What is Tanzania's de minimis import threshold?

Tanzania's de minimis threshold is set by Tanzania Revenue Authority — Customs and Excise Department; verify before shipping.

Is VAT or GST charged on imports into Tanzania?

VAT 18% standard. Applied to imports plus customs duty per EAC Common External Tariff and Excise Duty on selected items. Pre-shipment inspection required for some commercial imports.

Who is the customs authority in Tanzania?

Tanzania Revenue Authority — Customs and Excise Department — https://www.tra.go.tz/.

What categories of goods are restricted from importing into Tanzania?

Restricted categories include: Firearms (Ministry of Home Affairs permit); Pharmaceuticals (TMDA permit); Wildlife products.

What is prohibited from importing into Tanzania?

Prohibited categories include: Narcotics; Counterfeit goods; Endangered species (CITES); Plastic carrier bags (banned 2019).

IMPORT DESTINATION

Importing Into 🇹🇿 Tanzania

CUSTOMS AUTHORITYTanzania Revenue Authority — Customs and Excise Department

STANDARD VAT18%

DE MINIMIS (USD)US$0

De Minimis Threshold

THRESHOLD (USD)

US$0

LOCAL CURRENCY

Commercial parcels assessed at value

Shipments below this value may enter without customs duty. VAT may still apply depending on local rules.

Tanzania applies the EAC Common External Tariff (CET): 0% raw materials, 10% intermediate goods, 25% finished consumer goods. 18% VAT on top.

As of: 2023-01-01

VAT / GST on Imports

18%

STANDARD VAT / GST RATE

Applied on the customs value (CIF — cost, insurance, freight) plus any applicable duties.

Required Documentation

#	Document
01	Customs declaration form
02	TMDA permit for medications

Requirements vary by shipment value, HS chapter, and origin country. Learn about each document type →

Restricted Import Categories

⚠Firearms (Ministry of Home Affairs permit)
⚠Pharmaceuticals (TMDA permit)
⚠Wildlife products

Prohibited Import Categories

✗Narcotics
✗Counterfeit goods
✗Endangered species (CITES)
✗Plastic carrier bags (banned 2019)

Special Notes

01Plastic-bag ban: enforced strictly since June 2019 — confiscation at Dar/JRO/Zanzibar.
02EAC member: Common External Tariff applies.
03Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar (semi-autonomous) operate distinct customs administrations in places.

DUTY CALCULATOR

Estimate duties and VAT for a specific shipment into Tanzania.

Calculate Duty →

VERIFIED · 2026-07-01Tanzania Revenue Authority — Customs and Excise Departmentofficial site →De minimis comparison table →