Date of publication:
01/07/2026
United Republic of Tanzania (the)
Do domestic laws and policies provide for a legal status to refugees, authorizing them to stay in the country?
Assessment by population
Analysis
Tanzania’s legal framework, through the Refugees Act No. 9 of 1998, provides for the formal recognition and legal status of persons granted asylum. Once an individual is recognized as a refugee—either through individual status determination or group (prima facie) recognition—they are entitled to a legal status that affords protection against refoulement and enables lawful residence in the country. Recognized refugees are typically issued documentation, including refugee identity cards, and are permitted to reside in designated areas (primarily refugee camps such as Nyarugusu, Nduta, and Mtendeli).
Related provisions of domestic law or policy
The Refugee Act
- Year: 1999
- Type: Domestic law
- Rights Category: Asylum
- Link to external source: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b50bf.html
Legal provision
Section 12.1 - Permit to remain in Tanzania
No asylum seeker or refugee to whom this section applies shall remain in Tanzania, unless- (a)he is issued with a permit to remain in Tanzania; (b)he complies with the terms or conditions from time to time annexed to such permit or issued to him in writing by the Director.
Section 30.1 - Registration of refugees and asylum seekers
The Director shall register and keep records of all asylum seekers and refugees present and the designated areas established in Tanzania and for this purpose he shall be deemed to be the Registrar of asylum seeker and refugees provided that he may delegate in writing this function to settlement officer or refugee officers.
Section 9.3 - Determination of status
Without prejudice to the provision of this section no person claiming to be a refugee within the meaning of section 4 shall merely for reasons of his illegal entry be declared a prohibited immigrant, detained or penalized in any other way save that any person who after entering Tanzania or who is within Tanzania fails to comply with subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence.