Tanzania
If you now live in Canada and previously lived, worked, or studied in Tanzania,
many immigration, employment, and licensing processes will ask you for a Tanzania Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
in addition to your Canadian one. Getting fingerprinted correctly is usually the first step. This guide walks through how that works
while you’re based in Canada, and how Surrey Fingerprint Company can help with the fingerprinting part.
Visit Surrey Fingerprint Company for professional, correctly-formatted fingerprints for your Tanzania police clearance
application. Email info@surreyfingerprint.com
beforehand so we can confirm the exact form and format Tanzania Police Force — Forensic Bureau currently requires.
Why Would Someone in Canada Need a Tanzania PCC?
- Canadian immigration & citizenship (IRCC): if you lived in Tanzania for 6 months or more before moving to Canada, IRCC may require a police certificate from Tanzania as part of permanent residency, sponsorship, or citizenship applications.
- Immigration to a third country: if you are applying to move from Canada to another country (e.g. Australia, the UK, the US, or elsewhere), that country’s character/background check requirements often ask for a clearance from every country you’ve lived in for an extended period, including Tanzania.
- Employment & licensing: some regulated professions and international employers request a background check covering your time in Tanzania.
- Legal, banking, or property matters: some processes back in Tanzania may themselves ask you to complete identity verification via fingerprints while abroad.
The General Process From Canada
Because you’re applying from outside Tanzania, the typical path is: get fingerprinted locally in Canada in the exact
format Tanzania Police Force — Forensic Bureau accepts, then send that fingerprint record to them along with the rest of your
application package.
Contact Tanzania’s issuing authority first
Confirm the current application form, required fingerprint format, fee, and mailing/submission method directly with
Tanzania Police Force — Forensic Bureau — requirements can change, so always check before your appointment.
Get fingerprinted at Surrey Fingerprint Company
Bring valid photo ID and any required form. The fingerprint format usually requested for a Tanzania PCC is:
Ink-and-Roll Fingerprinting (Paper Card). We offer both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting on-site.
We complete your card correctly
We take your fingerprints on the correct form, complete any required identity/witness sections, and provide the card or
document ready to send.
Send your package to Tanzania
Mail or submit your fingerprint card along with your application form, ID copies, photos, and fee (as required) to
Tanzania Police Force — Forensic Bureau. Use a tracked courier for original documents.
If you live outside Tanzania, apply by mail to the Officer-in-Charge, Forensic Bureau. You must send a certified copy of your passport bio-data page, a complete set of certified fingerprints from a police station in your country of residence (confirm Surrey Fingerprint Company's certification is accepted), a written request letter explaining the purpose, details of where you last lived in Tanzania, and the applicable fee.
Mailing address:
Officer-in-Charge, Forensic Bureau, Tanzania Police Force
Receive your Tanzania PCC
Processing time is Confirm current timelines with the Forensic Bureau. Some authorities mail the certificate directly to your Canadian
address; others may require pickup via a consulate or representative.
Source: Official guidance for Tanzania. Requirements can change; always confirm current details on the official page before applying.
the current requirement before your appointment so you don’t need to redo it.
clearance applications can change without notice. Always confirm current requirements directly with
Tanzania Police Force — Forensic Bureau before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get fingerprinted in Surrey for a Tanzania PCC?
Yes. Surrey Fingerprint Company offers both ink-and-roll and digital fingerprinting, and can prepare your fingerprint card or document in the format most commonly requested for Tanzania applications. Contact us to confirm the exact form before your visit.
How long does it take to get a PCC from Tanzania while living in Canada?
Timelines vary widely by country and by how the application is submitted. As a general estimate: Confirm current timelines with the Forensic Bureau. Confirm current processing times with the issuing authority.
Do I need an original fingerprint card, or is a scan acceptable?
This depends on Tanzania's current requirements — some authorities require original ink cards mailed physically, others accept digital submissions. We'll help you confirm which applies before you leave our office.
Can Surrey Fingerprint Company submit my application to Tanzania for me?
We handle the fingerprinting step. Submission of the full application package is generally your responsibility (or your immigration consultant/lawyer's), unless otherwise noted for a specific country.
Get Fingerprinted for Your Tanzania PCC — Surrey, BC
Email us before your visit so we can confirm the correct form and format for Tanzania.
+1 (604) 825-8882 · info@surreyfingerprint.com