Customs and clearing

One stop border posts in Tanzania: law, locations and procedures

Q: Do I stop twice at a one stop border post?

No. Exit and entry are done at one stop, exit first.

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 6 sources

Short answer

A one stop border post (OSBP) lets goods, people and vehicles clear exit and entry controls for two countries at one place ¹. TRA lists eight working OSBPs on Tanzania's borders, all using the juxtaposed model ¹. The legal base for posts with other EAC states is the EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016, which says exit formalities come before entry formalities ². The EAC One Stop Border Posts Regulations, 2017 set joint inspections where practical ³.

Regional law: EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016, assented 1 December 2015 ²
Regulations: EAC One Stop Border Posts Regulations, 2017 ³
Working posts listed by TRA: Eight ¹
Model at Tanzanian posts: Juxtaposed, per TRA ¹
Rule of sequence: Exit before entry, section 12 of the Act ²
Official page: https://www.tra.go.tz/page/one-stop-border-post-osbp ¹

What the law says

The EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 was assented to on 1 December 2015 and published in the EAC Gazette of 15 April 2016. It starts on a date the EAC Council sets by notice ². Section 4 requires Partner States to set up OSBPs at their common borders and allows bilateral arrangements to run them ².

A control zone is the area of the host state where officers of the neighbouring state carry out border controls (section 2). Zones may be juxtaposed, straddled or wholly in one state (section 5). Each state's border control laws apply in the other state's control zone (section 11) ².

Exit formalities must be finished before entry formalities, and officers of the entry state may not act first (section 12) ². The Council may make regulations, including on the single window system (sections 16 and 55) ².

The 2017 Regulations

Jurisdiction is sequential, with the exit state acting first (regulation 6) ³.
Controls should use simultaneous processing of documents and joint inspections where practical (regulation 6(2)) ³.
Each state names a lead agency for administrative matters at the post (regulation 3) ³.
The host state keeps peace and order in the control zone (regulation 7) ³.
Officers and facilitation agents must display an identity badge (regulations 8 and 9) ³.

Posts on Tanzania's borders

TRA lists these working OSBPs. The Act's Schedule names the posts to operate as OSBPs once it is in force ^1,2.

Tanzanian post	Neighbouring post	Country	In Act Schedule
Holili ¹	Taveta ¹	Kenya ¹	Yes ²
Sirari ¹	Isebania ¹	Kenya ¹	Yes ²
Namanga ¹	Namanga ¹	Kenya ¹	Yes ²
Horohoro ¹	Lunga Lunga ¹	Kenya ¹	Yes ²
Mutukula ¹	Mutukula ¹	Uganda ¹	Yes ²
Kabanga ¹	Kobero ¹	Burundi ¹	Yes ²
Rusumo ¹	Rusumo ¹	Rwanda ¹	Yes ²
Tunduma ¹	Nakonde ¹	Zambia ¹	No ²

Gaps between the lists

The Act's Schedule lists eight Tanzanian pairs. One of them is Manyovu, with Mugina in Burundi ². TRA does not list Manyovu among working OSBPs on its page read on 24 October 2026 ¹.

Tunduma and Nakonde on the Zambia border is on the TRA list but not in the EAC Act's Schedule ^1,2. The source pages read for this guide do not give the legal instrument for that post ¹.

Malawi told the WTO on 31 May 2023 that construction at its Songwe post, opposite Kasumulu in Tanzania, began in March 2023. No completion was reported ⁶.

Rusumo and Namanga

The Government of Japan says the Rusumo OSBP between Rwanda and Tanzania was inaugurated on 1 March 2016. Japan gave JPY 3.72 billion (US$35.4 million) in grant aid ⁴. It says clearing each side separately could take about 14 hours, against 5 to 10 hours at one stop ⁴.

JICA says it funded the design and building of the Tanzanian side at Namanga, in Longido District. The African Development Bank funded the Kenyan side ⁵.

How a crossing works

TRA says traffic goes to the control zone of the entry country. Exit procedures are done before entry, border agencies use risk management, and any cargo inspection is joint and done once ¹. TRA names four pillars: law and institutions, simple procedures, ICT and data exchange, and buildings and equipment ¹.

Common questions

How many one stop border posts does Tanzania have?

TRA lists eight working OSBPs ¹.

Which law governs one stop border posts in East Africa?

The EAC One Stop Border Posts Act, 2016 and the 2017 Regulations ^2,3.

Do I stop twice at a one stop border post?

No. Exit and entry are done at one stop, exit first ^1,2.

Is Tunduma a one stop border post?

Yes. TRA lists Tunduma and Nakonde as the working OSBP with Zambia ¹.

When did the Rusumo one stop border post open?

The Government of Japan says it was inaugurated on 1 March 2016 ⁴.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].

Sources

How customs clearance works in Tanzania
The steps to clear imported goods in Tanzania, from appointing a licensed agent and lodging in TANCIS to paying port charges and collecting cargo.
The EAC Single Customs Territory in Tanzania
How the East African Community Single Customs Territory works for goods cleared through Tanzania, when it started and which procedures TRA applies.
Transit cargo to Zambia and the DRC through Tanzania
Customs rules, port storage terms, border posts and recent volumes for transit cargo moving from Dar es Salaam to Zambia and the DRC.
The EAC Customs Management Act, 2004 and Tanzania
The East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004 as used by TRA: key sections, editions, and the 2019 and 2025 amendments.
Electronic cargo tracking for transit goods in Tanzania
The TRA Electronic Cargo Tracking System for transit cargo, the regional RECTS of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, and transporter licences.