Overview

Rusumo One stop Border Post (OSBP), is a Tanzania-Rwanda border located in Ngara District on Tanzania side. It is called Rusumo OSBP located at Kirehe District. This is a 24/7 border operation with a number of Government agencies all available at once with the aim of expediting and facilitating clearance of goods across border, currently the following Government agencies are available: TRA, Immigration, TBS, TMDA, WMA, TASAC, Livestock & Fisheries Dept, Health Port, Forest Dept, TAEC and Ministry of Agriculture.

The average clearance time of goods across border after the introduction of OSBP & SCT facilities ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hrs depending on nature of the consignment. On average 600 trucks cross the border daily.

Tanzanian Customs at Rusumo OSBP, work collaboratively with their counterparts on the Rwandan side to ensure smooth and quick clearance of both cargo and people. Both Tanzanian and Rwandan Customs share the OSBP.

To strengthen the process of verifying goods Rusumo OSBP is planning to install a Cargo Scanner which will make easier & quick the process of verifying goods and detecting any contrabands crossing border. 

Daily Capacity

The average clearance time of goods across border after the introduction of OSBP & SCT facilities ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hrs depending on nature of the consignment. On average 600 trucks cross the border daily. Humanitarian cargo can be expedited with prior notice to the customs official at the OSBP.

Customs Clearance

Under the Single Customs Territory, five Partner States: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda are regarded as one Customs Territory which means only one Customs declaration is made in the Country at which goods are consigned. This requires only one Customs declaration that will be made by the consignee country and applied across EAC. Declaration will be processed in Tanzania as consignee and tax payment, or bond guarantee will be made accordingly. The TRA has developed several online tools to help businesses comply with customs requirements. These tools include.

• Tanzania Integrated Customs Management System (TANCIS): TANCIS is a web-based system that allows businesses to lodge customs declarations and pay customs duties and taxes online.
• Tanzania Customs Information Portal (TCIP): The TCIP is a web-based portal that provides businesses with access to information on customs procedures, regulations, and tariffs.

Government agencies operating at the Rusumo OSBP include.

• Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA),
• Tanzania Immigration services,
• Tanzania Standards Bureau (TBS),
• Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA),
• Weights and Measures Agency (WMA),
• Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC),
• Livestock & Fisheries Dept,
• Port Health,
• Forest Dept,
• Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC)
• Ministry of Agriculture.

Currently average clearance time of goods across border after the introduction of OSBP & Single Customs Territory (SCT) facilities ranges from 30 minutes to 3 hrs depending on nature of the consignment.

Other Relevant Information

The fees for trucks crossing the border vary depending on the origin of the journey, destination, and the number of axles. For small vehicles, the fees are mainly based on the longer of the journey in Tanzania.  

The usual documents are required for the custom clearance including invoice, packing list, permits, and a contract signed between the customer and the clearing agent, if any. The truck driver has to present his passport to the authority. Note that the goods could be subject to examination upon entering country. Under SCT the clearance is completed at the destination country, thus truck driver has to present C2 accompanied by SuBT1. (Good transfer) Form C2-Cargo Manifest

For more information, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information and 4.1 Government Contact List.