Date of publication:

01/07/2026

United Republic of Tanzania (the)

Do domestic laws and policies provide for people to enter the country for the purpose of seeking asylum?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Asylum-seekers
Analysis

Tanzania’s legal framework recognizes the right of individuals to seek asylum and obligates authorities to admit persons who express a need for international protection. The Refugees Act No. 9 of 1998 governs the admission and management of asylum-seekers and refugees and provides mechanisms through which asylum claims may be made, including at the border. In principle, the law allows asylum-seekers who present themselves at points of entry—whether formal or informal—to be granted access to the territory and to initiate the refugee status determination (RSD) process.

In practice, Tanzania has long maintained a "group-based" recognition approach for mass influxes, particularly from neighboring countries such as Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, for individual asylum claims—especially those made at borders or airports—the system requires the person to be referred to the National Eligibility Committee through procedures facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

 

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    The National Refugee Policy

    Legal provision

    Section 9 - Determination of Refugee Status

    Tanzania has a tradition of providing a safe haven to people who flee persecution and conflicts in their countries of origin. It is or this reason that the system of refugee status determination has been put in place to assist the government to offer the required protection to those who deserve. In granting refugee status, the government decides on an applicable procedure (through individual status determination or declaration of a group basing on factors which forced asylum-seekers to flee and seek asylum). So far the government has been using the individualized system of status determination which works well despite the fact that resources have continued to be the major obstacle in making it more efficient and effective. For large influxes it has been more convenient to use the group recognition or the prima facie approach through Ministerial Orders issued by the Minister responsible for refugee affairs. The government of Tanzania will work out mechanisms that will require all refugees to present themselves to authorized officers for documentation.

    The Refugee Act

    Legal provision

    Section 9.1 - Determination of status

    Any person entering or who is within Tanzania, whether lawfully or otherwise and who wishes to remain in Tanzania as a refugee within the meaning of section 4 shall immediately and not later than seven days after entry, unless he can show reasonable cause for delay, present himself or report to the nearest authorised officer, village Executive Officer, or a justice of peace and apply for recognition as a refugee.