The routes to living on Zanzibar: retirement, a home, work or investment
Anyone staying on Zanzibar for more than 90 days needs a residence permit from the Tanzanian immigration service. There are four routes: retired at 55 or older, as the buyer of a home in a ZIPA project, with a job, or as an investor. The fifth route is not emigration: half of every year on Zanzibar, while staying registered in the Netherlands.
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Anyone who wants to stay on Zanzibar for more than 90 days needs a residence permit from the Tanzanian immigration service. For Dutch nationals there are four routes to such a permit: retired at 55 or older (Class C-2), as the buyer of a home in a ZIPA project (Class C-11), with a job (Class B-1) or as an investor (Class A-3). The fifth route is not emigration: half of every year on Zanzibar, while you stay registered in the Netherlands. Every permit is valid for two years at most and can be renewed.
Zanzibar is part of Tanzania with its own government. Tanzania arranges your stay: the visa and the residence permit come from Immigration, which has its own office on Zanzibar, the Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar. Zanzibar arranges work itself: the work permit comes from the Zanzibar Labour Commissioner, the head of the labour department. The Dutch travel advice from NederlandWereldwijd is yellow for Zanzibar.
Which route suits you?
| Route | Permit | For whom | Fee | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement | Class C-2 | retired, 55 or older, with a secure income | USD 500 | two years at most, renewable |
| Home | Class C-11 | buyer of a home worth at least USD 100,000, with a letter from ZIPA | USD 500 | two years at most, renewable |
| Work | work permit, then Class B-1 | employee of an employer on Zanzibar | USD 2,000 for the B-1 | work permit 6 to 12 months, B-1 two years at most |
| Investor | ZIPA certificate, then Class A-3 | shareholder and director of your own company | USD 3,000 for the A-3 | two years at most, renewable |
| Season | a visa per stay, or a Class C permit | half of every year on Zanzibar, registered in the Netherlands | visa USD 50 | visa 90 days at most |
On top of the permit you pay a re-entry pass of USD 50 per person. It lets you leave the country and come back in. A partner or child gets a dependant pass of USD 550.
I am retired. Can I live on Zanzibar?
Yes, from the age of 55, with the Residence Permit Class C-2. Immigration asks for an "assured income": a steady income that supports you and your family. The source names no minimum amount. Among other things you provide proof of your pension, a letter showing that you have retired, and proof of your address on Zanzibar.
A retiree does not need a work permit. He may also apply once he is already in the country. For the other classes, the permit must be in place before you enter.
Can I get a permit by buying a house?
Yes, with the Class C-11 for buyers of real estate. According to the Zanzibar Investment Act 2023, it concerns a home in a real estate project approved by ZIPA. ZIPA is the Zanzibar investment authority. Immigration asks for, among other things:
- a letter of recommendation from ZIPA;
- proof that the home is worth at least USD 100,000;
- the title deed or the certificate of occupancy;
- a certificate of conduct from the Netherlands;
- a tax clearance, the proof that you have paid your taxes.
The law mentions a residence permit for the buyer, the partner and four children under twenty. The detailed rules for this could not be found. Ask ZIPA before you sign whether your home qualifies.
A foreigner cannot own land on Zanzibar. All land belongs to the state, and a foreigner can only lease land. So have the purchase contract checked by a lawyer on Zanzibar before you pay anything.
I have a job on Zanzibar. How does that work?
First the work permit, then the residence permit. Under the Zanzibar Employment Act of 2005, an employer only hires a foreigner if no Tanzanian with the right qualifications is available, or for a management position with an investor. A long-term work permit is valid for six to twelve months and is renewed per year, up to four years in total. That limit does not apply to investors and managers. With the work permit you apply for the Class B-1, for USD 2,000. Working on a tourist visa is not allowed.
And as an investor?
Investors registered with ZIPA get their work and residence permits through ZIPA. According to ZIPA's frequently asked questions, the minimum capital for a foreigner is USD 500,000, and USD 2,500,000 in the hotel and real estate sector. The investment certificate costs USD 600 to 2,500 and is ready within five working days. Then comes the Class A-3, for USD 3,000.
Can I also go for half of every year?
Yes, but a visa is valid for 90 days at most. The Ordinary Visa costs USD 50 and is valid for a single entry. With the Multiple Entry Visa of USD 100 you also stay 90 days at most per visit, and a tourist only gets it with a letter from the Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar. If you stay longer than 90 days, Immigration requires a residence permit.
Whether you can use two separate visas per year, or extend a visa on Zanzibar, is not in the official rules. Ask the Commissioner of Immigration Zanzibar. What such a half year means for your registration, your state pension (AOW) and your health care in the Netherlands is in the article on half a year on Zanzibar.
In Vertrekklaar this is phase 2 of 5 of the journey: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Zanzibar or look inside the open plan first.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- Tanzania Immigration — Residence Permit Guidelines, classes A, B and C, the requirements and the offices on Zanzibar — immigration.go.tz
- Tanzania Immigration — Visa Guidelines (September 2026), the Ordinary Visa and the Multiple Entry Visa — immigration.go.tz
- Zanzibar Employment Act 2005, sections 36 to 38 — the work permit from the Labour Commissioner (Government Gazette 7 October 2005) — archive.gazettes.africa
- ZIPA — frequently asked questions, minimum capital, investment certificate and permits through ZIPA — zipa.go.tz
- Zanzibar Investment Act 2023, sections 3 and 51 — buyers of a home in a project approved by ZIPA (scan via FAOLEX) — faolex.fao.org
- NederlandWereldwijd — travel advice for Tanzania, including Zanzibar (changed 9 October 2026) — nederlandwereldwijd.nl
Read on
- ZanzibarYour visa5 min
Half a year on Zanzibar while staying registered in the Netherlands
If you spend six or seven months on Zanzibar every year, you may stay registered in the Netherlands: you only have to deregister from eight months. Your state pension (AOW) build-up and your health insurance then usually continue. But more than 90 days requires a residence permit, and at 183 days you are also tax resident in Tanzania.
Updated 18 October 2026
- ZanzibarYour visa5 min
Buying a house in Zanzibar: a lease from the state, and what ZIPA arranges
In Zanzibar all land belongs to the state. A foreigner cannot own land, only obtain a lease: by law at most 49 years, renewable. For a home in a real estate project approved by ZIPA there is a separate scheme: from USD 100,000 it can bring a residence permit and half off the stamp duty.
Updated 18 October 2026
- ZanzibarYour visa5 min
Working on Zanzibar: the work permit and the residence permit
As a foreigner you can only work on Zanzibar with a work permit from the Zanzibar Labour Commissioner. A long-term work permit is valid for six to twelve months. Then you apply to the Tanzanian immigration service for a Class B-1, for USD 2,000. Investors go through ZIPA and the Class A-3.
Updated 18 October 2026