Export procedures

Export means to take or cause goods to be taken out of partner

states. All Exports are free of duty and taxes except for three
items; Exporters other than Investors registered in EPZ (This applies for
those who have Certificate of meat processor) , shall pay export levy of
80% of FOB value or 0.52 USD per kilogram whichever is higher when
exporting raw hides and skin. Raw cashew nuts are chargeable to export
levy at the rate of 15% of FOB value or USD 160 per metric ton whichever
is higher and Wet blue leather are levied at the rate of 10% on FOB.

How do I process export documents?

 The exporter is required to appoint a Licensed Clearing and

Forwarding Agent (CFA) to clear his/her goods for export
 Documentation process is done online and completed before
examination of goods and export release.
 The exporter hands over the documents to the CFA who
uploads them in the Tanzania Customs Integrated System
(TANCIS for Mainland and Zanzibar) together with all
attachment of relevant documents including permits from
Other Government Departments (OGDs).
 Assessment of export taxes and duties if any.
 CFA make booking of container(s) from shipping line/agent.
 Stuffing of export cargo at Container Freight Services(CFS) into
container(s) under supervision of TRA and Other Government
Departments (OGDs)
 Shipping line/agent submit to TRA export vessel schedule
information.
 TRA audit (approve/reject) loading declaration (approved
loading declaration automatically disseminated to Terminal
operator as Loading List and becomes expected carry in).
 Gate check is confirmed by TRA terminal gate.
 Terminal operator submits Carry in report to TRA to confirm
arrival of export cargo at Terminal.
 Loading result report (short/normal loaded cargo) submitted by
terminal to TRA.
 Confirmation of loading report by TRA.
 Submission of Export manifest by Shipping Line/Agent to TRA.
 TRA Audit (approve) export manifest (automatically strike off
inventory from terminal).

Note:

 The exporter is required to inform the Customs before loading

the goods in the container or truck as the proper officer is
required to supervise the loading process
 Booking of the space at the shipping line is not required for
exports made through overland.

The following documents shall be attached when

accomplishing export:
• Invoice
• Parking list
• TIN certificate (exporter)
• Authorization letter
• Export certificates from relevant Authorities depending on
nature of the goods to be exported. The certificates/permits may
include;

 Certificates from Ministry of Agriculture for crops

 Certificate from Ministry of livestock and fishery
 Certificates from ministry of mines for minerals
 Certificates from Ministry of Natural Resources
 Cross Border Declaration of Currency and Bearer Negotiable
Instruments

IMPORT PROCEDURES

Import procedures

Introduction
Import means goods and services brought to Tanzania from a foreign
country. Import procedures have to be followed in order to clear goods as
per the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA)
2004.
Imports to Tanzania are subjected to different stages whereby the importer
is advised to make declaration through his Clearing and Forwarding Agent
by lodging documents at least 7 days before arrival of the vessel.

How do I process Import documents?

 The importer is required to appoint a Licensed Clearing and Forwarding
Agent (CFA) to clear goods
 Documentation process is done online through Tanzania Customs
Integrated System (TANCIS) for imports and exports and can be
completed before arrival of the goods
 Customs agents lodge the documents in the clearance system i.e.
Tanzania Customs Integrated System Mainland and Zanzibar attaching
all other relevant import supporting documents. The Agents are urged to
lodge such documents at least 7 days before arrival of the goods.

Import documents include;

 Final Invoice
 Agent’s Authorization Letter from the importer
 Import permits from TMDA, TBS, TASAC etc
 Exemption documents (If applicable)
 Packing List
 Transport documents i.e Bill of Lading/Airway Bill/Road Consignment
note.
 Cross Border Declaration of Currency and Bearer Negotiable
Instruments.

Note:
The clearance system automatically rejects incomplete declaration or
declaration having insufficient descriptions through Integrated Query
System (IQS) which is in TANCIS.

Pre – Arrival Declaration Procedure

What is Pre – Arrival Declaration?
Pre – Arrival Declaration is the facility in the clearance system
which allows the Importer/Agent to start the clearance procedures
of the goods before the arrival of the goods at the entry point.
This facility helps the importer to accomplish some of the
procedures before arrival of the goods hence reduce the time to
be spent for clearance of the goods upon arrival of the goods.
Initial process starts with the importer through his/her appointed
Clearing and Forwarding Agent (CFA).

Note:-
The facility is applied to all imports with exception to importation
of fuel (white products), goods imported through Post Parcel and
courier services, Temporary Imported goods, Goods cleared under
Provision declarations and Transit declarations
The facility enables the importer to know the amount of duties
and taxes to be paid in a particular transaction prior to arrival of
goods.

Verification of Goods
The imported goods are subjected to selectivity which determines
whether the goods are directly released (GREEN), undergo
documentary check /scanned (YELLOW) or physically verified
(RED). The determination of the selectivity is done by the system
through the use of risk management whereby the parameters
including origin of the goods, importer, Agent and type of goods.
Goods are examined and released from Port, border station or
Airport.

TANCIS

 The importer through his/her Agent lodges the document to

the system electronically attaching the supporting documents
 If declaration is “Rejected” CFA is supposed to submit afresh
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
and validation check are completed. If the officer rejects the
amendment CFA will get Amendment Rejection Notice for
TANSAD, otherwise officer will rework 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 24 hours (1 day) 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 24 hours.

Note: The P-PADs for PADs registered without complete set of

final documents should be processed and issued 24 hours after
receipt of the same, i.e if the final documents are received after
two weeks, the process starts that day.
 After lodgment 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
Customs Service Centre (CSC), and
 those selected for physical verification are examined and
release at the port and point of entry.