Required Documentation: Tanzania (Mainland)
The four documents Explola requires for operators based on mainland Tanzania — issued by the TTLB, BRELA, and TRA.
On this page (9 sections)
What's required to operate from mainland Tanzania
Mainland Tanzania has separate licensing from Zanzibar — if you operate in both, you'll need to verify each jurisdiction independently. On the mainland, the tourism regulator is the Tanzania Tourist Licensing Board (TTLB), business registration goes through BRELA, and tax compliance through the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA).
1. TTLB Tourism License (TALA)
Issued by: Tanzania Tourist Licensing Board (TTLB)
Status: Required
Your active Tourism License from the TTLB also known as TALA. The most important credential for operating in mainland Tanzania. Checked annually.
2. BRELA Certificate of Incorporation
Issued by: Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA)
Status: Required
Proves your company legally exists in Tanzania. One-time document unless company details change.
Sole proprietors
If you operate as a sole proprietor, BRELA issues a Form 21 (Extract from Register) — submit that in place of the Certificate of Incorporation. You can submit this document for the shareholder requirement as well.
3. BRELA Register of Companies (Detailed Information)/ Shareholder Document
Issued by: Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA)
Status: Required
The Register of Companies detailed information document lists all shareholders. Used exclusively for our KYC review.
4. TRA Tax Identification Number (TIN) Certificate
Issued by: Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Status: Required
Tax Identification Number (TIN) certificate issued by the TRA
5. TRA Tax Clearance Certificate
Issued by: Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)
Status: Optional
Confirms your business is current with tax obligations. Renews annually.
Renewals
Both the TTLB Tourism License and the TRA Tax Clearance Certificate expire annually. Explola sends reminders at 30, 7, and 0 days before expiry, plus a 14-day grace period afterwards. If you don't renew within the grace window, your mainland Tanzania tours are automatically unpublished — re-upload to restore them.
Registered in Zanzibar?
Zanzibar has its own tourism authority (the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism) and requires a separate set of documents. See the Required Documentation: Zanzibar article for details. You can hold both mainland and Zanzibar verifications simultaneously if you operate in both.
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