Tanzania bans foreigners from running 15 types of small businesses

According to the notice, all business licensing authorities must immediately stop issuing or renewing licenses to non-citizens in any of these restricted areas.
Foreigners will no longer be allowed to operate or seek licenses for 15 selected small-scale business activities in Tanzania, under a new legal order that restricts the sectors to Tanzanian citizens only.
The ban, announced through Government Notice No. 487A, was signed by Industry and Trade Minister Selemani Saidi Jafo and published on July 28, 2025.
It is part of the Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, made under Section 14A(2) of the Business Licensing Act (Cap. 101).
The order applies to all non-citizens as defined under the Tanzania Citizenship Act, and bars them from applying for, holding, or renewing business licenses in the specified sectors.
The 15 categories of business now off-limits to foreigners include:
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Wholesale and retail sale of goods, except for supermarkets, specialised product outlets, and authorised wholesale centres dealing in local goods.
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Mobile money transfer services.
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Repair of electronic devices, including mobile phones.
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Salons, unless they operate inside hotels or are tied to tourism.
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Home, office, and environmental cleaning services.
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Small-scale mining operations.
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Postal and parcel delivery services within Tanzania.
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Tour guiding.
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Publishing and running of radio or TV stations.
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Running kiosks or small shops.
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Real estate and business brokerage services.
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Clearing and forwarding activities.
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Buying produce both on farms and in markets.
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Running gambling machines, unless they are inside casinos.
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Operating micro or small-scale industries.
According to the notice, all business licensing authorities must immediately stop issuing or renewing licenses to non-citizens in any of these restricted areas.
Those found in violation of the ban face heavy consequences. Any non-citizen caught operating in these areas may be fined not less than ten million Tanzanian shillings (about Sh495,000) or jailed for up to six months.
They may also lose their residence permit or visa.
The order also targets Tanzanian citizens who help foreigners enter the restricted business areas. Anyone who enables or assists a non-citizen to operate in the banned sectors may be fined up to five million shillings or jailed for a period of up to three months.
However, the new rules provide a transitional period. Non-citizens who currently have valid licenses in any of the listed activities will be allowed to continue running their businesses until their existing permits expire.
The order, dated July 25, 2025, is part of a broader effort by the Tanzanian government to protect certain economic activities for its own citizens and to encourage local ownership in lower-tier enterprises.