Document Required for air Export from Tanzania

Air Freight Guide — Tanzania

Documents Required for Air Exports from Tanzania for Food Products

Whether you are exporting food products for the first time or you are a seasoned shipper looking for a quick reference, this guide walks you through every document you need and more importantly, why each one matters  before your cargo is shipped

Why documentation matters

Air freight is one of the fastest ways to move goods across borders. But speed at the airport means nothing if your shipment is held at customs because a certificate is missing or a form is incomplete. Every document in this list serves a specific legal or regulatory purpose. It tells customs officials, foreign authorities, and your buyer exactly what is in the consignment, where it came from, and that it is safe to receive.

Tanzania’s export requirements apply to all outbound air shipments, regardless of their size or value. The documents you need depend on two things: the purpose of the shipment (commercial sale or personal/non-commercial) and the destination country (the European Union, for example, has stricter requirements for food products).

GOOD TO KNOW

Food products attract the most scrutiny at customs worldwide. Getting the right certificates in place before your shipment is ready will save you delays, storage fees, and the risk of your cargo being rejected at the destination

1. Commercial Exports

A shipment is considered commercial when goods are being sold to a buyer outside Tanzania. All documents below are required unless marked as conditional.

1.1 Commercial Invoice

This is the primary financial document for your shipment. Customs authorities at both ends use it to assess duties and taxes, so every figure on it must be accurate and consistent with the rest of your documents. A well-prepared commercial invoice must include:

  • Full name and address of the exporter (seller) and the importer/consignee (buyer)
  • Detailed description of the goods, including the HS/tariff code
  • Quantity: number of units and gross/net weight
  • Unit price and total invoice value in the agreed currency (e.g. USD or EUR)
  • Trade terms / Incoterms (e.g. FOB Kilimanjaro, CIF Helsinki)
  • Country of origin: Tanzania
  • Payment terms
  • Invoice number and date

1.2 Packing List

The packing list itemises exactly what is inside each package in the shipment: the type of goods, the number of units, and the weight and dimensions of each box or carton. It supports the commercial invoice and helps customs officers verify the physical contents of the consignment without having to open everything.

Every description on the packing list must match the commercial invoice exactly. Discrepancies between the two are a common cause of customs delays.

1.3 Radioactivity Analysis Certificate

Issued by: Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC)

This certificate confirms that the food products being exported are free from harmful levels of radiation. It is a technical safety document required by many importing countries to protect public health.

Note

  • It is valid for only 3 months from the date of issuance. 
  • Mandatory for all food exports to EU countries

1.4 Phytosanitary Certificate

Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture — Department of Plant Health Services

When you are exporting plant-based food products, the destination country needs assurance that your goods are free from regulated pests and plant diseases. This certificate provides exactly that. It is required for:

  • Fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains
  • Plant-based raw materials
  • Processed plant products that originated from unprocessed plant material

Note

  • Mandatory for plant and plant-based exports to EU countries

1.5 Certificate of Origin

Issued by: Tanzania Chamber of Commerce (or relevant trade body)

This certificate officially verifies that the goods being exported originate from Tanzania. It is used by customs authorities in the receiving country to determine whether preferential tariff rates apply and to confirm the product’s provenance.

To obtain a Certificate of Origin, you will need to present:

  • Commercial invoice
  • Bill of lading (or air waybill for air shipments)
  • Packing list

1.6 Commodity-Specific Export Permit

Issued by: Relevant regulatory authority (product-dependent)

Certain agricultural and food commodities are regulated under Tanzanian export law and require a specific permit before they can leave the country. These include:

  • Tea and coffee
  • Cashew nuts
  • Fish and fish products

Note

To confirm if your product requires an export permit please contact us for conrirmation

2. Non-commercial exports

If you are sending food products as a gift to family or friends abroad, or shipping small sample quantities to a prospective buyer, your shipment is considered non-commercial. The documentation requirements are lighter, but several key certificates still apply, particularly when shipping to the EU

1.1 Proforma Invoice (or Commercial Invoice)

Customs authorities still need to know the declared value of what you are sending, even if no money is changing hands. If you do not have a formal commercial invoice, a simple proforma invoice will do — this is a document you prepare yourself that states a reasonable estimated value for the contents, a basic description of the goods, and the names and addresses of sender and recipient.

1.2 Packing List

A packing list is required even for personal shipments. It helps customs officers understand what is in each package and ensures the contents match the declared value on your proforma invoice. Descriptions should be specific — “spices” is not sufficient; “100g dried cardamom pods” is.

1.3 Radioactivity Analysis Certificate

Issued by: Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC)

The same radiation safety requirement applies regardless of whether the shipment is commercial or personal. If your food package is heading to an EU country, this certificate is mandatory.

Note

  • It is valid for only 3 months from the date of issuance. 
  • Mandatory for all food exports to EU countries

1.4 Phytosanitary Certificate

Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture — Department of Plant Health Services

If you are sending fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, or any plant-based food product — even as a personal gift — the destination country’s plant health authorities require a phytosanitary certificate. This requirement is enforced at the point of entry, not by the sender, so a missing certificate will result in the parcel being held or destroyed on arrival

Note

  • Mandatory for plant and plant-based exports to EU countries

Work With a Trusted Ground Transport Partner

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Work with a trusted transportation partner

Whether you require a dedicated transportation partner or a full-load movement executed to professional standards, our team is ready to support your ground cargo needs

CONTACT US

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no single "fixed rate" for shipping to a specific country. Because airplanes have limited space and weight capacity. Airfreight pricing is dynamic and depends entirely on the unique characteristics of your shipment.

To get an exact, binding quote, please provide us with:

  1. The final destination city or airport.

  2. The total physical weight of the shipment.

  3. The exact dimensions of each package or pallet.

Furthermore, it is best to note that airlines use a concept called Chargeable Weight. Here is how it works in simple terms: Airlines measure both the physical weight of your shipment (on a scale) and its size (the volume it occupies). If a shipment takes up a lot of space but is very light (like a large box of pillows), it will be charged based on its size rather than its actual weight. This size-based weight is called volumetric weight. Your final shipping cost is always calculated using whichever number is greater, between the actual weight and the volumetric weight of the consignment. 

Note: The rate per kilogram typically drops as your shipment gets heavier. Shipping a larger, heavier volume will generally cost you less per kilogram than shipping a small, light box.

Yes, we do.

We provide complete, end-to-end door-to-door exportation to ensure your shipping experience is entirely seamless and hands-off. With this service, you only have to deal with one point of contact—us—while we manage the international complexities behind the scenes.

While airfreight is the fastest mode of international transport, the total timeline depends on the specific service level you choose and how far the cargo is traveling.

Generally, you can expect the following timelines:

  • Standard Airport-to-Airport: Typically takes 1 to 5 business days. This represents the time it takes for the cargo to be processed at the origin airport, fly to the destination, and be unloaded.

  • Door-to-Door Export: Typically takes 3 to 8 business days. This includes the entire journey: picking up the cargo from you, handling export customs, the international flight, clearing import customs at the destination, and final delivery to the recipient's doorstep.

It is important to note that the flights themselves are very fast, but total transit times are often decided by how quickly customs clearance takes. Ensuring your documentation is complete and accurate before shipping is the best way to prevent any unexpected delays.