Tanzania is situated in East Africa and is renowned for its geographical diversity, rich cultural heritage, and political stability. It is officially called the United Republic of Tanzania, formed in 1964 through the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. 

The country shares its border with eight other nations: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. This makes it a strategic player in the East African region, both politically and economically.

People within the nation use varying address formats due to historical, infrastructural, cultural, and technological factors. While Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC) has guidelines for addressing, there is no universally enforced or consistently used national address format. This leads individuals, businesses, and institutions to adapt address structures based on local understanding or convenience. 

Additionally, more structured addressing is available in urban centers like Dar es Salaam, Arusha, or Dodoma, which include street names, house numbers, and postal codes. However, formal street naming and numbering systems are incomplete or nonexistent in rural or peri-urban areas. People in these areas often rely on local landmarks, village names, or ward identifiers rather than formal addresses.

Moreover, there are different types of addresses, each with its specific element requirements. If you need to mail a client or customer in Tanzania but are unsure of the correct address format, we can assist you. We have listed all the different types of addresses, along with their formats and examples.

Recipient Name
In the first line, write the recipient’s full name. If you are sending the mail to a business, the company name will appear in the first line. Write the person’s name and department in the second and third lines. Add ATTN. in front of the person’s name to ensure the internal mail distribution system sends the mail to the correct office and desk.

Street Address
In the second line, write the building number and the street name of the residential or business address. If the recipient uses a P.O. box, write “P.O. BOX” followed by the box number.

Postal Code and Ward/District
In the third line, write the five-digit postal code and the district where the recipient’s city is. Some famous districts of Tanzania are Ilala, Ubungo, Chamwino, and Karatu.

City/Town
Write the name of the city where the person lives. Some of the major cities in Tanzania are Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, and Mwanza.

Country Name

Write the name of the country in the last line. When sending international mail to Tanzania, write the name in capital letters.

Residential Address Format

Write the recipient’s name, street address, P.O. box number, postal code, ward, city, town, and country name. 

Rural Address Format
Typically, the streets in rural areas of Tanzania do not have a formal name. In this case, write the name of the village or the settlement, followed by the nearest larger town or city. Add the remaining address elements in the same manner as the residential address.

Business Address Format
Instead of the recipient’s name in the residential address, write the company’s name in the first line. Write the person’s name on the second line and add their department on the third line.

International Address Format for NGOs and Organizations
Write the organization’s name in the first line and the specific department in the second line. Place all the other address components, except the recipient’s name, in the same way as the residential address.

P.O. Box Address Format
Instead of the street address, write the “P.O. box” and the box number in the residential address.

Military Address Format
Except for the first two lines, the address format follows the same structure as the residential address format. In the first line, write the rank and full name of the person. In the second line, write the military unit number.

Government Office Address Format
Instead of the recipient’s name, write the office and department names in the residential address on the first and second lines.

Address Format for Multiple Recipients
If you want to mail to multiple people in the same household or business, write each name on a separate line of the residential and business addresses.

Address Format for Courier Services
If you send mail using courier services like DHL or FedEx, add the recipient’s contact details in the last line of the residential address. Delivery agents can contact them if they are unable to locate the address.

The Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC) is Tanzania’s official national postal service provider, established under the Tanzania Posts Corporation Act No. 19 of 1993.

One of TPC’s core services is delivering mail and parcels domestically and internationally. It manages a widespread network of over 300 post offices, reaching even remote rural areas that private couriers typically underserve. These post offices offer services including ordinary mail, registered mail, express mail service (EMS), and parcel post. 

The EMS, in particular, is designed for faster, time-sensitive deliveries and is often used by businesses and government agencies. International mail services are handled through partnerships with global postal unions, ensuring worldwide reach and cooperation.

You have learned how to structure the address format for a recipient in Tanzania. However, you need a verified address to ensure your address reaches the intended recipient. The PostGrid Address Verification solution verifies, standardizes, and offers real-time address autocomplete suggestions. Whether you need to verify a single or bulk address, we provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date addresses in sync with the official postal service providers for over 245 countries and territories. 

If you are curious about the format used in any other country, visit our global address format page to learn about the formats followed in countries worldwide.