Getting a Tanzanian Driver’s License

You can’t just drop by your local Department of Motor Vehicles and get a drivers license. Let me give you a rundown of the procedure as it unfolded for me.

1. Go to the local TRA (Tanzania Revenue Administration) office and pick up application at the entry desk.
2. Fill out application.
3. Go to office #37 with application.
4. Go to office #39 for TRA picture taking & fingerprinting.
5. Back to office #37. Wait for control number to be issued.
6. Go to CRDB Bank with control number, to pay 10,000 Tzs for class D (car), and 10,000 for class A (motorcycle). I chose to include motorcycle (10,000 divided by 2300 equals about $4.35 for each license.)
7. Go to TRA office with payment receipts.
8. Obtain control number for paying driving test fee.
9. Back to CRDB Bank to pay fee. 3,000 for class D, and 3,000 for class A.
10. To Police Station with payment receipt.
11. In my case, they did not require a driving test, but simply stamped my receipt. This surely saved a lot of time.
12. To TRA office with stamped Police document.
13. Get control number for license fee.
14. To CRDB Bank to pay fee – 70,000 Tzs.
15. Wait a few days for license to be prepared.
16. To TRA with payment receipt to pick up license.
17. Go to another office to sign out with license.

I know of no better way of conveying what life is like here at every turn! Patience is not optional.