How to pay Chinese suppliers from Tanzania
To pay a Chinese supplier from Tanzania, send US dollars by SWIFT from your company's account at a Tanzanian bank to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong; the Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022 require imports above $10,000 to be paid through a bank or financial institution. For products regulated by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards, make sure the supplier obtains a PVoC certificate of conformity before shipment, because goods without one face a penalty of 15% of CIF value, as Intertek states. This guide covers the rules, the routes, published bank charges, the documents and the risks of paying through agents.
- Under the Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022 (GN 294), an importer must pay for goods and services through a bank or financial institution, except imports of up to $10,000, which may use other means of payment.
- Imported goods should be consigned to Tanzania within 90 days, and an importer that misses this must notify its bank, or the bank reports it to the Governor and stops providing foreign currency.
- A resident of Tanzania may not operate a bank account outside Tanzania unless the Governor of the Bank of Tanzania permits it, apart from accounts used to settle securities in the EAC or SADC.
- Consignments subject to the TBS PVoC program need a certificate of conformity from an authorized PVoC agent before shipment, and Intertek states that a missing certificate carries a penalty of 15% of CIF value plus destination inspection.
- Standard Chartered Tanzania's published fees guide charges 0.50% for a manual outward telegraphic transfer, with a minimum of USD 50 and a maximum of USD 200, plus a USD 50 SWIFT charge.
- Since 28 March 2025, goods and services sold within Tanzania must be priced and paid in shillings, so an importer resells Chinese goods in shillings even though it pays the supplier in dollars.
How to pay a Chinese supplier from Tanzania: the short answer
A Tanzanian business pays a Chinese supplier from its account at a Tanzanian bank, usually in US dollars, by an international transfer. Tanzania does not restrict payments for trade: the controls that matter are how the payment is made, how quickly the goods must arrive, and the product standards the goods must meet before they ship.
The usual sequence for an order from China is:
- Agree the price, the payment terms and the Incoterm with the supplier, and get a proforma invoice. An Incoterm is a standard trade term, such as FOB or CIF, that sets who pays freight and insurance.
- Check whether the product is regulated by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS). If it is, the supplier must obtain a PVoC certificate of conformity before shipment.
- Pay the deposit by SWIFT from your USD account, or with dollars bought from your bank, quoting the invoice number.
- Pay the balance when the supplier sends a copy of the bill of lading and the certificate of conformity, or pay through a letter of credit or documentary collection.
- Clear the goods through customs, and make sure they reach Tanzania within the 90 days the regulations expect.
SWIFT is the international messaging network banks use for cross-border payments, and each bank has an 8 or 11 character SWIFT code. This guide covers the Tanzanian side of each step. For the supplier's side, such as how Chinese factories invoice and how to pay a Hong Kong account, see our general guide on how to pay suppliers in China.
Bank of Tanzania rules for paying imports
Two Bank of Tanzania (BoT) instruments apply to an importer. The Foreign Exchange Regulations, 2022, published as Government Notice (GN) No. 294 on 13 May 2022, govern payments abroad. The Regulations on the Use of Foreign Currency, 2025, published as GN No. 198 on 28 March 2025, govern prices and payments inside Tanzania.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| How imports are paid | Through a bank or financial institution |
| Small imports | Imports of up to $10,000 may use other means of payment |
| Delivery | Goods imported should be consigned to Tanzania within 90 days |
| If goods are late | The importer notifies its bank; if it does not, the bank reports it to the Governor and stops providing foreign currency until the matter is resolved |
| Outward remittances | Only through a bank, financial institution or mobile money operator |
| Accounts abroad | Residents may not operate a bank account outside Tanzania unless the Governor permits it, apart from accounts used to settle securities in the EAC or SADC |
| Domestic prices and payments | In shillings since 28 March 2025; foreign currency pricing and invoicing within Tanzania prohibited, with listed exceptions |
Sources: PKF summary of the Foreign Exchange Regulations, 2022 (GN 294); Bank of Tanzania public notice on the Regulations on the Use of Foreign Currency, 2025 (2 May 2025). As published on 29 October 2026. Confirm current rules with your bank.
