Tanzania

Noonsite yacht-clearance information lists Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga, Mafia Island and Mtwara among locations visited by yachts or where yachts may clear. This is cruising information, not a complete government list of designated ports. Before sailing, check with each port whether it can clear this vessel.

Cruiser information mentions Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar, Mafia Island and Mtwara as possible yacht-clearance locations. Confirm current acceptance and the authorities involved with the intended port. A commercial port or marina is not automatically a port of entry for international yacht clearance.

Pre-arrival notification

Tanga Yacht Club recommends coordinating port health and Immigration in advance via [email protected].

Third-party reference (not an official rule): Visiting Yachts

Tanzania visa requirements depend on the traveller’s nationality and circumstances. Immigration advises applying online; some nationalities require advance referral approval, so do not assume a visa on arrival is available when arriving by sea. Confirm yacht-crew entry, permitted stay and crew-change arrangements separately with Immigration and the arrival agent.

Local guidance mentions a Transire for movements between Tanzanian ports. Confirm whether it applies to this voyage; reports of inconsistent enforcement do not establish a legal exemption.

Third-party reference (not an official rule): Visiting Yachts

Tanga Yacht Club’s visiting-yacht information says a health officer may board arriving yachts for inspection and crew may be required to stay aboard until the health check is complete. This is local port information from the yacht club and does not establish a uniform nationwide procedure. Confirm declarations, permits and handling for food, plants, pets and other quarantine items with the health/quarantine authority at the actual port.

A third-party Tanzania yacht-safety report says firearms may require advance police permission and declaration, and pets may require health and rabies certificates. The report’s update date and current applicability are unclear; it also does not verify rules for retaining, sealing or re-exporting yacht stores. Do not treat it as a statement of current law. Before carrying firearms or pets, check directly with Tanzania Customs, Police and the veterinary/quarantine authority.

Arrival procedures

Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) Notice to Mariners 0407 (Version 2, 2022) covers local procedures for vessels navigating locally: before leaving a designated/approved port or landing place, the master or representative must obtain Vessel Port Clearance from the port official. The notice also requires reporting to the signal station when entering or leaving port limits. It does not establish the complete process for international arrival, Customs or Immigration clearance of foreign private yachts. Confirm those requirements separately with the port, Customs and Immigration before entry.

Official source: TASAC: MSN 0407 Clearance of Vessel (Version 2, 2022)

Noonsite’s Dar es Salaam page has recorded a clearance charge of about TZS 50,000 and mentions other fees reported by cruisers. These are third-party reports that may be outdated or vary by port, service and case; they are not an official tariff. Ask the relevant authorities and agent for current charges and receipts before departure.