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OnAsylum

Africa

Tanzania

Hosts a large, long-standing refugee population (mostly from Burundi and DRC) through a camp-based system coordinated with UNHCR.

At a glance, for someone deciding whether to come here

Not tourist facts — the things that actually shape daily life while your case is pending and after it's decided.

Right to workFormally restricted outside camps; informal economic activity happens within camps.
Cost of living Low Camp living is largely aid-dependent rather than cash-economy.
Healthcare while pendingBasic healthcare is provided within camps by UNHCR and partner agencies.
LanguageSwahili and English are official languages; camp populations are multilingual, reflecting Burundi and DRC origins.
Family reunificationHandled through the same camp-registration system.
After you're granted statusLong-term local integration outside camps has historically been limited; some long-staying populations have been offered naturalization in specific past programs, though this isn't a general guarantee.
ClimateTropical, warm year-round, with distinct wet seasons.
Existing communitySome of the longest-standing refugee camps in Africa — multi-generational communities exist in several camps, though 2026's camp closures are actively disrupting this.
Starter content, pending expert review. This page describes general, publicly known information about how this country's asylum system works. It is not legal advice and may be out of date — policies change often. Last drafted 2026-09-04.

How you could qualify to enter this system

  • Registration with the National Eligibility Committee and UNHCR, generally at a border reception point

How the process generally works

New arrivals register near the border and are generally settled in one of Tanzania's established refugee camps.

Step by step

  1. Register at the border

    Preliminary registration and prescreening at Ministry of Home Affairs offices in Kigoma.

  2. Transfer to a camp

    Formal registration and Refugee Status Determination happens after transfer, historically to Nyarugusu or Nduta camp.

What you'll typically need

  • Any ID available (not always required to register)
  • Details of your situation for registration purposes

Support available while your case is decided

  • UNHCR-run camp services: shelter, food assistance, basic healthcare and education

Tanzania has historically maintained an encampment policy restricting refugees' movement outside designated camps — a materially different day-to-day reality from an urban asylum system. This has escalated sharply in 2026: Nduta camp was closed on 30 April 2026 as part of a deal between Tanzania and Burundi to repatriate roughly 100,000 Burundian refugees, with reports of forced evictions, and authorities have signaled plans to close Nyarugusu — now the last remaining camp — as well. Movement permits within camps have reportedly been restricted to medical grounds only. Treat this as an actively worsening, fast-moving situation rather than the stable long-term hosting arrangement it has historically been.

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming the camp system operates as it has for decades — Nduta camp's closure in April 2026 and reports of coerced returns to Burundi are a real, current shift away from the settled, long-term hosting Tanzania was previously known for.
  • Not accounting for in-camp movement restrictions, which have reportedly tightened to medical-grounds-only exit permits in some camps during 2026.
Sources checked for this page