Import means to bring or cause goods to be brought to Tanzania from a foreign country. Import procedures have to be followed in order to clear goods from Customs control as per the East Africa Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004.
Imports to Tanzania are subjected to different stages whereby the importer is advised to make declaration by lodging documents at least seven days before arrival of the vessel.
What are the importation procedures to Tanzania?
The importer is required to appoint a Licensed Clearing and Forwarding Agent (CFA) to clear goods
List of Clearing and Forwarding Agents
Documentation process is done online and can be completed before arrival of the goods
Customs agents/importers are urged to complete a Pre- Arrival Declaration (PAD) on TRA PAD online system (Link) and submit the same to TRA along with other relevant import/ supporting documents at least 7 days prior to the arrival of the goods.
Note: For TANCIS users (Currently Dar es salaam and Tunduma)
Customs agents/importers are urged to complete a Declaration and self assessment through Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS) and attach along with other relevant import/ supporting documents at least 7 days prior to the arrival of the goods
Complete set of import documents include :
Final Invoice
Declaration Form C 36
Agent’s Authorization Letter
Import permits i.e. TFDA, TBS, chemical permit etc
Exemption documents (If any)
Packing List
Transport documents i.e Bill of Lading/Airway Bill/Road Consignment
TIN Certificate (importer)
Note: Legible copies of Pro-forma invoices are acceptable for verification and registration purposes only but not for issuance of any clearance report (P-PAD, A-PAD etc.)
TRA rejects illegible and incomplete Pre-Arrival Declarations – PAD) (Link) with insufficient descriptions through Integrated Query System (IQS).
CFAs and Importers can follow the progress of their PAD through the Global Status Report (GSR) and communicate messages with the TRA through the “Communicate with TRA” accessible through the “Manage your files” link.
Pre – Arrival Declaration Procedure
What is Pre – Arrival Declaration?
Pre – Arrival Declaration (PAD) is the system used by Customs and Excise department to process importation documents during clearance of goods. However the initial process starts with the importer through his/her appointed Clearing and Forwarding Agent. (CFA)
Note: The following regimes do not undergo Pre – Arrival Declaration Process
Diplomatic cargos
Qualified returning residents Baggage Declaration forms
Post Parcel and courier services
ZNZ cases
Temporary Importation
EPZD
Export declarations
Petroleum products
Goods cleared under Provision declarations
Transit declarations
The importer hands over the importation documents either manually or electronically to the CFA who uploads them in the PAD system and lodges the same to TRA; whereby a reference number is automatically generated; these include:
Final Invoice
Declaration Form C 36
Agent’s Authorization Letter
Import permits i.e. TFDA, TBS, chemical permit etc
Exemption documents
Packing List
Transport documents i.e Bill of Lading/Airway Bill/Road Consignment
TIN Certificate (importer)
Note: Legible copies of Pro-forma invoices are acceptable for verification and registration purposes only but not for issuance of any clearance report (P-PAD, A-PAD etc.)
Note: Current other stations exclude Dar es salaam and Tunduma
TRA will verify the submitted PAD application for completeness, legality and confirm acceptance by registering the number generated upon lodgment by the agent. An automatic email notification is sent to the CFA.
TRA performs Customs Tariff Classification and Valuation and issues a Pre-Assessed PAD (P-PAD) for PADs registered with complete set of final documents. PAD registered with incomplete set of final documents are held pending for submission of same.
TRA issues a Pre-Assessed PAD (P-PAD) which is available for download by CFAs from the TRA PAD online for review.
The agent is supposed to pass over the P- PAD to the importer to go through and check for correctness for accepting the P-PAD or reject the same through IQS
If P-PAD is accepted by the importer; CFA will apply for an Assessed PAD (A-PAD) via www.trapad.co.tz along with scanned documents as applicable, such as permits and/or certificates issued by Other Governments Departments (TBS, Government Chemist, TDFA etc.) and supporting documentation to justify tax exemptions, if any.
TRA verifies the application and issues an Assessed PAD (A-PAD) available for download by CFA’s from this website. An automatic email notification is sent to the CFA.
The A-PAD EDI data becomes available for download by CFAs from this website for upload into On the basis of the A-PAD issued the CFA will assess Duties and Taxes through TANZANIA SINGLE ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENT(TANSAD)
The agent will hand over TANSAD to the importer ready for payment of duties and taxes to the Bank.
TRA perform the selectivity process by subjecting the TANSAD to Computerized Risk Management System (CMRS); basing on the results.
Note: GREEN color signifies direct release while YELLOW documentary check/SCANNER and RED physical examination or scanner.
Goods are examined and released from Port or Airport
Note: For TANCIS users (Currently Dar es salaam and Tunduma)
If declaration is “Rejected” CFA is supposed to submit a fresh declaration to accommodate TANCIS requirement.
TANSAD will be processed to payment stage before manifest is submitted.
Cargo Manifest write-off is shifted to a Customs Release Order stage (CRO).
CFA will get Acceptance Notice with a Payment Notice generated based on declared Values.
CFA will get Amendment Acceptance Notice once amendment they sent passes the validation check. If the officer rejects the amendment CFA will get Amendment Rejection Notice for TANSAD; otherwise officer will work on the document classification, valuation and verification.
Once verification is completed, the results will be registered by the officer.
Verification results will be submitted to the supervisor for approval.
CFA will receive Assessment Notice.
CFA has to accept or object the Assessment Notice
CFA has to object the officer Assessment through Integrated Query System (IQS)
If CFA accept the Notice and the assessment have increased compared to the declared values, an Additional Payment Notice will be generated within the assessment notice. This payment notice value will be the difference of the final amount and initial generated payment notice.
If there is a discrepancy between manifest data and declaration, CFA will receive Clearance Suspension Notice. CFA will need to amend the declaration as guided by inspection results and re-submit.
When Payment is received, inspection completed accordingly, CFA will receive Release Order for the respective goods.
How long does this process take before getting my goods?
A total number of 48hours (4 days) has been set for processing of Pre-Arrival Declarations from registration to issuance of the necessary clearance report (A-PAD) for PADs submitted with or upon receipt of sufficient documentation that meet the required standard.
The P-PAD for PADs submitted with complete set of final documents should be processed and issued within 48 hours.
Note: The P-PADs for PADs registered without complete set of final documents should be processed and issued 48 hours after receipt of the same, i.e if the final documents are received after two weeks, the process starts that day.
A-PADs should be processed and issued within 24 hours after receipt of an A-PAD application together with complete set of the required documents.
After lodgement of TANSAD and payment of duties if any, selectivity will be conducted within 24 hrs.
Goods are selected for direct release, green will get the release order from the port or entry point, those selected for documentary check will be checked at CSC, and those selected for physical verification are examined and release at the port and point or entry
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