Policy Statement

The National Postal Policy (2003) calls for the establishment of a comprehensive addressing system that includes among others street names and identification of buildings, thus facilitating physical delivery of mails, economic and social services. A complete address includes its relevant postcode.

In accordance with Section 41 of the Electronic and Postal Communications Act, 2010 (EPOCA, 2010) Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has been given the mandate to: -

1. Allocate, manage and regulate addresses and Postcodes;
2. Regulate the publication and sale of postcode list and directories in compliance with the principle of publicity and requiring postal licences to keep deliveries and postcode directories to be available to public free of charge.

National Postcode Allocation Plan

A postcode is an identifier for a given postal delivery point or collection of postal delivery points, normally comprising a string of numeric or alphanumeric characters. For example, the postcode 65301 is Numeric postcode system and N194AD is Alphanumeric postcode system.

The United Republic of Tanzania has implemented five (5) digits numeric postcode system. Country has been divided into six postcode zones and Zanzibar, each zone comprising of at least four (4) regions with the exception of Dar es Salaam Zone.

Illustrations of 5 Digits Postcode System Presented in Table I

Postcode Categories

There are five (5) postcode categories, as presented in Table II below

The Administrative area postcodes are freely assigned to each Ward in the United Republic of Tanzania, to provide unique identification of areas and facilitate service delivery to the citizens.

Guidance for the Application of Special Postcode.

Application is required for other postcode categories apart from the Administrative area postcodesTable IIIbelow show eligible applicant for each postcode category.

Eligible Applicants

1. New applicant will have to create an account through the Tanzanite portalhttps://tanzanite.tcra.go.tz
2. After a successful login as Postcode Applicant, the system allows the applicant to apply for the eligible postcode in either of the following categories: - Post Office, Government Institution, Landmark or Special activity;
3. Big mailers(selected Government institutions) - the System automatically identify the office name since the applicant has logged in with the name of the entity specified during the registration. In addition to the basic requirement the applicant has to attach request letter from the respective Institutions;
4. Post Office- Applicant shall provide the following details: -

• Name of the Post office requesting for a postcode;
• Approval document from the Postmaster General;

5.Landmarks- Applicant (respective LGAs) shall provide: -

• Landmark name;
• Landmark type (Mountain, National park, etc.);
• Location (Region & District);
• Landmark Coordinates;
• Approval document from the Council Director.

6.Special Activity/Event- Applicant shall provide the following information

• Activity name;
• Activity Description;
• Time frame, (maximum 30 days);
• Location (Region & District);
• Coordinates (Event area);
• Activity approval document from the Council Director of the respective Local Government Authority (LGA);
• District and Region where it is located, Activity Location (Latitude and Longitude Coordinates). The maximum Time frame for Activity Postcode for special events can be renewed if the activity exceeds this duration.

How to write address / identify yourself using physical address as per the requirements of the National Addressing Standards

Example of Urban Addresses

Example of Rural Addresses

Example of Post Office Box Address with the Postcode assigned to the Post Office.

General information

Postcodes can be retrieved from