International: Tanzania

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

A Cross Border Permit Is Required for the Vehicle

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles across the border. LATRA issues a Cross Border Permit, under the same Transport Licensing (Goods Carrying Vehicles) Regulations that govern the domestic Carrier’s Licence, to a licensee intending to carry goods across an international border. This is a separate authorization from the domestic Carrier’s Licence, though issued by the same authority.

A Separate Professional Driving Permit Is Required for Drivers

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles across the border. A driver operating a commercial vehicle across a border needs a Professional Driving Permit, which the regulations define as authorizing cross-border driving “in accordance with Tripartite Agreements among COMESA, SADC and EAC countries”. This refers to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area framework, a named regional integration initiative combining all three African regional economic blocs.

Both Are Processed Through the Same Digital Platform

Cross-border vehicle permits can be applied for through the RRIMS portal, the same system used for domestic Carrier’s Licence applications and renewals.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A mover operating its own vehicles for international road transport across Tanzania’s borders needs a Cross Border Permit from LATRA for the vehicle, issued under the same regulations that govern the domestic Carrier’s Licence but as a distinct authorization. Drivers separately need a Professional Driving Permit authorizing cross-border operation, defined by reference to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Agreements, a named framework reflecting Tanzania’s membership across the major East and Southern African regional economic blocs. Both applications run through LATRA’s RRIMS digital platform, the same system used domestically. Where a mover subcontracts the cross-border road transport, the carrier’s own permits cover the transport it performs, and the mover uses carriers that hold them.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that carry goods across Tanzania’s borders by road in their own vehicles must:

1. Obtain a Cross Border Permit from LATRA for each vehicle operating internationally, in addition to the domestic Carrier’s Licence, applying through LATRA’s RRIMS digital platform.
2. Ensure drivers hold a Professional Driving Permit authorizing cross-border operation under the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite framework.

Movers that subcontract the cross-border road transport must:

3. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Cross Border Permit held from LATRA for each vehicle operating internationallyWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across the border)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Each cross-border driver holds a valid Professional Driving PermitWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across the border)Verified by DocumentRequired