WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide TZ - United Republic of Tanzania
Business Registrations and Licensing Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade (United Republic of Tanzania)

    Applicable as from 20 March 2025
    (published on 6 October 2025)

    Summary of latest changes in this version
    Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase: Restoration of the right of priority, Reinstatement of rights
    List of changes

    All available versions

    Useful information

    The PCT Applicant’s Guide is updated almost every week with information received by the International Bureau.
    In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.
    List of abbreviations used in this document:
    Office: Business Registrations and Licensing Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade (United Republic of Tanzania)
    List of currencies used in this document:
    TZS (Tanzanian Shilling)
    Countries and Offices information:
    The list of acronyms used for Offices is no longer shown as it has been integrated in the mouseover functionality for each ST.3 code shown in this document.
    Refer to List of WIPO Standards, Recommendations and Guidelines formerly Annex K, List of country names and two-letter codes. It includes a list of short names and two-letter codes accepted for use in indicating States, other entities and intergovernmental organizations and their Offices in documents relating to international applications under the PCT. The list is as set out in WIPO Standard ST.3.
    Also refer to PCT Contracting States formerly Annex A.
    Office profile
    For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.
    PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities
    Article 22(1),
    (Decision of the Assembly of the PCT Union of October 3, 2001 (PCT/A/30/7 Annex IV))

    Refer to the full list.
    Office Closed dates
    The Office is closed weekly on Saturday and Sunday
    Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

    International Phase

    Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

    Contracting State:
    United Republic of Tanzania
    Two-letter code:
    TZ
    Name of Office:
    Business Registrations and Licensing Agency, Ministry of Industry and Trade (United Republic of Tanzania)
    Location:
    BRELA Office Plot No. 23
    Block No. 20 Shaaban Robert/Sokoine Drive Junction
    Dar es Salaam
    United Republic of Tanzania
    Mailing address:
    P.O. Box 9393
    Dar es Salaam
    United Republic of Tanzania
    Telephone:
    (255-22) 218 13 44
    (255-22) 218 01 13
    (255-22) 218 01 41
    (255-22) 221 28 00
    E-mail:
    ceo@brela.go.tz
    maoni@brela.go.tz
    Website:
    None
    Facsimile:
    (255-22) 218 03 71
    Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?
    No
    Would the Office accept evidence of mailing a document, in case of loss or delay, where a delivery service other than the postal authorities is used (PCT Rule 82.1)?
    No
    Is the Office prepared to allow applicants to make applications available to the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS) (PCT Rule 17.1(b-bis)?
    More information about WIPO DAS is available at: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das.
    No
    Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
    AP,
    IB
    Does national legislation restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices?
    Refer to the Office
    Competent designated (or elected) Office(s) for this State:
    National protection: TZ
    ARIPO protection: AP
    Types of protection available via the PCT:
    National:
    Patents
    ARIPO:
    Patents
    Utility models (a utility model may be sought instead of or in addition to an ARIPO patent)
    Payment methods accepted by the Office:
    Refer to the Office
    Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):
    Section 26 of the Patents Act
    Provisional protection after international publication:
    Where the designation is made for the purposes of a national patent:
    Relief may be sought in respect of acts committed before the grant of the patent but after the date on which the international publication was effected in English. Where the international publication was effected in a language other than English, relief may be sought provided that the applicant had transmitted an English translation of the international application to the infringer and only in respect of acts committed by the latter after he had received the translation.
    Where the designation is made for the purposes of an ARIPO patent:
    None
    Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)
    For national protection
    Time when the name and address of the inventor must be given:
    Must be in the request. If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit fixed in the invitation.
    Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?
    No
    For an ARIPO patent
    Refer to Annex B(AP)

    Annex C - Receiving Office

    The Office does not act as receiving Office
    This Office has delegated its RO functions to RO/AP. Refer to Annex C(AP) for more information.

    National Phase

    Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

    Time limits applicable for entry into the national phase:
    Under PCT Article 22(3): 21 months from the priority date
    Under PCT Article 39(1)(b): 31 months from the priority date
    Does the Office permit reinstatement of rights (PCT Rule 49.6)?
    Yes
    Translation of international application required into (one of) the following language(s):
    English
    Required contents of the translation for entry into the national phase:
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Under PCT Article 22: Description, claims (if amended, as amended only, together with any statement under PCT Article 19), any text matter of drawings, abstract
    Under PCT Article 39(1): Description, claims, any text matter of drawings, abstract (if any of those parts has been amended, only as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)
    Is a copy of the international application required in particular circumstances?
    No
    Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?
    Refer to the Office
    National fees:
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Patents
    Filing fee
    12,000 TZS
    Utility certificates
    Filing fee
    10,000 TZS
    Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:
    None
    Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):
    If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit fixed in the invitation.
    Name and address of the inventor if they have not been furnished in the “Request” part of the international application
    This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
    Document evidencing a change of name of the applicant if the change occurred after the international filing date and has not been reflected in a notification from the International Bureau (Form PCT/IB/306)
    This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
    Appointment of an agent if the applicant is not resident in the United Republic of Tanzania
    Who can act as agent?
    Any patent attorney or patent agent registered to practice before the Office
    Does the Office accept the effect of restoration of the right of priority by the receiving Office (PCT Rule 49ter.1)?
    Yes
    Does the Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 49ter.2)?
    Yes, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests

    The procedure in the national Phase

    Information not yet available

    Annexes

    Annex TZ.I - Fees
    Information not yet available
    Forms
    Please refer to the Office.
    Current version applicable from 20 Mar 2025 , printed on 15 Oct 2025
    2.2 #31 - 2025-10-15T11:58:01.602+02:00