Since 2023, buying a home in Zanzibar can give not only income but also the right to live on the island. Zanzibar’s Investment Act No. 10 of 2023 and Tanzania’s immigration legislation introduced a Class C11 residence permit for foreigners who have bought property in approved projects. In advertising it is often called the “Zanzibar golden visa”. The first permits were issued in 2024, and in 2025 the rules for the one-stop centre at ZIPA were fixed by a separate regulation.
Main conditions
- Amount: from $100,000 for one property. Several cheaper properties are not added together.
- The property must be in a project approved by the investment agency ZIPA.
- Family: the investor, a spouse and up to four dependent children. In practice children under 18 are registered; by law up to 20 years is possible with proof of study or support.
- Residence: there is no requirement to live on the island for a set time — the property can be used as a holiday home or rented out.
- Term: two years with extension for as long as you own the property.
- Cost: about $500–550 for two years for the investor and about $50 for each family member.
- Timing: review at the ZIPA one-stop centre usually takes 4–8 weeks.
Which documents you will need
- confirmation of the purchase and payment for the property;
- a Zanzibar tax number;
- a certificate of no criminal record from your country of citizenship;
- passports and standard application forms.
How the process works
- Buying a property from $100,000 in a ZIPA-approved project and paying in full through a bank.
- Registering the right to the unit.
- A ZIPA recommendation letter confirming that the purchase meets the requirements of the law.
- Submitting an application on the e-Residence portal of the Tanzania immigration service.
- Checks, payment of fees and receipt of resident cards.
For the renewal every two years you need a certificate of no tax arrears from the Zanzibar tax authority and confirmation that the property is still yours. Marriage and birth documents are best translated into English and apostilled in advance.
What this visa does not give
- The right to work. To work or run a business you need a separate work or business visa.
- Citizenship. This is residency, not a passport.
- The right to permanent residence after selling the property: the status is valid while you own it.
Who it is of interest to
- Those who want to spend several months a year on the island without visa restrictions.
- Remote workers and retirees for whom climate and cost of living matter.
- Investors who want to visit and control their property personally.
Advice
The programme’s terms are new, and the details of application are still being clarified. Before buying, ask the developer for confirmation that the project is approved by ZIPA and that its buyers have already received the visa. Check the final requirements with ZIPA on the date of filing.
We’ll find a property in Zanzibar
INVENTO works with vetted projects in Zanzibar approved by the investment agency ZIPA. Write to us and we will prepare a selection and a yield calculation for your budget. Properties: real estate in Zanzibar.
Information is current as of October 2026 and is for reference only. It is not legal or tax advice: check the terms for your own case before any deal.
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