The EAC is the East African Community and SADC the Southern African Development Community, the two regional blocs Tanzania belongs to. The PKF summary does not state what the 90 days run from, so ask your bank how it monitors the period on a payment made before shipment. A long production run on a large deposit is the case to raise with the bank before you pay.
Shillings at home, dollars abroad
The 2025 rules concern deals inside Tanzania. The BoT's public notice states that pricing and payment for all goods and services within the country must be in Tanzanian shillings, and that refusing payment in shillings is an offense. An importer still pays its Chinese supplier in dollars, but it must price and invoice the goods to Tanzanian customers in shillings. Build the exchange rate you expect to pay into your shilling price list, and review it when you pay the balance.
PVoC: the certificate of conformity before shipment
PVoC, Pre-Export Verification of Conformity, is the TBS program that checks regulated products against Tanzanian standards in the exporting country, before they ship. For a buyer in Tanzania, it decides whether the goods can clear on arrival, so it belongs in the payment plan.
Intertek, one of the PVoC agents appointed by the TBS, states that all consignments subject to PVoC must obtain a certificate of conformity (CoC) from an authorized PVoC agent before shipment, and that the CoC is required for customs clearance. Products that fail are issued a non-conformity report instead. Intertek describes three routes for the exporter:
| Route | Who it suits | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Route A | Occasional exporters | Product testing and shipment inspection, then the CoC |
| Route B | Frequent exporters | Product registration, shipment inspection and random testing, then the CoC |
| Route C | Frequent exporters and high-volume manufacturers | Product licensing, license review and random testing, then the CoC |
| No CoC | Any consignment subject to PVoC | Penalty of 15% of CIF value plus destination inspection |
| Non-conforming goods | Any consignment | Re-exported to the country of origin or destroyed, at the exporter's cost |
Source: Intertek, Exports to Tanzania, PVoC, as published on 29 October 2026. Check whether your product is regulated with the TBS before ordering.
CIF value is the cost of the goods plus insurance and freight to the port of entry. Because the CoC is issued before shipment, tie the balance payment to it: ask the supplier to send a copy of the CoC with the bill of lading, and pay the balance only when both match your order.
How the money reaches a Chinese supplier
Most Chinese suppliers invoice in US dollars, and many sell through a Hong Kong trading company with a Hong Kong bank account. A Tanzanian importer pays in one of the ways below. Whichever route you use, the beneficiary should be the company named on the proforma invoice.
| Supplier asks for | How you pay from Tanzania | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| USD to a Hong Kong company account | SWIFT transfer in USD from your USD account, or with dollars bought from your bank | The Hong Kong company is the seller on the invoice |
| USD to a mainland China account | SWIFT transfer in USD | The supplier's bank checks the contract and invoice before it credits the funds |
| Chinese yuan (CNY) | Ask your bank whether it can send yuan and at what rate | Compare the total cost with the dollar route |
| Letter of credit | Your bank issues the credit; the supplier is paid against documents, which can include the CoC | Documents must match the credit exactly |
| Documentary collection | Banks release the shipping documents to you against payment | The supplier carries more risk than under a credit |
Routes as described in this guide; supplier-side checks from PNC Bank's summary of China's goods trade foreign exchange rules. As published on 29 October 2026.
What the supplier's bank checks
China manages foreign exchange through the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). As summarized by PNC Bank, a Chinese company must be on SAFE's list of companies with goods trade foreign exchange business, and the supplier's bank verifies each receipt using documents such as the contract, invoice and customs declaration. The remitter and the beneficiary must be the parties to the contract. A payment from a company that is not on the contract can be held while the supplier's bank asks questions.
Deposit, balance and credit
A letter of credit (LC) is a bank's written promise to pay the seller when it presents documents that comply with the credit. For a Tanzanian buyer, an LC can list the PVoC certificate of conformity among the required documents, so the supplier is not paid until the goods have passed inspection. A documentary collection sends the shipping documents through the banks, and you receive them only after you pay or accept a bill of exchange. A deposit by transfer followed by the balance against the bill of lading and the CoC suits repeat orders with a supplier you know.
