If you are paid to fly, or fly as part of a business, your organisation needs an RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC) and an authorisation for each operation, and your pilots need a Remote Pilot Licence. To get a ROC you must:
- Have your principal place of business registered in Tanzania.
- Appoint an accountable manager and enough qualified staff.
- Prepare an operations manual approved by TCAA.
- Set up a Safety Management System and an approved security programme, including a security coordinator.
- Hold a security clearance from the appropriate authority.
- Submit a minimum equipment list, proof of payment and any other information TCAA asks for.
A ROC application should include: BRELA registration, business licence and TIN; operations manual; minimum equipment list; safety management system description; maintenance control manual or maintenance arrangements; names and CVs of the accountable manager and nominated persons; list of drones with their registration (and airworthiness) certificates; list of remote pilots with their licences; proposed operations specifications; evidence of security clearance; emergency response plan; third-party insurance certificate; radio station licence where applicable; and English translations of any document in another language.
Certification takes place in five phases:
- Pre-application meeting
- Dormal application (at least 60 days before you plan to start)
- Document evaluation
- Demonstration and inspection and
- Certification, when TCAA issues the ROC and operations specifications.
- A ROC is valid for 12 months. Apply for renewal at least 60 days before it expires; if it expires, you must apply again from the start.
- Apply to amend your ROC before adding drone models, types of operation or areas of operation.
- A ROC does not by itself authorise a particular job. Get authorisation for each commercial operation. Flights into or out of Tanzania also need approval from the other countries concerned.
- Carry a certified true copy of the ROC and the operations specifications with the drone and at each remote pilot station.
- A ROC issued by another ICAO member state may be recognised if its requirements are at least as strict as Tanzania’s.
Last updated: 22 Oct 2026
