CLYDE & CO UPDATER - SIM CARD REGISTRATION IN TANZANIA

The Electronic and Postal Communications (SIM Card Registration) Regulations (the SCR Regulations) were published on 7 February 2020 and make it mandatory for all SIM card users in Tanzania to register their SIM cards biometrically. In this article, we address the categories of biometric SIM card registration, the necessary documentation required to register SIM cards for each category of registration, recent developments on SIM card registration and penalties for non-compliance.

Categories of biometric SIM card registration

The SCR Regulations provide 10 biometric SIM card registration categories which are; individual, company, company employee, institution, minor, visitor, foreigner, refugee, diplomat, and diplomatic institution. For purposes of this briefing, we will focus on the categories listed below:

• Individual: An individual must register a SIM card by presenting his or her NIDA ID to the service provider. The service provider shall verify the individual’s fingerprint with NIDA. Verification is done online or electronically and the SIM card shall be registered by the individual’s name.
• Company: A company representative shall carry out the process of SIM card registration with the service provider. The following certified copies and information must be availed to the service provider: the company’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certificate, business license, incorporation, compliance or registration certificate and the company representative’s NIDA ID. The company representative’s fingerprint shall then be verified by the service provider with NIDA once for a batch of SIM cards. The SIM cards will be registered in the company’s name. When there is a change of the company representative, the service provider must be notified to register the new representative.
• Company employee: The company is required to present to the service provider certified copies of TIN certificate, business licence and incorporation, compliance or registration certificate for SIM card registration. The employee must present a NIDA ID and the service provider shall verify the employee’s fingerprint with NIDA. Afterwards, the SIM card will be registered by the employee’s name. The company must notify the service provider on change of ownership of the registered SIM card so that re-registration can be done for the new employee.
• Visitor: Visitors are required to present to the service provider certified copies of valid passport and visa for SIM card registration. Visitors with visa exemption are required to present only a certified copy of a valid passport. A Visitor’s fingerprint verification shall be conducted by the service provider with NIDA or the Immigration Department. The SIM card shall be registered by the Visitor’s name.
• Foreigner: A foreigner must present his or her NIDA ID to the service provider and fingerprint verification will be done with NIDA. The SIM card shall then be registered by the Foreigner’s name.
• Diplomat: A service provider shall register a SIM card to a diplomat only if the diplomat presents certified copies of valid diplomatic passport and diplomatic identity card. The service provider shall not take or verify a diplomat’s fingerprint.
• Diplomatic institution: A diplomatic institution must be issued an introduction letter by the Ministry of foreign affairs and present it to the service provider together with its introduction letter. A representative of the diplomatic institution must present certified copies of valid diplomatic passport and diplomatic identity card to the service provider. Registration shall then be done for a batch of SIM cards bearing the name of the diplomatic institution and no fingerprint verification is required.

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