What it costs: published bank charges
Each Tanzanian bank publishes its own fees guide. The table shows two banks' published charges for the steps in this guide, as examples of the items to budget for on each order.
| Item | Standard Chartered Tanzania | Azania Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Outward telegraphic transfer | Manual: 0.50%, minimum USD 50, maximum USD 200; online: 0.35%, minimum USD 60, maximum USD 250 | USD 59 |
| SWIFT charge | USD 50 | USD 59 on import LCs |
| Overseas charges (optional, so the supplier receives the full amount) | USD 55 | Not listed |
| Import LC issuance | 1% per quarter or part, minimum USD 350, plus SWIFT | 1% per quarter, minimum USD 250 |
| LC discrepancy fee | USD 130 per set of documents | Not listed |
| Import documentary collection, payment commission | 0.6% of the bill value over USD 50,000; 0.8% under USD 50,000; minimum USD 150 | Not listed |
| Tax basis | Prices include 10% excise duty and 18% VAT | Charges exclude VAT unless stated |
Sources: Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania, Fees and Charges Guide, effective 1 March 2025; Azania Bank, Fees and Charges 2025. As published on 29 October 2026. Other banks set their own charges.
On a $40,000 order paid as a $12,000 deposit and a $28,000 balance, a 0.50% manual transfer commission is $60 on the deposit and $140 on the balance at Standard Chartered, plus USD 50 SWIFT on each payment. Three costs sit outside the tariff: the exchange rate if you buy dollars with shillings, correspondent bank charges on the way to China, and the supplier's own bank charge.
Send SWIFT payments with the charge code OUR, which means you pay all transfer fees and the supplier receives the full invoice amount. SHA shares the fees, so intermediary deductions come out of the amount, and BEN puts all fees on the supplier. Our guide to SWIFT fees under OUR, SHA and BEN explains the difference. A payment that arrives short delays shipment while the supplier queries the gap.
Documents that tie the payment to clearance
Your bank, customs and the supplier's bank each match the same facts: the supplier's name, the invoice number, the value and the goods. Keep them identical across every document.
| Stage | Document | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Before ordering | Proforma invoice | Supplier |
| Each payment | Transfer instruction quoting the invoice number; SWIFT confirmation | Importer and bank |
| Before shipment | PVoC certificate of conformity, for regulated products | TBS-appointed PVoC agent |
| After shipment | Bill of lading or air waybill, final commercial invoice, packing list | Carrier and supplier |
| Clearance | Customs declaration with the documents above | Importer or its clearing agent |
| If goods are late | Notice to the bank that the goods were not consigned within 90 days | Importer |
Sources: PKF summary of GN 294; Intertek, Exports to Tanzania, PVoC. Typical sequence; requirements vary by bank and product. As published on 29 October 2026.
A bill of lading is the document the shipping line issues when it receives the goods. Ask the supplier for a copy before you pay the balance, and check that the shipper, consignee and goods match the invoice and the certificate of conformity.
Agents, cash and informal routes: what goes wrong
Some importers pay through an agent who collects shillings in Dar es Salaam and pays the supplier from an account in China, or through a currency dealer or a stablecoin trader. The facts below are what an importer should weigh before using these routes.
- The $10,000 line. Imports above $10,000 must be paid through a bank or financial institution. Splitting an order into smaller payments to an agent does not change the value of the import.
- The supplier's bank may query it. China's rules expect the payer to be the party on the contract. A transfer from an agent's account is a payment from a third party.
- There is no trace. A SWIFT transfer from your own account carries a reference and can be traced through the banks. Cash handed to an agent cannot.
- Crypto has no licensing framework. The BoT cautioned the public against virtual currency in November 2019, stating that the shilling is the only legal tender. In December 2024 the High Court held that trading cryptocurrency is not illegal, as summarized by Bowmans, but there is still no framework for licensing crypto businesses. A USDT payment creates no bank record for your import.
The customs side does not change with the payment route: regulated goods still need a certificate of conformity, and every import needs a customs declaration.
Where Helm fits
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. A Helm account gives your company USD account details in its own name, with a US routing and account number that receives ACH, Fedwire and SWIFT payments.
For a company resident in Tanzania, a Helm account is an account outside Tanzania, so the Governor's permission under the 2022 Regulations comes first. With that permission, it fits as follows:
- Pay suppliers in USD. Send international payments by SWIFT from your company's own account to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before you send.
