of other citizenship required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Adequate knowledge of Swahili or English required.
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required.
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Given his/her past and potential contribution to the national economy, scientific and technological advancement and the national social and cultural welfare of the country s/he would be a good citizen of Tanzania.
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Tanzania, the rules below set out what this route requires. Citizenship must be granted under the law of Tanzania once an application meets the legal conditions.
Person is the wife of a citizen. Other conditions: renounce other citizenship.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Tanzania, subject to the conditions below.
Person is born abroad to a citizen other than by descent (i.e. not also born outside the country).
Father a citizen by descent (person may apply for citizenship by naturalisation).
Birth in the country
Birth in Tanzania is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Tanzania, without any authority making a decision.
Person is born in Tanzania unless father has diplomatic immunity and mother is not a citizen, or either parent is an enemy and birth takes place in territory occupied by the enemy. (Note: in practice, the notional provision is not applied and has been overruled by the state's legal office. The Tanzanian authorities thus interpret the ius soli provision to require one parent to be a citizen.)
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Tanzania is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is the minor child of a citizen and an application is made on his or her behalf by the parent or guardian.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Tanzania is the basis of this route. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Tanzania, without any authority making a decision.
Person's status as a citizen depends on status of father. If father is deceased, status shall be interpreted to refer to his status at time of death.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Tanzania is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a woman who lost citizenship on acquiring another citizenship through marriage, and marriage subsequently breaks down.
Not available in Tanzania: Adoption, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Stateless persons, Special achievements, Public or military service, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Tanzania does not generally accept dual citizenship.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad lose their citizenship automatically
Person acquired citizenship of another country by voluntary act other than marriage, or acquired the citizenship of another country and fails to renounce Tanzanian citizenship.
Compare with neighbours
Among the 17 countries in Eastern Africa with a residence route, the most common requirement is 10 years, while Tanzania sets 7 years.
Compare Tanzania with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Burundi | 10 years | Assimilation only | Accepted |
 Kenya | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Madagascar | 5 years | Required, no test | New citizens only |
 Malawi | 7 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Mauritius | 5 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Somalia | 7 years | None | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 9, Schedule 2.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Tanzania Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/tanzania/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/tanzania/">How to Get Tanzania Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Tanzanian citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Tanzania takes 7 years of residence at minimum, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Tanzania allow dual citizenship?
Generally no. The law of Tanzania does not accept dual citizenship in either direction.
Do I need a language test for Tanzanian citizenship?
Tanzania requires language skills without naming a particular test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Tanzanian citizenship?
Civic knowledge is not assessed as part of the naturalisation process for Tanzanian citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Tanzanian citizenship?
Tanzania requires you to renounce your current citizenship for Tanzanian citizenship.
Can I get Tanzania citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Tanzania has a route for spouses. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Tanzania citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Tanzania by descent. Procedure: automatic, discretionary.
Can I get Tanzania citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Tanzania.
Related pages
Also see: Tanzania passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.