- Hold dollars for the balance. Keep the balance payment in USD so it is not converted on the day it falls due.
- Finance the balance. Trade finance, such as supplier finance and working capital, is arranged case by case.
- Stablecoins only where the law allows. Given the BoT's 2019 notice and the absence of a licensing framework, take advice before using Helm's USDC and USDT features.
Confirm with your Tanzanian bank how a payment from an account abroad is recorded for an import above $10,000, and keep the 90-day rule in mind. Each account has a named account manager, and review questions are answered in writing within one business day. Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment.
A checklist for paying a Chinese supplier from Tanzania
- Check with the TBS whether your product is regulated under PVoC before you order.
- Get a proforma invoice and check the seller's name matches the bank account.
- Pay imports above $10,000 through your bank, from an account in the company's name.
- Send each payment by SWIFT with charges set to OUR, quoting the invoice number.
- Pay the balance against copies of the bill of lading and the certificate of conformity.
- Make sure the goods reach Tanzania within 90 days, or notify your bank.
- Price the goods to Tanzanian customers in shillings.
- Keep the SWIFT confirmations with the invoice, the CoC and the customs declaration for each order.
For how other importers organize supplier payments, see the importers page.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How do I pay a Chinese supplier from Tanzania?
Send US dollars by SWIFT from your company's account at a Tanzanian bank to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong, quoting the invoice number. Imports above $10,000 must be paid through a bank or financial institution under the Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022.
Can I pay a Chinese supplier in cash from Tanzania?
Only for small imports. The Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022 require payment through a bank or financial institution, and allow other means of payment only where the value of imports does not exceed $10,000.
Do goods from China need a PVoC certificate for Tanzania?
Products regulated by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards do. Intertek, a TBS-appointed PVoC agent, states that consignments subject to PVoC must obtain a certificate of conformity before shipment.
What happens if goods arrive in Tanzania without a certificate of conformity?
Intertek states that a missing certificate of conformity carries a penalty of 15% of CIF value plus destination inspection. Goods that do not conform are re-exported or destroyed at the exporter's cost.
How long do imported goods have to reach Tanzania after payment?
The Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022 state that imported goods should be consigned to Tanzania within 90 days. If they are not, the importer must notify its bank, or the bank reports it to the Governor and stops providing foreign currency.
What do Tanzanian banks charge to send money to China?
Each bank publishes its own fees. Standard Chartered Tanzania's guide effective 1 March 2025 lists 0.50% for a manual outward telegraphic transfer, minimum USD 50 and maximum USD 200, plus a USD 50 SWIFT charge, inclusive of excise duty and VAT.
Can I invoice my Tanzanian customers in dollars for imported goods?
No. Since 28 March 2025, the Regulations on the Use of Foreign Currency require goods and services within Tanzania to be priced and paid in shillings, with listed exceptions. You can still pay the Chinese supplier in dollars.
Can a Tanzanian company pay suppliers from a bank account abroad?
Only with permission. The Foreign Exchange Regulations 2022 state that a resident may not operate a bank account outside Tanzania unless the Governor of the Bank of Tanzania permits it, apart from accounts used to settle securities in the EAC or SADC.
Can I pay a Chinese supplier with USDT from Tanzania?
Tanzania has no licensing framework for crypto businesses, and the BoT cautioned against virtual currency in 2019. A USDT payment creates no bank record for your import, so take legal advice before using one.
Why does my Chinese supplier want payment to a Hong Kong account?
Many Chinese factories sell through a Hong Kong trading company that holds a Hong Kong bank account. Make sure the Hong Kong company is the seller on the invoice, so the payment and the import documents match.
References
- PKF: Tanzania Foreign Exchange Regulations, 2022 (GN 294)
- Bank of Tanzania: Public notice on the Regulations on the Use of Foreign Currency, 2025 (2 May 2025)
- Intertek: Exports to Tanzania, PVoC
- Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania: Fees and Charges Guide (effective 1 March 2025)
- Azania Bank: Fees and Charges 2025
- PNC Bank: Navigating China's regulations on foreign exchange for goods trade
- Afriwise (Bowmans): Tanzania, court's decision on virtual assets (13 May 2025)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.